Joe Gomez Set for Liverpool Return in Carabao Cup Clash
Joe Gomez is set for a long-awaited return under the Anfield lights, with the Liverpool defender cleared to feature in tonight’s Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham.
The England international has not played a minute this season after suffering a muscle strain in pre-season, but Andoni Iraola confirmed the 27-year-old is back in the frame for the third-round clash.
“Joe is training with the team and is available for tomorrow. It's a matter of deciding how much he can play,” the Liverpool manager said on Monday, leaving the door open for anything from a cautious cameo to a full-blooded start.
Rotation night at Anfield
This will not be a night for a settled XI. Iraola made no attempt to hide the fact that changes are coming, hinting at a broader reshuffle that will give fresh faces their chance.
“We will see tomorrow players we haven't seen,” he teased, a clear signal that the Carabao Cup will double as an audition for those on the fringes.
That line will have been heard loud and clear by Wataru Endo. The Japan international has been stuck on the bench so far this campaign, an unused substitute waiting for his opening. This competition often belongs to players in exactly his position: experienced, trusted, but short of minutes.
The same applies, in a different way, to Liverpool’s younger crop.
Rio Ngumoha, who caught the eye off the bench in the second half against Fulham, looks well-placed to step into the starting XI. He has already shown enough to suggest he can handle the stage; now comes the test of shaping a game from the first whistle rather than chasing it from the bench.
Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas are also in contention for their first starts of the season after recent substitute outings. For them, this is the doorway. A strong performance tonight can change the manager’s thinking for months.
Balancing youth and new signings
Iraola, though, has another dilemma: how heavily to lean on youth when his newer signings also need rhythm.
If he opts for more experience and wants to sharpen his recent arrivals, Bradley Barcola is the obvious candidate to keep his place. The forward is in line for what would be a third start in the space of a week, a clear sign of trust and an opportunity to build momentum in front of a home crowd.
Up front, Liverpool’s options are thinner than usual.
With Hugo Ekitike still sidelined through injury, Alexander Isak stands as the club’s only senior specialist striker available. The burden on him is obvious, even in a cup tie that invites rotation. Cody Gakpo can operate through the middle and offers a different profile, dropping into pockets and linking play, but the lack of depth at centre-forward will shape Iraola’s selection.
So the picture is clear. Gomez ready to return. Fringe players waiting for their moment. Youngsters pushing at the door. A manager juggling minutes, fitness and ambition.
For some, tonight will simply be another step in a long season. For others, it could be the night their Liverpool story truly begins.
