Klopp Hints Liverpool Star May Finally Make League Cup Debut Ahead Of Arsenal Clash

Liverpool FC goalkeeper Alisson Becker could make his League Cup debut Thursday when the Reds take on Arsenal at Anfield.

It is the first leg of the semi-final between Liverpool and Arsenal. The winner at the end of both the legs will face off against Chelsea in the final on Feb. 27 at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London.

Alisson missed Liverpool's previous two games due to a COVID-19 positive result, handing more opportunities to Caoimhin Kelleher with the first team. Liverpool were without Alisson in their 2-2 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League earlier this month and 4-1 victory over Shrewsbury in the FA Cup last week.

Alisson, who moved from Roma to Liverpool in the summer of 2018, is yet to make an appearance for the Reds in the League Cup. Although the tournament has been dedicated to Kelleher, Jurgen Klopp has hinted that Alisson could finally make his League Cup debut with Liverpool on Thursday.

"Caoimh is the goalkeeper for this competition but there is a chance Ali will play tomorrow just because of the situation we were in. I think he needs the game now. We will see how we decide it finally but there is a good chance that Ali will play tomorrow just because of the situation with COVID and everything when he was out," Klopp said during his pre-match preview, according to Liverpool's website.

With eight titles, Liverpool are in level with rivals Manchester City in the list of most League Cups won in the history of the competition.

"We all need to make sure the boys have as much rhythm as they can get. So there's a good chance Ali will start tomorrow. But the competition is actually Caoimh's competition, that's true," added Klopp in the same conference.

While the Liverpool camp has been struck with multiple COVID-19 positive results, the Reds have also been without a few players who are out of action with injuries. One key player who has been sidelined is forward Divock Origi. The Belgian playmaker, who sustained a muscular issue last month, now has missed eight games.

"Div is not available. Div didn't train, Div is still injured and still in recovery. So he cannot help us at this moment but I don't see any kind of scenario – pretty much everything can happen in life – but from this moment I would say he will be here. And hopefully, fit soon because we actually could use him quite well now," Klopp told Liverpool's official website.