FA Cup
Liverpool’s FA Cup Squad: 6 Senior Stars Travel To Plymouth But Matip Left Out
Joel Matip hasn’t been included in Liverpool’s squad for their FA Cup third round replay with Plymouth but 6 other first team players have made the trip.
Liverpool have decided against including Joel Matip in their squad for tonight’s FA Cup clash with Plymouth Argyle but six other senior players have travelled, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed at his pre-match press conference yesterday that Matip was fully-fit but the Reds boss was undecided whether to include the defender amid an on-going dispute with the Cameroonian FA.
There were rumours circulating that Klopp may risk disciplinary action from FIFA by selecting Matip tonight but Liverpool have decided to wait for official clearance from the governing body after leaving the centre-back out of the squad for their third round replay.
Matip will instead remain on Merseyside to train at Melwood in the hope of finally receiving clearance to play from FIFA on Friday which would pave the way for him to return to the squad for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Swansea.
Klopp confirmed yesterday that he would play a slightly more experienced line-up to the one that drew the original tie 0-0 at Anfield earlier this month and the Liverpool Echo claim that Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho have been included in tonight’s squad.
Sturridge will be hoping to return to the starting line-up having been named on the bench for Sunday’s draw at Manchester United while Coutinho will be looking to make his first start since November after recovering from an ankle ligament injury recently.
The Echo also say that Ragnar Klavan, Divock Origi and Alberto Moreno were on the plane that flew to Exeter this morning so they are all expected to start while Lucas Leiva was the sixth senior squad member to make the trip to Devon.
The Brazilian international missed last weekend’s clash at Old Trafford with a knee injury but Klopp was hopeful the midfielder would return against Plymouth and it looks like Leiva has now been passed fit to feature tonight.
Youngster Joe Gomez is in the squad and he’s expected to make another start having recently overcome a serious knee injury while Kevin Stewart and academy striker Harry Wilson have also been named in the travelling party.
