Klopp should give these 3 Liverpool players a chance in the FA Cup

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Liverpool travel to League Two high-flyers Plymouth Argyle on Wednesday (7.45pm kick-off) for their FA Cup third round replay.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were held to a 0-0 draw at Anfield a few weeks ago in what was a spirited display from the fourth tier side, and Derek Adams’ team will surely smell an upset when they meet at Home Park on Wednesday evening.

However, Premier League title contenders Liverpool picked up a decent 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Sunday to steady the ship after a 1-0 defeat to Southampton last week, although it does mean that Klopp’s men go into their fifth game of 2017 without a victory in the New Year.

Since their 0-0 draw at Anfield on January 8, Adams’ Plymouth have beaten Stevenage 4-2 at Home Park to go up to second in League Two, which was their eighth win in 14 games at home in the league.

Clearly, it’ll be a tricky test for Klopp’s Reds to overcome on Wednesday, with a place in the fourth round at home to Championship side Wolves the reward for whichever side makes it through tomorrow night.

With the second leg of their League Cup semi-final against Southampton coming up next week, and indeed a league match with Swansea on Saturday lunch-time, Klopp will likely rotate his squad tomorrow night, so here are THREE Liverpool players who deserve an opportunity on Wednesday…

Joe Gomez

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Joe Gomez returned from an horrific anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 0-0 draw with Plymouth a few weeks ago, and will likely get another chance against the Pilgrims on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old injured himself back in October 2015 when on England Under-21 duty, and then didn’t play again until November last year, when he took part in a behind-closed-doors friendly to begin building up his fitness.

Klopp then gave him his first Liverpool start against the Pilgrims last time out and, given he hasn’t featured in the Reds’ two succeeding games, you sense that Klopp will start him against Derek Adams’ side on Wednesday in a bid to slowly integrate him back into the first team set-up.

Alberto Moreno

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Alberto Moreno is potentially playing for his Liverpool future over the coming weeks, and could get a seventh start of the campaign at Home Park on Wednesday.

The Spanish international has been second choice behind makeshift left-back James Milner ever since his horror show against Arsenal on the opening day of the season, although he has started three of the Reds’ League Cup ties this season.

Nonetheless, Moreno is clearly behind Milner in the pecking order, and will need a string of impressive performances to try and get back ahead of the former England international.

The Spaniard played well against Plymouth last time out, and will likely need another good display on Wednesday to put a bit of pressure on Milner ahead of the second half of the season.

Daniel Sturridge

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Klopp threw on Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino, and Adam Lallana in a bid to break down the stubborn Pilgrims at Anfield a few weeks ago, yet the Liverpool boss may well look to start one of them on Wednesday.

And it should be Sturridge who gets an opportunity from the first whistle.

The England international was dropped in favour of Divock Origi in their 1-1 draw at Manchester United last weekend, despite netting twice in his preceding four matches for the club.

Sturridge did produce a sluggish performance against Southampton in the League Cup last week, yet the Reds may need his predatory instincts in the box to get past Derek Adams’ Pilgrims on Wednesday.

Thus, Klopp may hand Sturridge an eighth start of the season at Home Park.

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