Overcoming Coutinho absence
LEAGUE CUP: Liverpool face Leeds without injured talismanic Brazilian
LIVERPOOL’S Divock Origi says his teammates must step up in the absence of Philippe Coutinho as they prepare to face Leeds United in the League Cup quarter-finals today.
The influential Coutinho sustained suspected ankle ligament damage during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday and could now be out until next year.
After replacing Coutinho, Origi scored Liverpool’s opener and the Belgium striker believes there is sufficient quality in the squad to compensate for the unavailability of their Brazilian talisman.
“It’s unfortunate with Philippe because everyone knows how good a person he is and I think he was in top form, so I hope it’s not too bad,” Origi told the Liverpool website.
“But I’m sure he will come back stronger and I always said that we have a strong group. Everybody has to help each other.
“I’m always ready. I believe I can help the team a lot this year and I believe I have the qualities to start in this team.”
With Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge doubtful and Roberto Firmino unlikely to be risked after taking a kick to his calf against Sunderland, Origi seems certain to start against Leeds.
Sturridge scored twice as Liverpool, who lost to Manchester City in last season’s final, overcame Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the fourth round.
Leeds, fifth in the second-tier Championship, overcame Norwich City on penalties and are the lowestranked team left in the competition.
There could be an upset on the cards in Tuesday’s other fixture, where Premier League strugglers Hull City entertain Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle United, who are flying high at the Championship summit.
Newcastle saw an eight-game winning streak ended by a 1-0 loss at home to Blackburn Rovers after Benitez made a raft of changes and he called on his team to raise their game for the trip to the KCOM Stadium.
“I think we have to take the positives. We were so good for so many games and that has to be the way to go forward,” said the Spaniard.
“We have to analyse quickly what we did wrong and be ready for the next game in three days. That is a positive thing.”
Manchester United will hope to shake themselves out of their domestic torpor tomorrow when West Ham United return to Old Trafford just three days after the sides’ 1-1 Premier League draw there.
United have drawn their last four home league games and have scored just four goals in their last five domestic fixtures on their own patch.
United will be without midfielders Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini through suspension.
Having started on the bench against West Ham on Sunday, Wayne Rooney will hope to return to the starting XI as he chases a recordequalling 249th United goal.
Arsenal will have more of a spring in their step ahead of their home game with Southampton, having ended a run of three successive draws by beating Bournemouth 3-1 on Sunday.
But Southampton were also bolstered by a positive weekend result, having consigned former manager Ronald Koeman to a 1-0 defeat on his return to St Mary’s with Everton. AFP