Key events
Roberto De Zerbi speaks to Sky Sports. “I am lucky I have a great squad … many very good players … changing the first XI, I hope we don’t change the quality of the players, I am sure they are the same level … I would like to see the goals … the same attitude of the first 30 minutes against Everton … we have the qualities enough to score … it’s a tough moment … no pressure, but we play to win the games … playing at Anfield against Liverpool is always tough … but my focus is on my team … after one month of working together … keep our eyes on our goal … our organisation of the play and nothing else.”
Both teams make a slew of changes from their Premier League selections at the weekend. The only survivor from the XI that started Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Fulham is Ronald Araujo. He’ll move from right back to form a central defensive pairing with Joe Gomez, who returns from his latest injury lay-off.
Spurs retain three members of their starting XI for the goalless draw against Everton. Rodrigo Bentancur, Omar Marmoush and captain Archie Gray go again. A couple of LFC old boys are on the bench: Dominic Solanke and Andrew Robertson, the latter having made 378 appearances for the Reds. Expect emotion if Robertson gets minutes.
The teams
Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Araujo, Gomez, Kerkez, Nyoni, Mac Allister, Ngumoha, McConnell, Gakpo, Koumas.
Subs: Alisson, Endo, Jacquet, Szoboszlai, Isak, Munoz, Barcola, Gravenberch, Chambers.
Tottenham Hotspur: Dubravka, Gray, Tosin, Senesi, Udogie, Bentancur, Bergvall, Kudus, Gallagher, Tel, Marmoush.
Subs: Kinsky, Robertson, van Hecke, Maddison, Savio, Fernandes, Solanke, Davies, van de Ven.
Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)
Preamble
Liverpool drew a miserable blank against Fulham on Saturday and have yet to beat an English team at Anfield this season, while Spurs have the sum total of zero goals in four matches against top-flight opposition. That doesn’t augur well, does it?
But look at it another way. It’s the League Cup tonight, which means the team selections are likely to be left-field bordering on all-over-the-shop. And when these clubs meet, things usually happen: in the last four seasons alone, their get-togethers have generated scorelines such as 5-1, 4-0, 3-6, 4-2 and 4-3, a good smattering of last-minute equalisers and even later winners, four red cards, and one egregious VAR balls-up. Good process, everyone! So anything could feasibly happen. The fun – and it should be fun, shouldn’t it? – begins at 8pm BST. It’s on!