Joe Gomez Returns: Liverpool's Lineup Changes for Carabao Cup
Joe Gomez is ready to go again – and his return could shape a very different-looking Liverpool side when the Carabao Cup comes to Anfield on Tuesday night.
The England defender has not played a minute this season after suffering a muscle strain in July, but Andoni Iraola confirmed he is back in contention for the third-round tie against Tottenham.
“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 to anything from a cautious cameo to a full-blooded start.
Mamardashvili in, changes all over the pitch
One decision is already made. Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal, with Alisson Becker stepping aside. It is a clear signal that Iraola intends to use this competition to test the depth of his squad and the temperament of his newer faces under the lights at Anfield.
And there will be more than just a change of goalkeeper.
“We will see tomorrow players we haven't seen,” Iraola hinted, a line that will have several fringe players and youngsters sharpening their focus. It could be the night Wataru Endo finally steps onto the pitch this season. The Japan international has been stuck in the role of unused substitute so far, but a rotated cup XI offers exactly the kind of platform he needs.
Rio Ngumoha is another name pushing to start. The young attacker impressed off the bench against Fulham and looks well placed for a bigger role here. Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas, both eased in with recent substitute appearances, are also in the frame for their first starts of the campaign.
If Iraola leans instead on experience and wants to keep his newer signings in rhythm, Bradley Barcola is a strong candidate to feature again. The forward is in line for what would be a third start in the space of a week, a sign of how quickly he has been trusted to adapt to Liverpool’s demands.
Isak leads the line, options thin in attack
Up front, the picture is more straightforward and slightly more precarious. With Hugo Ekitike still sidelined, Alexander Isak stands as the only senior out-and-out striker available. He is expected to spearhead the attack, though Cody Gakpo can shift into the middle if Iraola reshuffles during the game.
Conor Bradley will not be involved, but there is at least a positive update on the full-back as he continues his recovery from knee surgery. The Northern Ireland international has now started working with the ball again, a key step on his way back.
How Liverpool could line up
All signs point towards a bold, experimental Liverpool XI in a 4-2-3-1 shape, built on a spine of senior quality with youth and fresh legs around it:
Predicted Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Araujo, van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Endo; Ngumoha, Nyoni, Munoz; Isak.
Injured: Ekitike, Leoni, Bradley, Chiesa.
Anfield under the lights. Tottenham in the opposite dressing room. A returning Joe Gomez, a debut on the cards for Endo, and a cluster of hungry youngsters waiting for their moment. For Iraola, this is more than a cup tie at 8pm BST on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 – it is an early test of how deep, and how daring, this Liverpool squad can be.
