Liverpool is getting ready to take on Leicester in the League Cup, but can the Reds finally pull off a victory at Anfield in the full 90 minutes?
Third round of the League Cup, Liverpool vs. Leicester City, Anfield, September 27, 2023, 7.45 p.m.
Liverpool believed they would be free of Leicester this season after being demoted last year.
Unfortunately, the Reds’ League Cup draw for the first time ever features the Foxes. However, it does offer a good chance for advancement while playing the Championship team.
Here is all the information you require prior to Liverpool vs. Leicester.
1. Trent’s “too soon”
The visit of Leicester has come “too soon,” according to assistant manager Pep Lijnders, as Trent Alexander-Arnold has missed the last three games due to a hamstring injury.
Thankfully, the right-back was back in some of Monday’s practice alongside his teammates, but Saturday’s trip to Tottenham is the game that is anticipated to mark his return.
While Thiago is recovering from hip surgery at the tail end of last season, he is still in “a good way” and has not yet returned to full training.
However, Lijnders did clarify that “changes” will be made to the roster even though there were no other injuries to report.
2. If necessary, straight to penalties
Every League Cup match that is tied after the final whistle will proceed immediately to a penalty shootout, with no further time allowed until the semi-final round.
The Reds have prevailed in their last four penalty shootouts, including one against the Foxes back in 2021. Jurgen Klopp’s team won both domestic cups in 2021/22 by converting from the spot.
I’m not sure if now is the best time to test our nerves, though!
3. How many adjustments?
When we consider how Klopp rotated for the first Europa League match, with a not too dissimilar XI expected, you get the feeling that Liverpool’s selection could be predictable.
11 changes from the league game on Sunday were not unexpected, as Lijnders had said on the day of the match that “we need to make changes, it’s a given in a period like this.”
Ben Doak is expected to get another chance, this time with Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo, while Stefan Bajcetic is set for another spot at right-back, albeit this is not where his future rests.
Expected starting lineup for the Reds: Kelleher; Bajcetic, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch; Doak, Jota, Gakpo
4. Man City try to break the record
The League Cup has been a favorite of Liverpool’s throughout its many incarnations; the Reds are the only team to have won it nine times.
However, Man City are now not far behind, having achieved five victories in six tries between 2016 and 2021, bringing their total to eight.
Virgil van Dijk will be attempting to break the club record and win the trophy a second time this year. If he succeeds, it will be his first trophy as Liverpool captain, possibly the first of many.
5. The Championship’s Daily Life
Enzo Maresca, an Italian manager who replaced Dean Smith in the summer, has led Leicester to nine victories in his first ten matches.
Although it is anticipated that the Foxes would return immediately to the top division, the Championship is famously unpredictable. However, they are at the top of the standings, and Jamie Vardy has scored three goals out of nine this year.
They also traveled to Merseyside for the last round, where they defeated Tranmere 2-0 after eliminating Burton Albion with the same score in the first round.
Stolarczyk, Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin; Casadei, Ndidi, Winks; Akgun, Iheanacho, Mavididi might make up the Leicester starting lineup.
6. No VAR
Refereeing two Premier League games thus far this season after being elevated to the PGMOL’s Select Group One in the summer.
The assistant referees are David Webb and Simon Bennett, and the fourth official is Daniel Robathan.
7. Not shown on UK television
The game is not broadcast in the UK; on Wednesday, Newcastle’s opponent will be Manchester City.
Fortunately, You Can Still Stay Current With Everything With This Is Anfield.
The matchday live blog will be overseen by Adam Beattie, and there will be the customary build-up and commentary to happenings at Anfield.
8. The final time we saw Leicester…
Liverpool defeated Leicester twice despite having a less than successful season the previous year.
Most recently, in May at King Power Stadium, they defeated Dean Smith’s Foxes 3-0. It was a contest that will be primarily remembered as an example of Scouse strength.
Curtis Jones gave Liverpool a 2-0 lead in the first half, and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s incredible free kick with 20 minutes remaining put an end to the match.
That contest was a part of Liverpool’s current 18-game winning streak.
9. An unexpected statistic
Given that the Reds won the League Cup in 2022, it is absurd that Liverpool has gone.
