As depicted in the above image, both teams can make a good amount of changes knowing the fact that they are facing each other in the league less 72 hours after this game.For Liverpool, Klopp has already confirmed that Simon Mignolet will be in goal. It is almost certain that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson get a rest, meaning game time for Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno. With Dejan Lovren still recovering and Virgil van Dijk not 100%, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip may start as a centre-back pairing.This could be the game where we see Fabinho finally starting a game for the Reds. Meanwhile, Naby Keita didn’t start the previous two games, expect him to be back in the eleven. Now for the third midfield option, Georginio Wijnaldum has started every game thus far and deserves a rest. Jordan Henderson started the previous two gamesand may also sit this one out. Hence, the evergreen James Milner could slot into the right-sided midfield.As for the visitors Chelsea, Sarri has few injury concerns to deal with. Pedro injured his shoulder during the Europa League game and will most probably be out for the weekend as well. Centre-back Antonio Rudiger tweaked something against West Ham and it doesn’t look too good for the German.So we may well see Gary Cahill finally starting a game of football this season, with David Luiz expected to get a rest. The Englishman will plausibly be partnered by Andreas Christensen. The Blues also have the option of rotating their fullbacks, meaning Davide Zappacosta and Emerson should get their respective game times.In midfield, Ethan Ampadu and Ross Barkley have been the knocking for regular first-team action. So, Sarri might start both of them alongside Cesc Fabregas, who is now fit after getting injured just before the season began.The front line would consist of Alvaro Morata, Victor Moses and youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi. The manager won’t want to risk by playing Eden Hazard and Willian because their other option Pedro is injured.With regards to the tactics, this could be the game where both managers might be reluctant to play all their cards, bearing in mind that they are meeting each other again in less than 72 hours.Sarri likes his team to play passing football building from the back and sustaining territorial pressure in the opposition half. One may think this could become tough for them as Liverpool are the masters of pressing and disrupting the rhythmic football of their opponents.The thing to notice here is that both teams are almost certain to put out rotated lineups. This means that the game could be either too open or too cagey. The reason behind it isthat having regular eleven playing makes it easier as the passing patterns, triangles, instructions as per various situations are known to each other. Not quite the case with switched lineups.In any case, we are expected to watch a good game between two of the best teams in English football.Stats
- Liverpool have only won two of their last 14 games against Chelsea in all competitions (7D, 5L), both of them coming at Stamford Bridge.
- Liverpool are the most successful team in the League Cup, winning the competition on eight occasions. Chelsea are a bit behind with five.
- The last time these two teams meet in a League Cup tie was a two-legged 2014/15 semi-final. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw, while Chelsea snatched the tie with a late goal at Stamford Bridge in extra-time during the second leg.
- Liverpool and Chelsea have once met in this competition’s final, with the latter winning 3-2 in 2005 at the Millennium Stadium.
