Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders insists Jurgen Klopp will play a "strong team" against Lincoln City on Thursday.

The Reds can book an EFL Cup fourth-round tie with Arsenal if they can beat the League One outfit.

"The team tomorrow will be a strong team. I think some of you guys [the media] will be surprised, to be honest," Lijnders told reporters.

"It's about finding a team that feels the responsibility to give everything tomorrow, and finding a good balance in this.

"I said already last year, in these competitions is a great moment where you can combine experience with talent, which makes each other stronger; the fire of the young players, the risk of the young players, the bravery.

"Which we need tomorrow because we're going to play against a side who will defend deep, that is ready to counter-attack, has real speed on the wings and real technical players on the inside. But set up for a good counter-attacking game; they scored five goals already, for example, this season from counter-attacks. At the same time, when they play they really play.

"The team we have to put into place tomorrow has to be a team that is very well prepared. If you have only three days in between two games, you have to use that time very wisely, you have to prepare the team. Sometimes it's really interesting to prepare a team from day one after the last game. That's what we try to do."