Joe Gomez Returns for Liverpool in Carabao Cup Clash Against Tottenham

Joe Gomez is set to pull a Liverpool shirt back on at last, with the defender cleared for a return in tonight’s Carabao Cup clash against Tottenham at Anfield.

The England international has not featured 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 tie.

“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.

And Gomez will not be the only fresh face.

Iraola has already teased a much-changed XI, hinting that the cup will offer opportunities to those on the fringes. “We will see tomorrow players we haven't seen,” he said, a clear signal that the rotation wheel is about to spin.

That could finally open the gate for Wataru Endo. The Japan international has been stuck on the bench so far this campaign, an unused substitute waiting for his first competitive minute. A midweek cup tie at Anfield feels tailor-made for his reintroduction.

The youth ranks are also pushing hard. Rio Ngumoha, who impressed off the bench in the second half against Fulham, looks well placed to step into the starting lineup. Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas are in a similar position: both have had recent substitute outings, both are now hovering on the brink of their first starts of the season.

The equation changes if Iraola leans towards experience instead of experimentation. Bradley Barcola, already heavily involved and chasing rhythm, could be handed his third start in the space of a week as Liverpool look to build cohesion among their newer arrivals.

Up front, the options are thinner.

With Hugo Ekitike still sidelined, Alexander Isak stands as the only recognised senior centre-forward available. The responsibility on his shoulders is obvious, though Cody Gakpo offers a flexible alternative and can step into the central role if Iraola shuffles his attacking pieces.

Between returning leaders, hungry youngsters and a stretched forward line, Liverpool’s Carabao Cup campaign begins with a simple question: who grabs their chance under the Anfield lights?