Liverpool duo Wataru Endo and Jarell Quansah are suspension risks for Liverpool should the Reds progress to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Arne Slot’s side face Southampton in Wednesday’s quarter-final, with both expected to play at St Marys after the Liverpool manager indicated those lacking regular minutes are likely to come into the side.

“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.

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“That’s really important for the likes of Wata Endo, he hasn’t played that much, but fortunately he plays for his national team and the few times he has played in the League Cup help him to keep his rhythm as well. Probably the ones who have started a lot of times will not play 90 minutes for sure and maybe not at all.”

Endo hasn’t started a single league game this season, while Quansah has started just once since the opening weekend of the campaign, and are prime candidates to come into the XI on Wednesday.

But, should Liverpool win and either player be booked, they will be suspended for the first leg of the semi-final, with just two yellow cards in the competition earning a one-match ban. Endo was cautioned in the fourth-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, while Quansah received a yellow in the previous round against West Ham United.

Ibrahima Konate is the only other Liverpool player to have been booked in the Carabao Cup this season, but given his ongoing injury it’s not currently a concern to Arne Slot.

Ironically, the Dutchman is actually suspended for Wednesday night’s game after he picked up a third yellow card of the season in Saturday’s draw with Fulham. The ban applies to the next domestic game, meaning he is unable to take his seat in the dugout at St Mary’s but can conduct his regular pre-match duties and is allowed in the dressing room at half-time.

Suspensions are very much on brand for Liverpool at the moment, with Andy Robertson ineligible to face Southampton following the red card he received against Fulham at the weekend. It means Liverpool will have to find an alternative at left-back, and Slot revealed in his pre-match press conference that Kostas Tsimikas is ‘close’ to returning.