It was Pep Lijnders, Liverpool’s assistant manager, who spoke to the media today ahead of Liverpool’s EFL Cup third-round tie against Championship leaders, Leicester City, on Wednesday at 19:45 pm (UK time).
The Dutch assistant coach has spoken to the media before domestic cup games on several occasions in the past and did so today as he spoke on the likes of Darwin Núñez’s form, the fitness of Trent Alexander-Arnold and the sort of team Jürgen Klopp will field against Leicester City.
While Núñez is expected to be rested with the game against Tottenham Hotspur on the horizon, Lijnders took time from the press conference to praise the Uruguayan for his good form this season.
“Compliments to Darwin, the fans love. He has this mentality to run and fight and arrive in positions no-one thinks he can,” he said. “Important he stepped up offensive and defensively, nice to see him starting games. A pure intuition player. He smells goals.”
He added: “Away at Newcastle, it would change any players’ life. How he made 2 goals from nothing. It has given him confidence. He needs that. He speaks better English, he invests a lot in himself. A player with confidence or without is a different player.”
Liverpool have had to cope without Trent Alexander-Arnold for the last two games but Lijnders announced that the exceptional is back in full training but was unsure on whether he’d be ready for a cameo on Wednesday night.
“Trent trained yesterday with us but it was just in the rondo and the ball possession with the counter-pressing, but he was outstanding.
“You see him instantly, of course. He is with the team training, I am not sure if he will be ready, we will see today.”
Lijnders was tight-lipped on what the potential starting line-up could be but I wouldn’t be surprised if Ben Doak makes another start for Liverpool while Mohamed Salah rests and Ryan Gravenberch makes his full Anfield debut after coming on against West Ham in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over the weekend.
