Yahoo News Liverpool team news confirmed as Federico Chiesa makes full debut in bold attacking line-up
Arne Slot makes nine changes to an attacking lineup as Liverpool begin their Carabao Cup defence at home to West Ham United on Wednesday night. Only Darwin Nunez keeps his place from the outfield players after his goal in Saturday's 3-0 win against Bournemouth at Anfield, while Caoimhin Kelleher remains in goal as Alisson Becker recovers from a hamstring injury.
As expected, Federico Chiesa makes his full Liverpool debut on the right side of the front three with Nunez down the middle and Diogo Jota expected to the patrol the left flank in place of Luis Diaz,
Conor Bradley starts at right-back alongside Jarell Quansah and Kostas Tsimikas as Joe Gomez makes his first start of the season in a totally new back four from the weekend's victory at Anfield.
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In midfield, Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones make their first starts of the season with Cody Gakpo further forward in a more attacking role against the Hammers.
The fluid front four offers Slot the chance to move about the attackers throughout the game, particularly Jota and Nunez, who are both adept centrally and on the left side, while Gakpo could also feature at some point of that flank.
Chiesa, who joined from Juventus in a £12.5m deal last month, made his Liverpool debut for the closing moments of the 3-1 win at AC Milan eight days ago before a maiden Premier League bow came off the bench in the second half on Saturday.
However, the Italy international is entrusted to start from the off this evening with Mohamed Salah named on the bench. Ryan Gravenberch is given the night off but there's no place for Trey Nyoni on the bench with Tyler Morton selected.
Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister all part of a strong-looking bench for the Reds.
Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Gomez, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Jones; Chiesa, Gakpo, Jota; Nunez.
Subs: Jaros, Van Dijk, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Morton.
