Jurgen Klopp drops double Arsenal selection hint as Liverpool ‘real deal’ now clear

An analysis by Ian Doyle of Liverpool’s 5-1 victory over West Ham United in the Carabao Cup quarterfinal at Anfield

Curtis Jones celebrates with Jarell Quansah after scoring his second goal and Liverpool’s fifth against West Ham United (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Klopp’s contented midfield pain

For this League Cup quarterfinal, Liverpool fans should turn up the volume, as Virgil van Dijk had urged. If the competition’s largest Anfield crowd ever heard the rallying cry, it was the players on the field who were making the loudest noises.

Jurgen Klopp’s team advanced to the semi-finals for the fourth time in his tenure, showing remarkable force after edging past Leicester City and Bournemouth in the previous rounds.

By doing this, they also allayed any nerves that had surfaced following Sunday’s frustrating goalless draw with Manchester United and put an end to rumors regarding the lack of energy at Anfield. It served as a timely reminder of how Liverpool’s home form has proven to be the cornerstone of their encouraging campaign, with their matchup with Arsenal at the top of the table coming up next.

Yes, West Ham United played surprisingly well, hardly able to put a dent in a fiercely motivated Reds team that profited from Klopp’s decision to once again rotate his players. Even though the “midweek team” was starting to feel more like a weekend squad, it was interesting to note that the two players who performed the best were the ones who probably had the most to prove before the Gunners’ visit.

There are openings in midfield due to the absence of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister due to injuries to his knee, but Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai’s substitutions on the hour gave a strong indication that both players will probably start on Saturday night.

In the early going against the Hammers, Endo was crucial in getting Liverpool ahead and stepping up to meet challenges. Although the Japan international set the tone, Szoboszlai, who had greatly improved from his lackluster performance against United, ignited the rout with a trademark scorching opener.

However, both had to give way to the incredible team of Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones for the lead role. Elliott began the game on the right flank but moved all over the field, displaying one of his strongest qualities—the ability to involve other players in the game. Jones, on the other hand, put in a lot of effort in the first half and then let loose with two brilliant goals in the second half.

Left-sided player Jones would seem to be the best choice to finish the engine room against Arsenal, as his return to the starting lineup at the end of the previous campaign coincided with Liverpool’s release from the confines of their previous guise under Klopp. However, it appears from this data that the Reds manager can anticipate a contribution from both this weekend, whether they start or come off the bench. That deserves to be shouted about.

Quansah moves forward once more.

When Jarell Quansah said last week that he intended to keep Joel Matip out of the lineup this season due to a serious knee injury, it caused some people to take notice. The sentiment was quite commendable, even though it might have come across as harsher than intended. It showed the kind of unwavering brutality that any young player needs to succeed as a professional, especially at this elite level.

Quansah is definitely not lacking in confidence. Nor ought he to, considering the succession of positive outings he has already recorded since making his debut in the first squad back in August.

Here was an additional one. The 20-year-old’s ability to break the lines with deliberate passes into midfield—almost, dare I say, similar to Matip—had already won the home crowd over with his skill. His front-footed defending had set up the first goal, nicking the ball ahead of Said Benrahma and feeding Szoboszlai to thrash home.

Along with Virgil van Dijk, Quansah’s poise belies his inexperience. He rarely seems rattled.

The late consolation goal for West Ham from Jarrod Bowen, who outran Quansah to a long ball, turned inside the defender, and curled past Caoimhin Kelleher, served as a small reminder that the highest standards cannot be compromised. But Quansah seems to be the real deal.

Gakpo and Nunez stake claim

The West Ham visit is the one match that Darwin Nunez, a player for Liverpool, could possibly feel any connection to. The striker scored his first goal for the Reds at Anfield last season, heading in the game-winning goal against the Londoners. In September, he scored an impressive volley in a 3-1 victory against the same opponents.

Nunez’s final goal was the thrilling winner at Bournemouth that set up this quarterfinal matchup, so this League Cup matchup against the Hammers seemed to be the ideal opportunity for him to snap a 10-game losing streak that has caused some anxiety among the Liverpool supporters.

It was not entirely successful. Despite not being at his best, Nunez started on the left and was unfortunate not to end with a goal. He hit the inside of the post late in the game and was controversially flagged offside when clean through the first half (there was no VAR this time). He could still take credit for helping Jones score his first goal.

And the mini-drought from the forward line was filled as Gakpo, here down the center, scored his first goal in six games, and Mohamed Salah, coming off the bench, scored his 15th goal of the season to surpass West Ham as the Reds’ all-time top scorer. Luis Diaz was only able to make a brief appearance.

On Saturday, Salah is a given for Arsenal. But it’s not quite so obvious who the other two forwards are.

One more hint about the League Cup

At first, Klopp was a little reluctant. In the end, though, he delivered the moment the Kop had been waiting for—a celebratory triple fist pump—after the final whistle. Liverpool’s performance was deserving of such a reaction, and it guaranteed their challenge going into the New Year on four fronts.

The Reds have a unique affinity for the League Cup; their January doubleheader against Fulham marked their record 19th trip to the semi-finals. Although the Cottagers surprised Liverpool at Anfield earlier this month and won at Everton on Tuesday, Klopp’s team will be the favorites to make it to their 14th final as they attempt to reclaim the trophy they won by defeating Chelsea in 2022. Chelsea will face Middlesbrough in the other semi-final.

A 2016 League Cup final appearance—albeit one in which Manchester City prevailed—was the first indication of what Klopp might be able to accomplish. A measure of his latest Liverpool version’s potential is how close he is getting to another.