The Reds are gearing up for their first domestic cup game of the season as Liverpool prepare to face Leicester in the League Cup – but can they finally win in 90 minutes at Anfield?

Liverpool vs. Leicester City

League Cup (Third Round) | Anfield
September 27, 2023 | 7.45pm (BST)

When they were relegated last season, Liverpool thought they would have a Leicester-free year this season.

Alas, the Reds have drawn the Foxes at the first time of asking in the League Cup. It does present a good opportunity for progression against the Championship side, though.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Liverpool vs. Leicester.

1. “Too soon” for Trent

Trent Alexander-Arnold has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury and the visit of Leicester has come “too soon,” assistant manager Pep Lijnders confirmed.

The right-back, thankfully, was back in parts of training on Monday with his teammates, but Saturday’s trip to Tottenham is the match that is expected to herald his return.

Thiago, meanwhile, is in “a good way” but he has yet to make a full training return as his individual rehabilitation continues following hip surgery at the back-end of last season.

There were no other injuries to report, but Lijnders did confirm that “changes” will be made to the lineup.

2. Straight to penalties, if needed

With no extra time until the semi-final stage, every League Cup match that is level after the final whistle will go directly to a penalty shootout.

The Reds have won their last four penalty shootouts, and that includes one against the Foxes back in 2021 – Jurgen Klopp‘s men won both domestic cups from the spot in 2021/22.

Not sure our nerves should be put to the test this early, though!

3. How many changes?

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You sense Liverpool’s lineup could be a predictable one when we consider how Klopp rotated for the first Europa League clash, with a not too dissimilar XI likely.

From Sunday’s league match, 11 changes would not come as a surprise as Lijnders stated on the eve of the clash that “we need to make changes, it’s a given in a period like this.”

Stefan Bajcetic is in line for another berth at right-back, though this not where his future lies, while Ben Doak is set to get another opportunity, this time alongside Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo.

Predicted Reds XI: Kelleher; Bajcetic, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch; Doak, Jota, Gakpo

4. Man City chase the record

Throughout its various iterations, Liverpool have enjoyed the League Cup; the Reds have won the competition nine times – more than anyone else.

Man City are now close behind, though, with five successes in six attempts between 2016 and 2021 taking their overall tally to eight.

This season, Virgil van Dijk will be hoping to lift the trophy for a second time and extend the club record. Should he do it, it would be his first trophy – hopefully, of many – as Liverpool captain.

5. Life in the Championship

Italian manager Enzo Maresca took over from Dean Smith in the summer and has won nine of his first 10 games at Leicester.

The Foxes are expected to come straight back up to the top flight, but the Championship is notoriously unpredictable. They are, though, currently top of the table and Jamie Vardy is still scoring goals – three in nine so far this season.

The last round also saw them travel to Merseyside, beating Tranmere 2-0 after knocking Burton Albion out by the same scoreline in the first round.

Possible Leicester XI: Stolarczyk; Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin; Casadei, Ndidi, Winks; Akgun, Iheanacho, Mavididi

6. No VAR

There will be no VAR for this one.

Tim Robinson takes charge of a Liverpool game for the first time as referee, having acted as fourth official on two previous occasions for the Reds.

The official was promoted to the PGMOL’s Select Group One in the summer and has refereed two Premier League matches so far this season.

Simon Bennett and Daniel Robathan are the assistant referees, while David Webb takes the fourth official role.

7. Not televised in the UK

The match isn’t on UK television, with Sky Sports’ Wednesday pick being Newcastle vs. Man City.

Thankfully, you can still keep up to date with everything that’s going on with This Is Anfield.

Adam Beattie will be running the matchday live blof and there will be the usual build-up and reaction to events at Anfield.

8. Last time we met Leicester…

Liverpool didn’t enjoy a succesful season last time around, but they still did the double over Leicester.

Most recently, they beat Dean Smith’s Foxes 3-0 at the King Power Stadium in May. It was a game that will mainly be remembered as a demonstration of Scouse power.

Curtis Jones put Liverpool two ahead in the first half before a stunning free-kick, from Trent Alexander-Arnold, sealed the game with 20 minutes left to play.

That match was part of the 18-game unbeaten run Liverpool are currently on.

9. A surprising statistic

Liverpool have not won a League Cup tie in normal time at Anfield in the last seven matches – a crazy statistic given the Reds won the competition in 2022.

That last time was against Leeds in 2016, when Ben Woodburn became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer.

On the bright side, Liverpool have failed to score in only two of the last 29 home encounters in all competitions against Leicester.

Vardy could be the opposition’s danger man. He has a good record against Liverpool, scoring 10 goals in his 17 appearances against the Reds in all competitions.

10. Follow the match with TIA

Liverpool vs. Leicester is not live on television in the UK, but you can stay up to date This Is Anfield and check in with our worldwide TV guide prior to kick-off.

TIA’s matchday live blog will be up and running from 7pm, with Adam Beattie tasked with keeping you entertained and up-to-date.

The match kicks off at 7.45pm (BST).

Come on you Reds!

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Tuesday saw Jurgen Klopp‘s right-hand man address the media as Liverpool prepare to begin their League Cup journey for 2023/24.

Leicester “too early” for Trent

While Trent Alexander-Arnold has made a full return to training, it appears fans won’t be seeing him in League Cup action on Wednesday night.

The right-back has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the Reds’ 3-0 win over Aston Villa at the start of the month and he withdrew from the England squad for their recent international fixtures.

Alexander-Arnold missed the wins over Wolves, LASK and West Ham as he worked his way back to fitness, with Pepijn Lijnders admitting in his pre-Leicester press conference that the visit of Leicester will come “too early” for him to make a return.

It appears the trip to Tottenham this weekend is more likely to be the point at which the 24-year-old gets himself back out on the pitch.

He will be forced to watch on for the fourth game in a row on Wednesday evening as he continues his recovery, but it sounds like we won’t have much longer to wait.

Lijnders previews Leicester

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• Ben Doak is likely to start against the Foxes, with the assistant manager revealing that the Reds “need to make changes” on Wednesday

• The wait for Thiago to return to full training goes on, with Lijnders admitting the Reds “miss” the midfielder

Latest Liverpool FC news

• Lijnders is hoping Caoimhin Kelleher will remain at Anfield “for a long time” and has described the reserve goalkeeper as “world-class”

• James Maddison is likely to be fit for the weekend’s visit of the Reds, but four players are set to miss out for Ange Postecoglu’s side

• Xabi Alonso is being lined up by Real Madrid to replace Carlo Ancelotti as manager of the Galacticos next summer

Latest chat from elsewhere

• Chelsea are said to have turned down the chance to sign Declan Rice in the summer to avoid being duped into paying an ‘English premium’, so they went for the bargain Moises Caicedo instead! (Mirror)

• Thomas Frank insists he has no intention of selling Ivan Toney in January amid reported interest from various Premier League clubs (Sky Sports)

• Phil Jones has made a surprise return to Man United – aged 31 – as he works towards earning a PFA qualification, remember when Fergie said he’d be their greatest-ever player? (Daily Mail)

Video of the day and match of the night

Our latest ‘Live at 5’ show included a discussion on Darwin Nunez‘s role within the squad, is he now the manager’s first choice at centre-forward?

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All eyes are on Old Trafford tonight as Man United take on Crystal Palace in the third round of the League Cup.

The game gets underway at 8pm (BST) and will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event, come on you Eagles!

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Liverpool owner Tom Werner was in attendance for each of the club’s last two games, with Fenway Sports Group showing a “united front.”

The Reds are unbeaten so far this season, and in each of their last three fixtures have come away as 3-1 victors, including against LASK and West Ham.

In the stands for both of those wins was Werner, who serves as Liverpool chairman and is part of the ownership group, FSG, alongside the likes of John W. Henry and Mike Gordon.

Werner watched as Jurgen Klopp‘s side twice fought back from 1-0 down, with goals from Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota showcasing the wealth of attacking options in the squad.

But it was unclear why the 73-year-old had flown over from Boston for those particular games, with Henry’s last visit at least timed with the end of the transfer window.

The Liverpool Echo‘s David Powell has explained, though, that Werner’s trip was to “connect with senior leadership in person.”

FSG’s aim is to “demonstrate a united front,” which is timely as results are improving under Klopp following a major overhaul throughout the summer.

Sources have indicated that criticism of FSG from supporters of both Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox has “not gone unnoticed,” with there a clear decision to face up to this.

It is closing on a year since the US owners confirmed their intention to sell the club, though this was later scaled back to partial investment.

There has been little movement in that sense, despite repeated reports from journalists on Merseyside that a deal would be struck ‘soon’, but the demand for FSG to sell has also died down somewhat.

The Echo‘s report suggests that Werner’s meetings with senior figures, including Klopp himself, could determine “what direction the club go.”

Two examples of this come in the appointment of a sporting director, with Jorg Schmadtke only holding an interim position, along with plans for the January transfer window.

Powell adds: “Sources claim that the focus remains on a long-term future for FSG at both Liverpool and the Red Sox.”

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This comes following comments from Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan, on the SportsPro Media Podcast’s ‘Ask a CEO’ series in August, insisting those within the club are “focused on winning trophies.”

“Everything we do is in the best interests of the club,” Hogan explained.

“There is going to be criticism, there is going to be pressure, but that is part of working in an environment that is as public as Liverpool is.

“It comes with the territory, you have to keep your head down, keep going and keep doing the best that you can for the club.

“The team that I work alongside cares very deeply.

“Of course they care about results on the pitch but they also care greatly about the club itself and doing the right thing for the club.”

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While Stefan Bajcetic‘s return from injury has seen him deployed at right-back, Liverpool coaches do not view him as a long-term option in that role.

Bajcetic made his first appearance for Liverpool since March when he started in the Europa League trip to LASK, filling in for Joe Gomez at right-back.

The teenager occupied the hybrid role adapted for Trent Alexander-Arnold, clocking 61 minutes as he works his way back from a long-term adductor injury.

He is expected to start in the same position when Leicester visit Anfield in the League Cup on Wednesday night, but previewing that tie, assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders insisted his future is in midfield.

“It’s not easy with all the games, there are not many who can play that position like Trent does,” Lijnders explained.

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“That’s really tricky. That’s why I made a big compliment to Joe Gomez.

“Stefan is this player who last year, from a coach’s point of view, played on the six and was just exciting, no?

“Because he plays passes, dictates the game in a different way to Alexis or other midfielders we had.

“He’s this proper, proper talent, so you want to see him in the middle of the pitch.

“So it would not make sense to just play him as a right-back and use him as a right-back like in the past or whatever.”

Alexander-Arnold has rejoined training after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury, but will not be considered for the squad in midweek.

That leaves Jurgen Klopp with the decision over starting Joe Gomez again or returning to Bajcetic as right-back, with the latter seemingly more likely to allow him valuable game time.

“It’s not easy to find the right player if Joe or Trent can’t play,” Lijnders continued.

“But we need to find solutions as well, because Stefan, he’s coming back from a long-term injury, so it’s not possible for him to play constantly.

“We need to find solutions in that position.

“It’s good that Trent is training – yesterday he was on the pitch – it’s good that Joe is performing how he is performing.

“And it’s nice for Stefan to play a game there, but it was his first game as a [right-back]. He play a lot of games at centre-half, but not at full-back.”

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Pepijn Lijnders has described Liverpool’s reserve goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher as “world-class” and admitted that the club are “really happy” he is still at Anfield.

Kelleher featured four times in the Reds’ League Cup-winning 2021/22 campaign and is widely expected to start in the third round of this season’s competition against Leicester.

While he didn’t confirm that this would be the case on Wednesday night, Lijnders did heap praise on the Reds’ No. 2 stopper as he previewed the contest.

“He has a long-term contract. For me, he could play for any Premier League team. He’s just a world-class goalkeeper,” Linjders told reporters in his pre-Leicester press conference.

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“He’s not a talent anymore, he’s just a world-class goalkeeper but he needs game time. It was a really good thing that he stayed with us, that Jurgen could give him perspective. We’re really happy he is with us.

“You want every position with top ones who can play any kind of game. Whatever happens, we can put Caoimhin in and the game will not change a lot.

“He’s calm with his feet, he knows where to bring the ball, he can read it and he is exceptional in one-on-one situations.

“We are happy he is with us, and hopefully he stays for a long time.”

Kelleher is under contract at Anfield until 2026 and he has been given a number of opportunities in domestic cup competitions during his time on Merseyside.

The Irishman has made 22 appearances in all competitions for the Reds, his first coming back in September 2019 in a 2-0 League Cup win away at MK Dons.

He was the subject of reported interest from various Premier League clubs over the summer, but he elected to remain at the club despite finding himself firmly behind Alisson in the pecking order.

Whether interested parties come back in for the 24-year-old at the end of the season remains to be seen, but he is clearly held in high regard at Liverpool despite featuring less frequently than he would likely hope at this stage of his career.

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Pep Lijnders has signalled Liverpool’s intention to make sweeping changes for their League Cup third-round clash with Leicester City.

The Reds kick off their domestic cup campaign on Wednesday evening when they face the recently relegated Foxes at Anfield.

The meeting with Enzo Maresca’s men comes as part of a run of three games in just seven days across Europa League, Premier League and League Cup.

And Lijnders says that makes alterations to the lineup “a given,” though he insisted Liverpool will be taking this competition seriously this season.

He said: “First, we want to win the game, so that’s our first thought.

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“[We are in] a crazy schedule at the moment because we play Europa League, which means Thursday-Sunday-Wednesday.

“And we know that even more with the style we have, it takes a lot from the boys, not just physically but mentally.

“So we need to make changes in this kind of period, it’s just a given. Normally in the cup, we make more changes and give debuts, but we are not only here to give debuts, we are here to develop.

“Jota said a while ago to me, the best thing about the season where we went for the four trophies was that we stayed in the League Cup until the end, because it gives all the players constant game time.

“All the players in the squad stay hungry because they know there’s a next game where they will play and a healthy squad that wants to fight for all competitions needs this.”

One likely change for Wednesday’s game is the introduction of 17-year-old winger Ben Doak, who has impressed since making the move from Celtic last summer.

Of the exciting young Scot, Lijnders said: “He’s young so a lot of things can happen.

“I had the privilege of growing up in Holland and we have this long tactical culture of Johan Cruyff and the idea of having the wingers on the outside to create, can really use one-v-ones to disorganise the opposition, they have this speed.

“Overmars, Arjen Robben, this kind of player, in the past it was [Johnny] Rep, [Rob] Rensenbrink.

“So we have this culture of wingers, but you get a young winger from Scotland, only 17 years old, but has this capacity to create and to reach the final line with individual skill and movement, it’s nice to see.

“The good thing with Ben is that he comes into a squad with so much senior authority and, he is not this kind of guy, but he will never make a sidestep.

“The boys will tell him, you already hear constantly ‘decisions!’ from Robbo.

“He has this great low centre of gravity, and that’s how he can control the ball at the highest speed with his left and right foot.

“But loads to come, he needs to mature, needs to listen to Robbo, to Salah, to Jota, to Cody, to Luis, to all these guys who are really trying to help him.

“We as a club, I think it’s really nice for young players to be in our squad.”

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The Reds return to League Cup action on Wednesday night looking to replicate the journey towards lifting the trophy in 2021/22.

Leicester are up first at Anfield in a repeat of the quarter-final from that season’s competition and it presents Jurgen Klopp with an opportunity to share minutes around his squad.

The manager will be keen to go all the way once again, but he will almost certainly attempt to do so while resting some of his key players during the earlier rounds.

As we look ahead to the start of another year in the domestic cups, Adam Beattie (@beatts94), Joanna Durkan (@JoannaDurkan_), Jack Lusby (@LusbyJack) and David Lynch (@dmlynchlfc) discuss selection options, priorities and preview the third-round clash.

Which players are you most looking forward to seeing in the competition?

ADAM: Ben Doak feels like the obvious answer and you get the sense he will be a permanent feature in the ‘cup team’ we see across this and the Europa League up until Christmas, hopefully beyond!

It also gives Stefan Bajcetic an opportunity to feel his way back from injury without too much pressure or expectation, it would be great to see him get back to the level he reached last season.

JOANNA: In the early rounds, as I anticipate us to progress, I would appreciate any opportunity to see some of the youngsters – Adam, you’ve named two there already.

I would throw Jarell Quansah in the mix too, it not only offers him more experience but will give at least one of the senior options a rest – and with our injury record, we can never take that for granted.

JACK: I feel like, beyond those we’ve already seen, this might be the competition for some of those other youngsters on the fringes.

Bobby Clark seems a dead cert for the League Cup and could excel, but there’s also Calum Scanlon, James McConnell, Melkamu Frauendorf and Lewis Koumas.

Personally I’d like to see more of Luke Chambers, whose absence during pre-season came as a surprise – a loan move never came about but he’s well-liked among first-team staff and can play both centre-back and left-back.

DAVID: I’m really hoping this competition can provide opportunities for Jarell Quansah to back up what’s been an extremely encouraging introduction to the first team.

I know the emergence of a defender isn’t quite as thrilling as that of a forward player who gets fans off their seats, but given Liverpool’s need for depth at the back this season, it’d be extremely handy if Quansah can show he is worthy of stepping up.

Of course, if all four senior centre-halves are fit, then the EFL Cup is likely to be the chance for the two who aren’t playing regularly to come in and keep sharpness. But that rarely happens, so I’m thinking we’ll see plenty of Quansah.

How much of a priority should the League Cup be this season?

JOANNA: It is, until it isn’t. The more opportunities there are to rest and rotate the better and a lot of that is swayed by the draw and the timing of the fixtures.

There’s strength to compete and I wouldn’t mind seeing the Reds make a February trip to Wembley. It is far from a season-defining competition but we’ve seen what a run can do not that long ago.

DAVID: Two seasons ago, we saw Liverpool reach the final of this competition by making use of their squad depth, and I think that’s entirely possible again this time around.

I’m not expecting Klopp to treat it as anything other than the last priority this year, but that doesn’t mean his team can’t go deep given the strength in depth they possess.

The key to how far they go is probably whether they can avoid drawing Manchester City at any point or one of the other big hitters away from home.

JACK: I don’t see why Liverpool can have a crack at all four competitions again this season, fitness permitting.

As it stands, Klopp has a squad capable of rotating its way through the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup.

We have to remember there’s still Thiago and Conor Bradley to come in having yet to feature this season, while I’d expect the likes of Clark and Quansah to step up.

It’s a low priority, but why not go for it?

ADAM: A lot will depend on the difficulty of the fixtures and how the schedule fits in each round but Klopp has enough depth to field strong enough sides to give us a good run at it.

Being in the Europa League gives us a lot more scope to rotate and the players should be able to get familiar with each other pretty quickly which can only help.

Is this going to be Kelleher’s competition from start to finish again?

JACK: Definitely.

I wasn’t convinced Klopp would go for him as Europa League goalkeeper, but the start at LASK suggests he’ll start in the group stage at least.

In any case, the domestic cups are made for Kelleher, who probably has another season in him before he decides he needs to be a No. 1.

ADAM: I would be surprised if not.

I’m pretty confident we’ll see Alisson introduced as the Europa League wears on – all being well – but this feels like the obvious means of getting Kelleher on the pitch.

I honestly believe the run in 2021/22 and being a hero in this competition in the past has been a factor in him being content to stick around as a No. 2 for as long as he has, although I do get the feeling this will be his last season at Anfield.

DAVID: I really hope so. Liverpool were quite fortunate to keep hold of him this summer and should make the most of having one of the best back-up goalkeepers of any top English side.

If Kelleher gets the EFL Cup and Europa League group stages – as well as the odd FA Cup game – I think he’d be happy with that. And I have absolutely no doubts that he’ll prove himself to be up to the task again.

JOANNA: I’d expect so. Alisson will likely hold onto the FA Cup spot and jump back in for some of the Europa group games and then the knockouts, but this one ought to be for the Irishman.

There’s plenty of incentive for Kelleher and those on the fringe to progress as it all but guarantees them game time, and for a backup with the quality he has, Kelleher is worthy of calling the competition his own this season.

Finally, pick us a team for Leicester!

DAVID: Kelleher; Bajcetic, Gomez, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch; Doak, Gakpo, Jota

JOANNA: I really can’t see it being anything other than: Kelleher; Bajcetic, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch; Doak, Jota, Gakpo

ADAM: Kelleher; Bajcetic, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Gravenberch, Elliott; Doak, Gakpo, Jota

JACK: I’d echo Joanna and Adam. That XI picks itself for me.

If Trent’s fit, bring him on for Bajcetic after an hour. Similar with Van Dijk or Matip replacing Konate at some stage.

Clark for Gravenberch if all goes well. Then send on Nunez and Salah for some late chaos…

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Tottenham will be without four players for Saturday’s visit of Liverpool, with new doubts over another, but James Maddison has avoided injury.

Two of the four sides still unbeaten in this season’s Premier League face off on Saturday evening, with Liverpool heading to Tottenham.

The Reds do so after a League Cup clash with Leicester on Wednesday night, but Spurs are already knocked out of the cup after a second-round defeat to Fulham.

An early exit allows Ange Postecoglu’s side more time to recover and prepare following their 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the weekend.

Spurs’ stalemate in the North London derby brought a new injury concern to add to four existing absentees, with winger Brennan Johnson suffering a hamstring issue.

The summer signing from Nottingham Forest could join Rodrigo Bentancur (ACL), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Bryan Gil (groin) and Ivan Perisic (ACL) on the sidelines.

But while there were fears over an ACL injury for Maddison during the draw at the Emirates, the midfielder came through and has avoided issue.

That is according to Postecoglu, who provided an update on Johnson, Maddison and Heung-min Son after Sunday’s game.

“Not sure with Brennan, it seems like he felt something, I think his hamstring. We’ll assess that,” he told reporters.

“Madders and Sonny weren’t 100 percent going into the game but they got through it, which suggests that it’s nothing serious.”

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Tottenham could see midfielder Giovani Lo Celso return to the fold against Liverpool, having missed almost a month due to a hamstring injury.

As it stands, there are no other fitness concerns for Spurs, with Postecoglu set to name his strongest possible side after an uninterrupted week.

Guglielmo Vicario is a guaranteed starter in goal, with Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie making up the back four.

Yves Bissouma is in fierce form in midfield and should start next to Pape Matar Sarr, with Maddison further forward in a 4-2-3-1.

The absence of Johnson would see either Richarlison or Manor Solomon come in, with Son and Dejan Kulusevski otherwise key starters in attack.

Son is Spurs’ top scorer this season with five, while Maddison has been involved in the most goals, scoring two and assisting four in seven outings since his move from Leicester.

Probable Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Solomon; Son

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Liverpool can host Leicester in the League Cup on Wednesday expecting a very different side to that they faced in the Premier League last season.

There was no banana skin when the Reds met Leicester at Anfield and the King Power last season, with a 2-1 home win followed by a 3-0 victory on the road.

By that point, Dean Smith’s side were teetering on the brink of relegation, which was then confirmed on the final day of the campaign.

Smith departed less than three weeks later, as Leicester prepared for a shock return to the Championship, with a new face brought in to replace him.

Enzo Maresca took over on the same day Smith’s exit was confirmed, leaving his position as assistant manager to Pep Guardiola at Man City.

Leicester also saw 13 senior players depart, including big-money sales of James Maddison to Tottenham and Harvey Barnes to Newcastle, while nine were brought in.

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Among the new arrivals were ex-Liverpool youngster Conor Coady, England midfielder Harry Winks and winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, who was strongly linked with a move to Anfield before joining Sporting CP in 2022.

Maresca, who spent the first two months of his tenure living at Leicester‘s training ground to – as he told BBC East Midlands Today – “get the sensation,” has now overseen 10 games.

In those 10 games, Leicester have won nine and lost one, that being a 1-0 defeat to early promotion rivals Hull earlier in September.

Their record stands at 18 goals scored and five conceded, with five clean sheets.

Liverpool got a taste of the new Leicester when they faced Maresca’s side in pre-season, but their 4-0 victory in Singapore came against an unfamiliar side.

Callum Doyle, the left-back on loan from Man City, has clocked the most minutes for the Foxes so far this season, with Winks and Wout Faes not far behind.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jannik Vestergaard, Ricardo Pereira and Wilfred Ndidi remain at the core of the squad, but new faces include forward Stephy Mavididi, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and winger Kasey McAteer.

McAteer is currently Leicester‘s top scorer, with four, while Ndidi and Jamie Vardy both have three and Dewsbury-Hall, Mavididi and Kelechi Iheanacho all have two.

Dewsbury-Hall is their leading source of goal contributions, with two goals and three assists.

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Leicester‘s most recent outing resulted in a 1-0 win over Bristol City at the King Power, moving them to the top of the table through Vardy’s winner.

That day, Maresca fielded his usual 4-3-3 setup, though at times this season he has deployed a 3-4-3 – including in both previous rounds of the League Cup.

Possible Leicester XI: Stolarczyk; Justin, Doyle, Faes; Pereira, Ndidi, Winks, Mavididi; Dewsbury-Hall, Casadei; Vardy

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Liverpool have a proud history in the League Cup with seven different captains having lifted the trophy. Can you name them all?

Over the years, the competition has had several names and, from the Milk Cup to the Carabao, Liverpool have been more successful than any other club.

With nine overall victories, the Reds have won it more than any other club and, in that time, seven different players have captained the team to the trophy.

We thought, with Virgil van Dijk looking to become the eighth skipper to do so, we would test your knowledge on Liverpool’s League Cup-winning captains.

We’ve given a good clue as to who was the most recent with the choice of photo for this page!

3 minutes on the clock, off you go!

7 League Cup-winning captains in 3 minutes! Fancy another? Give these a try!

Can you recall Liverpool’s summer transfers since 2016… Ins & outs?

Name Liverpool’s 6 Premier League No. 8s before Szoboszlai

Name every club Ian Rush scored record 346 Liverpool goals against!

Name the 33 Liverpool players to feature in the last 5 World Cups

Name the 33 Liverpool players signed by Brendan Rodgers

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Has Liverpool’s failure to sign a defensive midfielder prompted a change in approach this season? Aaron Cutler asks the question.

Football is cyclical. Nobody can win forever, not even Manchester City.

And as every dynasty has an expiry date, every formation or style of play will be counteracted, eventually.

The evolution of the beautiful game is what keeps it, well… beautiful.

While Pep Guardiola is rightly lauded as an innovator, his Liverpool counterpart knows a thing or two about tactics and cycles.

Perhaps that’s why he remained so cool during a summer when the heat was very much on.

Defensive midfield targets

As the transfer window ‘slammed shut’ it signalled the typical rush to judgements.

While nobody would claim the Reds won the ‘Deadline Day Trophy’ (sponsored by Sky, presumably) the general consensus was we’d done okay.

Over the course of three eventful months, we revamped and refreshed an ageing midfield.

That is no mean feat in a climate skewed by the influx of Saudi cash.

Inevitable complaints centred on a failure to sign a new defender and a seeming refusal to move for a second outright defensive midfielder.

The start of the season however brings that second grievance into sharp focus.

The surprising and ultimately failed pursuit of Moises Caicedo proves the club were on the lookout for a new defensive midfielder.

The speed at which we signed Wataru Endo following that knock-back though tells a story. So too does the lack of movement thereafter.

It would seem to suggest that Liverpool’s scouting department take a dim view of defensive midfielders generally.

For five years they had one of the best in the business, but peak Fabinhos are hard to come by.

In Rodri, City surely boast the preeminent defensive midfielder, but who rivals him? More to the point, who could lay a claim in two-three years from now?

Declan Rice fits the mould but was always Arsenal-bound. Excluding the Englishman and Caicedo it’s slim pickings.

From a Liverpool perspective, links to Sofyan Amrabat and Youssouf Fofana always seemed tenuous.

Fulham’s Joao Palhinha may have been a viable option, but age (he’s 28) and an untimely shoulder injury probably scuppered any tentative interest.

Faced with a dearth of quality options it’s fair to assume Liverpool made a conscious decision to do things differently.

Gameplan

In snapping up Endo – a decent and relatively cheap option – they drafted in a specialist of sorts.

They, therefore, covered themselves for those situations demanding an out-and-out defensive midfielder.

The gamble is in the expectation those scenarios will be few and far between.

That’s because Klopp and his coaching team seem to have settled on what may be simplistically described as a footballing midfield.

When Alexis Mac Allister started the deepest of three midfielders at Chelsea, we presumed it was a temporary measure. Six weeks on, it’s clear that was by design.

To dismiss Fabinho as a destroyer and nothing else is patently wrong. The Brazilian had a decent passing range and was tactically brilliant.

What he rarely did however was progress and carry the ball.

Knowing Liverpool will dominate possession in the majority of games, Klopp seems to have prioritised that above all else.

Would he have liked a world-class No. 6, be that a Caicedo, Rice or even a Lavia? You bet.

Has he considered the options a tier down and decided he’s better served getting creative? It appears so.

Midfield skillsets

With the exception of Endo, none of Liverpool’s midfielders can now be considered your archetypal No. 6.

Yes, some of them have done ‘bits’ in that area but everyone should be considered more progressive.

This includes both Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic, who were wrongly categorised as 6s by some of the fanbase and more ignorant pundits this summer.

The makeup of our squad is a sign of how Liverpool want to play this term.

As a case in point, the majority of Mac Allister’s minutes have come in that deepest midfield berth when we presumed he’d be starting higher up the field.

His assist against West Ham proves that doesn’t have to come at the expense of ingenuity.

Significantly, when the going got tough at Wolves and we needed to win control of the midfield, the solution wasn’t Endo but rather a tactical shift.

Ironically for a team lacking them, Liverpool switched to what might be called a double six, with two ball-playing midfielders dictating proceedings from deep.

And indeed, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones combined brilliantly.

Has it worked perfectly up to now? That’s debatable.

The Reds have been overrun on occasions and continue to fall behind in games.

Yet they’ve also had the running power and creativity on the field to fight back and win matches. Therein lies the difference.

Amongst a litany of issues last season, tiring legs were perhaps the biggest failing. This undermined best-laid plans at both ends of the pitch.

Liverpool’s new-look midfield is not only more creative but more energetic. Szoboszlai in particular looks like he can run for days.

They’re also combative. Heading into the West Ham game only three sides had contested more duels in the centre of the park than Liverpool (Crystal Palace, Wolves and Brentford).

Success rates vary, with Mac Allister winning 50 percent of the challenges he makes, Jones 40 percent and Szoboszlai a surprisingly low 20 percent.

All three though are constant and putting up more of a fight than we saw in the darkest days of 2022/23.

A new approach

Such is football that if Liverpool’s decision to abandon the No. 6 – at least in the majority of games – pays dividends, Klopp will be lavished with praise.

While that will be merited, applauding his foresight might be more appropriate.

Back in the early to mid-2000s Claude Makelele made the No. 6 fashionable. While not the first midfielder of that kind he popularised the role and spawned a generation of players with a specific skillset.

Klopp and Liverpool – by accident more than design – may have realised this is now a dying breed, certainly at an elite level.

As such engine rooms need to evolve and feature players that might be considered complete midfielders.

Ryan Gravenberch fits that description. Expect him to do a little ‘six-ing’ but so much more besides.

And this could be the remit for all future signings in the middle of the park as both Liverpool and football enter a new cycle.

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UEFA have been accused of giving “completely untrue” evidence to the inquiry on the 2022 Champions League final, to protect senior figures.

After the near-fatal chaos of the 2022 Champions League final in Paris, UEFA set up an independent inquiry into the events at the Stade de France.

In a report by David Conn of the Guardian, UEFA have now been accused of presenting “completely untrue” evidence to the inquiry by their then operations director, Sharon Burkhalter-Lau.

The panel deemed the dangerous problems the fault of the events division, but Burkhalter-Lau thinks the blame lies elsewhere.

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The events management specialist said she could not accept that her events division held primary responsibility for the chaos, instead blaming the French police.

She also rejected the accusations against her team, in memos sent to UEFA officials including Theodore Theodoridis.

“The claim that Uefa Events … senior management marginalised the Uefa security unit is based on statements provided by Uefa that were untrue and concerted,” Burkhalter-Lau wrote.

In January, she also wrote: “Following the Paris final, we discussed that we must protect the security unit from the fallout.”

She added that UEFA’s evidence that head of security Zeljko Pavlica’s unit had been sidelined was “untrue.

“I understand now that there has been an agreed strategy to protect the security unit by stating that all safety and security matters would be communicated via project management, which places the blame for any perceived errors or omissions on Tiziano’s team,” she wrote in her memo.

This was was referencing Tiziano Gaier, a UEFA official in Burkhalter-Lau’s division responsible for the final operations.

This shielding of Pavlica, who spent the evening in the VIP area and missed vital planning meetings, again calls into question the integrity of the organisation and its president, Aleksander Ceferin.

This is especially the case given Ceferin was Pavlica’s best man at his wedding and the security official was appointed to his position with no recruitment process to go through.

High-ranking figures at UEFA say they have changed and learnt from their failings. However, these accusations indicate there is still a culture of cronyism and a push to shift blame onto others.

Responding to the Guardian, UEFA said: “The group, and Uefa more broadly, had numerous discussions about the events in Paris, some of which reflected the different views internally on the events and actions of that night.

“Some of those differences were also reflected in the evidence given by various Uefa directors to the panel, evidence that was given in good faith and to the best of the individuals’ knowledge and recollection.”

You can read the full report from David Conn, in the Guardian, here.

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