Liverpool are set to take on Norwich City in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday night, with four players in particular being desperate to impress Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds are enjoying a hugely successful season, having already won the Carabao Cup, put one foot into the Champions League quarter-finals and have re-emerged in the Premier League title race.
Klopp has rotated his squad frequently to cope with the demands of battling on four fronts and that is set to continue at Anfield when the Canaries visit, given the Carabao Cup final was just three days ago.
That policy has given the fringe members of Klopp’s squad the chance to impress and attempt to win more game-time.
Here, Mirror Football looks at four players who will attempt to do just that against Norwich…
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Joe Gomez
Joe Gomez was Klopp’s first-choice partner for Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool won the Premier League, but a devastating injury last season derailed his career.
Since returning to fitness, Gomez has barely been given a look-in, starting just one game in the top-flight this season.
He is yet to appear in the FA Cup, but has featured frequently in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
Gomez should be handed another chance to impress against Norwich, with Klopp recently calling for him to take any opportunity given.
“He has consistently played on an incredible level and has been one of the best centre-halves in England but then the big injury came and little injuries on top of that,” the Reds boss said.
“It is never nice for the players but Joe takes it really professionally. He is a young lad and everything will be fine in the future but at the moment, it's for sure harder.”
Curtis Jones
After enjoying a breakthrough season last term, Curtis Jones has found it difficult to replicate that form.
Jones has played just 10 times in the Premier League this campaign, having fallen down Klopp’s pecking order.
Klopp also opted to publicly rebuke the midfielder in January for his performances when he is brought on, meaning he will need to take every chance possible to change his manager’s mind.
“Talents need to work and he is doing that work. Talents need to learn the game. Sometimes they need a little push and Curtis looks like he is that guy,” he said.
“Not that he is not concentrated or whatever; let me say not ‘pushed’, it’s a response, a proper response and then he can have that much more often if he wants.”
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Though he has played more than the others on this list, there remains a feeling that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has not reached his potential at Liverpool.
Injuries have been a major cause of that, but with his contract entering its final 18 months, he is running out of time to impress.
Oxlade-Chamberlain will hope to earn himself a new deal and the best way to do that is through the chances he gets to start.
The Englishman is expected to feature in Liverpool’s front three against Norwich, which could help to mark him out as a long-term option for backing up the Reds first-choices.
Takumi Minamino
Takumi Minamino has struggled to live up to expectations since arriving at Anfield from Red Bull Salzburg.
He has scored just seven times this season, with four of those coming in the Carabao Cup’s first three rounds.
The Japanese attacker should be handed a rare start against the Canaries on Wednesday and needs to show why he should keep his place in Klopp’s wider squad.
