Despite encountering a setback against Luton Town on Wednesday, Liverpool managed to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League table.
The unexpected lead from Chiedozie Ogbene in the 12th minute at Anfield initially had Liverpool trailing in the first half. However, a remarkable turnaround unfolded in the second half.
Virgil van Dijk’s header in the 56th minute marked the beginning of Liverpool’s comeback.
Subsequent goals from Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, and Harvey Elliott secured a convincing 4-1 victory, propelling Liverpool four points ahead at the top of the table and instilling confidence ahead of the impending Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.
Jurgen Klopp faced the challenge of managing a significantly depleted squad on Wednesday, with nine key players sidelined due to injuries.
Despite these adversities, Klopp expressed contentment with the performance of the young players who stepped up to the occasion.
Looking ahead, Klopp acknowledged the uncertainty regarding the availability of injured players for upcoming fixtures, underscoring the necessity for a day-by-day approach due to the unpredictable nature of the situation.
“Let’s wait and see. One thing remains certain: as long as we have eleven players, we will give it our all. That’s the only assurance I can provide.”
As for Chelsea, the team is closely monitoring the fitness of Carney Chukwuemeka (ankle) and Thiago Silva (groin) ahead of the crucial clash with Liverpool on Sunday.
Chukwuemeka suffered an ankle injury in training last week, causing him to miss the match against Manchester City on Saturday.
Silva, on the other hand, was substituted during the victory over Crystal Palace due to a groin issue and subsequently unavailable for the draw against Manchester City.
Neither Chukwuemeka nor Silva took part in training at Cobham on Wednesday.
Chelsea continues to grapple with a substantial injury list, with several players sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Benoit Badiashile, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, and Lesley Ugochukwu are all unavailable for the upcoming final.
Despite these challenges, both Liverpool and Chelsea are gearing up for a highly anticipated encounter that could have significant implications for their respective campaigns.
