Iraola on team selection ahead of Carabao Cup clash

Liverpool take on Chelsea in the Carabao Cup at Anfield on Wednesday night.

It’s an opportunity for Andoni Iraola to win silverware in his first season in charge of the club, but he also has to manage fitness levels as the games come thick and fast.

Victor Munoz and Dominik Szoboszlai are almost certainly ruled out, while Florian Wirtz may play a part in the game, although he will likely start on the bench.

With Arsenal next up at the weekend, and Champions League commitments in the mix, Iraola was asked whether he would take a similar approach to the Spurs game or go with more regular starters because of the opposition and the prospect of a first trophy.

“I will definitely do changes, but we want to win the game, we want to be competitive we need to see how the legs are,” said Iraola.

“We are not just in the Carabao Cup but also the Champions League, trying to make changes from game to game.

“We want to be in the next round, we have been unlucky in the draw, we are playing Chelsea, but we want to be in the draw again and that only happens if you win.”

Liverpool beat Chelsea in the 2022 and 2024 finals, and this competition has been kind to the Reds. Iraola was asked how important it is to deliver a trophy in his first season, and he was careful not to put any single competition above the others.

“I think every competition is an opportunity, especially when you are the coach of Liverpool, and you have to take it like this.

“I would love to win tomorrow and have the chance to get further in the competition, but I know we have to play very well.

“We have to beat a very good team, and it’s a team that doesn’t play in Europe, so for them this competition is also very important. It’s not going to be easy.”