Andoni Iraola could hand out at least one Liverpool debut against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup
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Andoni Iraola is likely to make wholesale changes to his Liverpool team when they face Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.The third round of the cup has always been a chance for Liverpool managers to get a first look of the season at their second-string players, but on this occasion, Iraola really does not have a lot to pick from.The Reds are especially thin at centre-back, where Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from the injury he sustained at this stage of the campaign last year, while Joe Gomez was not deemed fit enough for the bench against Fulham on Saturday. How can Liverpool fix their midfield for the rest of the season?
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images That leaves Iraola with a big choice to make over who plays at centre-back, and when assessing his options, he may well end up having to hand a debut to 18-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye.Mor Talla Ndiaye may play against TottenhamLiverpool’s decision not to recruit another centre-back this summer has looked less dangerous after Jeremy Jacquet’s terrific start to life with the Reds.However, beyond the Frenchman and Virgil van Dijk, Iraola simply does not have a great deal available to him.Gomez and Ronald Araujo are next in line, but Araujo has started Liverpool’s last three games at right-back, and as his importance to the Reds grows, Tuesday would be a good time to give him a rest.READ MORE: Levante manager gives verdict on Ifeanyi Ndukwe as Liverpool loanee finally debuts vs BarcelonaIraola has confirmed that Wataru Endo will get game time at some stage of the season, and the Japanese is a potential candidate to play at centre-back. If the head coach decides to rest Van Dijk, Jacquet and Araujo – as would seem fairly likely – Endo is probably the next choice after Gomez.A two of Gomez and Endo looks about as good as Liverpool can hope for for a Carabao Cup third round match, but if the Englishman is not ready, Ndiaye is next on the list.The teenager looked good in pre-season, and though he was eventually outshone by Ifeanyi Ndukwe, the Austrian is now out on loan with Levante and is obviously not available as a result.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty ImagesNdiaye scored during last week’s UEFA Youth League clash against Atletico Madrid, and is clearly seen as being someone who could make the step up to the first-team in the future.Clearly, the bulk of his football should come in the youth teams this term, but if there could certainly be the odd introduction to senior football here and there.The fact that this game is against Premier League opposition could make Iraola think twice about throwing him in, but Ndiaye appears to have been part of the reason why Liverpool did not go out and sign another new central defender this summer. After nine months of settling in, it may finally be time for the Senegalese starlet to make his first real steps in becoming a senior player for the Reds.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox