Match facts Liverpool's only previous League Cup win against Tottenham was in the 1982 final (D2 L4), though they did knock them out on penalties following a draw in December 2004. This match is a meeting of the past two losing League Cup finalists (Tottenham in 2015 and Liverpool in 2016). In all competitions, Tottenham are winless in their past eight meetings with Liverpool - five defeats followed by three draws. Spurs have lost three of their past four League Cup games against fellow Premier League sides, beating Newcastle 4-0 in December 2014. Liverpool are the highest-scoring Premier League club in the EFL Cup this season (eight goals).
A significant advantage we and Chelsea have over the other 3 teams in THAT "Top group of 5 separated by 1 point" is that we do not have extra midweek European matches. That to me is such an advantage that it would be criminal not to use to its fullest. may be Chelsea would have crushed and humiliated the mancs anyway but I cannot believe that Chelsea not having a midweek game and therefore had the whole week to prepare did not have an effect. So for me, it is a win-win. Going out of the League Cup would not be such a disaster. We can focus 100% on the league. As expected City has repeated the last season's scenario. Great opening few games then slowly and steadily losing it. We've got a great chance to win the title this season (there I've said it) and we could be distracted by the League Cup at a crucial stage of the league.
Whilst I agree with most of this in principle, we came a cropper last season through putting all our eggs in the Europey basket. I think lack of Europe means we should do our best in the domestic cups, for if the unthinkable should happen and we don't walk away with the PL title we're entitled to, then at least we have the chance of a trophy elsewhere.
Leicester are able to do it with a smaller squad, we have a bigger squad and should be able to cope with domestic competitions without European football.
we do know literally we are talking 4 games to the final including this one? I don't personally get the thought we walk away from trophies either.. perhaps we are old school?
I think we should try to win everything we can. This used to be our tradition- it's only the last decade or so we've gone all picky. I'm sure our players can manage more than one game a week now and again. If they can't then we might as well not bother trying to get into Europe.
Kevin Stewart ready as ever to repay Klopp trust http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/240671-kevin-stewart-ready-as-ever-to-repay-klopp-trust
yup. thats what happens.. get a small bit of success then utterly flop thereafter cos you can't cope. spurs will not do this cos while they do throw comps the club still tires to play up to feb or so then focus on the league. spurs have the experience with europe and playing twice a week but miss out of 3/4 squad players to make it work... like kane being over played for example LFC have no europe and could draw man utd away in 3rd round of fa cup and have a howard webb ref... don't assume we can go for FA cup so the league cup doesn't matter... lets just win this game.
hearing that alexander arnold and ejaria are in the squad. not hearing if they are starting. Used to get a team sheet for some of these games leaked for betting.
Henderson: I'm gutted I can't play tonight http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/240604-henderson-i-m-gutted-i-can-t-play-tonight
#LFC team v @SpursOfficial: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lucas, Klavan, Moreno, Stewart, Wijnaldum, Grujic, Ejaria, Origi, Sturridge #LIVTOT
4m ago Team news: 11 changes for Reds against Spurs James Carroll @James_Carroll84 Liverpool make 11 changes for this evening's EFL Cup round of 16 fixture with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold is handed a senior competitive debut at right-back, while Ovie Ejaria makes his first start for the Reds in midfield. There are also berths for the likes of Ragnar Klavan, Alberto Moreno and Marko Grujic, while Georginio Wijnaldum steps up his return from a hip injury with a place in the starting XI. Liverpool: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lucas, Klavan, Moreno, Stewart, Grujic, Wijnaldum, Ejaria, Sturridge, Origi. Subs: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Mane, Lallana, Can, Ings.
no shey ojo? happy to see the young right back get a go - ive watched the last 2 u23 matches and hes stood out- alexander arnold
Ejaria is a class act. Like to see him play in the first team as with better players around him he would be a handful to the opposition.
