Liverpool is expected to make wholesale changes for the midweek Carabao Cup clash against Southampton.

Arne Slot's side can book a spot in the semi-finals with a win at St Mary’s, which would take the new Liverpool boss one step closer to his first piece of silverware. But in the midst of such a heavy run of fixtures, the Reds will have to freshen the team up - Slot even admitted that himself.

“That is the positive thing with the League Cup because up until now we haven’t played with many starters and it’s mostly been games where those who haven’t played that much started the game,” the Dutchman said in Tuesday’s press conference.

READ MORE: I heard what Arne Slot said in his press conference and Liverpool needs to take transfer action

READ MORE: Diogo Jota injury setback: Every word on Liverpool star's latest issue

• Diogo Jota injury setback: Every word on Liverpool star's latest issue

• How to watch Southampton vs Liverpool in US and UK - TV channel, live stream, early team news

“Probably the ones who have started a lot of times will not play 90 minutes for sure and maybe not at all,” he added.

Slot namechecked Wataru Endo as a player who is likely to come into the side - he hasn’t started a league match this season - while the Dutchman added that Caoimhin Kelleher will play instead of Alisson. In a heavily rotated XI, it’s likely Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton and Harvey Elliott will also be selected.

But it’s in defense that Slot has limited options - he has just four senior players available. The Liverpool boss revealed on Tuesday that Kostas Tsimikas could return following a recent injury, which would be a timely boost given Andy Robertson’s suspension. However, if unavailable, it’s likely that James Norris will start.

The 21-year-old was on the bench last week against Girona and was left out of the Under-21 squad at Crystal Palace on Monday. A regular at left-back for the youth team, Norris is the obvious choice to slot into the team if Tsimikas can’t play, and make his first senior appearance since January 2022.

“I am aware that we only have four defenders available,” Slot said ahead of the quarter-final. “It will probably be academy players who are going to play or it will be players not that nobody would expect to see in the last line who are going to play tomorrow.”

Alexis Mac Allister is also back after serving suspensions in the Champions League and Premier League over the last two matches. With fresher legs, there’s every chance the World Cup winner will return to the team.

In the attacking areas, Slot is likely to give Mohamed Salah a night off, while he revealed Diogo Jota is struggling with a knock and not expected to start.

Federico Chiesa is another option and could play his first minutes since September - although a cameo off the bench seems the more sensible choice for the Italian winger. It means that two of Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez will probably start against the Saints.

Liverpool predicted line-up vs Southampton: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Quansah, Norris; Endo, Mac Allister, Morton; Elliott, Nunez, Diaz.