ASTON VILLA vs LIVERPOOL
- Liverpool have won on each of their past six visits to Aston Villa in all competitions
- This is Aston Villa’s 21st and Liverpool’s 23rd appearance at the quarter-final stage
- Liverpool have progressed from each of their past four EFL Cup quarter-finals
- Reds Under-23 coach Neil Critchley will take charge of Liverpool in Jurgen Klopp’s absence
Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Hoever, Van Den Berg, Boyes, Gallacher, Chirivella, Kane, Christie-Davies, Elliott, Hill, Longstaff
Starting XI…
Liverpool have announced their side 15 minutes early – a nightmare scenarios for humble bloggers such as myself. Full analysis once I’ve Googled who the hell these players are…
Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Hoever, Van Den Berg, Boyes, Gallacher, Chirivella, Kane, Christie-Davies, Elliott, Hill, Longstaff.
Subs: Winterbottom, Clayton, Norris, Clarkson, Dixon-Bonner, Bearne, Stewart.
Where to watch…
Jurgen Klopp will gather with his players in their Doha team hotel – to watch Liverpool in action back in England in the Carabao Cup.
The bizarre situation has come about because the European champions are in Qatar ahead of Wednesday’s Club World Cup semi-final against Mexico’s Monterrey.
The runaway Premier League leaders will watch the first game of the Club World Cup last four at the Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium, between Brazilian’s Flamengo and Asian champions Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia before rushing back to their hotel.
“It’s good. Tomorrow night we start with watching the other semi-final live in the stadium, I think it should be possible. And then we will leave there a bit earlier and sit here in front of the television and watch that game,” said Klopp. “It will be absolutely exciting. I’m really delighted for the boys.”
Who’s left?
So we’re down to the final eight in this season’s Carabao Cup. An you won’t be surprised to learn that Manchester City are favourites to defend they crown.
The remaining fixtures are Aston Villa vs Liverpool, Everton vs Leicester, Manchester United vs Colchester and Oxford vs Manchester City.
Not the most tantalising quarter-final figures – but the semis should be terrific. That draw will be tomorrow night and we’ll have all the coverage.
Evening…
Hello folks and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Carabao Cup.
Excited about seeing Liverpool’s C Team take on Aston Villa’s B Team at Villa Park? Good. Me neither, but I’m contractually obliged to be here.
As you know, Jurgen Klopp has played a young side in the Carabao Cup so far and those youngsters will have to do the business again this week as the more senior players are all away in Qatar for the Club World Cup.
The German tactician won’t be in the dugout either as the Reds’ Under-23s boss Neil Critchley takes charge of tonight’s clash.
It might be one to forget, but who knows – could be fun. Possibly. Maybe. Perhaps… well what else are you going to watch on a Tuesday night? Gregg Wallace’s Magical Christmas Market is on Channel 5…
ASTON VILLA vs LIVERPOOL
Aston Villa will check on the fitness of Conor Hourihane ahead of their Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Liverpool.
The midfielder missed the Premier League defeat at Sheffield United but Villa boss Dean Smith was optimistic he would be available on Tuesday night.
Facing a much-changed Reds team, Smith may feel he can afford to make changes of his own. With Jed Steer (Achilles) out injured, Orjan Nyland could start in goal while the likes of Ezri Konsa, Neil Taylor, Douglas Luiz, Trezeguet, Jonathan Kodjia and Jota might also get some game time.
Striker Rhian Brewster is Liverpool’s major doubt for the clash at Villa Park.
With the bulk of the first-team squad on Club World Cup duty in Qatar, Under-23s head coach Neil Critchley will take charge of a young squad.
Brewster, who has played in Liverpool’s two Carabao Cup ties this season, scoring a penalty in the shoot-out win over Arsenal in the last round, sustained an ankle injury in training, and will be assessed ahead of the game to determine if he will lead the Reds’ front line.