Cup football continues for Liverpool in 2017 tonight. After the embarrassment of failing to beat Plymouth Argyle at Anfield in the FA Cup on Sunday, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds face Southampton in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, and it's perhaps a welcome distraction from the intensity of a Premier League title challenge.

Klopp has often seen the cup competitions as a chance to rotate and test out the younger members of his squad. But, with his team only two matches away from a trip to Wembley, the German is expected to name something close to his strongest side to face Southampton. He came close to lifting the League Cup last season and, while the Premier League is still very much possible, the former Borussia Dortmund gaffer will be desperate to put the naysayers down and lift his first trophy in English football.

Southampton, despite their own indifferent form of late, are a challenge themselves, though. They must be taken seriously, but Klopp should give these THREE youngsters a run out too, especially as he'll need his big guns fresh for Manchester United on Sunday…

Kevin Stewart

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Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Kevin Stewart
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Redemption is a fine thing. Kevin Stewart is an unquestionably gifted central midfielder, but he struggled at times against Plymouth, too often looking to do the spectacular - the 23-year-old seemed excitable on the big occasion.

That said, Stewart deserves another opportunity. The talent is there and, given his age, he will not have much longer to prove his credentials as a regular starter for Liverpool. While the temptation could be to remove him from the spotlight, there were enough positives in his game to show that he can make it.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

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The double-barrelled revolution continues to take hold across English football. Trent Alexander-Arnold is the latest to step to the fore and the full-back looks set to be a Kop hero for years to come. With Jurgen Klopp’s selection dilemmas continuing in the wide defensive positions, Alexander-Arnold has a very real chance to make one of the roles his own.

Should the youngster perform, it would remove one of the transfer requirements for this summer and allow the Reds to focus their finances elsewhere.

Ben Woodburn

While Liverpool’s forward line may seem as crowded as London’s buses during a tube strike, you can never have too many options in the final third. Such a sentiment is particularly true when one of them is Daniel Sturridge and one of them has just left the squad for a month.

Ben Woodburn has been talked about as one of Liverpool’s hottest young talents for a season or two now and, although he also started against Plymouth, he deserves a chance on the biggest stage to prove he can fill a void in the squad. While Sturridge may well leave this summer, Woodburn could save the club a great deal if he could step into the attacking group.