Topic: Liverpool vs. Leicester City - 19:45 Wed 27th Sep

[RedG13]

League Cup 3rd Round
Liverpool vs. Leicester City
19:45 Wed 27th Sep 2023

One of the four major trophies we have a chance to win this season. Liverpool still retain the honour of winning the League Cup more than any other side, with 9 pots and 4 runners ups medals. The last win coming in the 21-22 season, after a scoreless 120 minutes, defeating Chelsea 11-10 on penalty kicks, Kelleher scoring the final Liverpool penalty before Kepa skied his own attempt.



Leicester City who where relegated from the Premier league just 7 years after unexpectedly winning the Premier League in the 15/16 season, are under new manager in Enzo Maresca and have started the Championship season with 21 Points from the first 8 games. Leicester have won the EFL Cup 3 times, most recently in the 98/99, defeating Tranmere Rovers in the final.

In the EFL Cup these teams have faced 3 times first in the 3rd round in 1986 under Dalglish winning 4-1 at Anfield with a Steve McMahon Hat trick, Dalglish also scored one.
The next was 2017 in the 3rd round where Leicester under Craig Shakespeare would win 2-0 at the King Power Stadium with 2nd half goals from Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani  would knock out Jurgen Klopp's Side.

The next time was in 2021 in the 5th Round where 2 goals within the first 13 Minutes from Vardy put the Visitors ahead, Oxlade-Chamberlain would give Liverpool one back in the 19th minute, followed by James Maddison scoring in the 33rd minute to put Leicester up 3-1 which would be the halftime score, Klopp would make Made 3 changes at half time where Diogo Jota gave the home side 1 back before a goal before 5 minutes into Stoppage time where Taki Minamino brought down the pass from James Milner to slot home the Equalizer which lead to Penalty kicks at the Anfield Road end in front of the Leicester Supports where it would go 6 rounds where Kelleher saved Ryan Bertand Penalty, and then Diogo Jota stepped up to score the winning penalty.

With this being the 4th game in 11 days I'd expect a changed side from Sunday and for Kelleher to return in goal.
Jurgen Klopp has Never managed an Official game vs Enzo Maresca however the 2 sides met this summer in the preseason in Singapore with Liverpool winning 4-0

[disgraced cake]

The changes made here plus a strong bench should have enough to see off Championship opposition.

Kelleher
Gomez   Konate   Quansah   Tsimikas
Bajcetic   Gravenberch   Elliot
Doak   Gakpo   Jota

Usual suspects from off the bench if we need to rescue the situation

[Hazell]

Nice one RedG, the 2021 game was one of the highs of that season but hopefully nothing as dramatic this time round.

Think we could conceivably play 8/9 players who would have a shout of starting on Saturday too which is pretty great. Still would like to see Doak start and test himself against decent opposition.

[tubby]

Will be interesting to see how strong they go, gotta expect some fringe players from Leicester too

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Similar setup to the LASK game I'd think but use the CBs and forward players who didn't start against West Ham. Strongest bench possible.


                                 Kelleher


Bajcetic         Konate         Quansah         Tsimikas


                 Elliott         Endo         Gravenberch


                  Doak         Gakpo         Jota

[spider-neil]

Similar setup to the LASK game I'd think but use the CBs and forward players who didn't start against West Ham. Strongest bench possible.


                                 Kelleher


Bajcetic         Konate         Quansah         Tsimikas


                 Elliott         Endo         Gravenberch


                  Doak         Gakpo         Jota

I think that will be the team.

[Fromola]

I think it'll be 11 changes again (like Lask) but it still gives us a strong side at the moment.

I remember when we played Leicester in that quarter final it was a weak side we put out and they should have put it to bed at half time. Rodgers put a stronger side out that night than he did for Man City in their league match a few days later as well the bellend. We did have a strong bench though and we basically made 4 or 5 changes at half time and a pumped up Anfield  helped turn it around, after the Leicester fans acted like fuckwits. Derby there was quite a few youngsters in the side last season as well and we relied on pens that night as well.

[duvva 💅]

Thanks for the OP RedG13, I noticed they’d started well. I imagine their sole focus is promotion so expect they will ring the changes as well.

I think the team above with Bajcetic starting at RB is most likely with Gomez needed again Saturday unless Trent’s 100%.

Still a lot to look forward to watching that team. A really good mix of experience and young prospects. Very hopeful we can go on another run deep into this Cup

[Wingman]

The changes made here plus a strong bench should have enough to see off Championship opposition.

Kelleher
Gomez   Konate   Quansah   Tsimikas
Bajcetic   Gravenberch   Elliot
Doak   Gakpo   Jota

Usual suspects from off the bench if we need to rescue the situation

I think Baj will play RB and Endo comes into MF. He needs the game time, Gomez started on the weekend

[4pool]

Referee: Tim Robinson
Assistant Referee: Simon Bennett
Assistant Referee: Daniel Robathan
Fourth Official: David Webb

No VAR for the match.

[killer-heels]

Play the kids.

[Hazell]

Fourth Official: David Webb

Wasn't he one Jason Bourne's aliases?

[Crosby Nick]

Wasn't he one Jason Bourne's aliases?

I think he was. But I’m old enough for it to make me think of the ex Chelsea player and manager.

[shank94]

News on Thiago and Trent?

[Hazell]

I think he was. But I’m old enough for it to make me think of the ex Chelsea player and manager.

That is old!

No offence.

[BoRed]

I think he was. But I’m old enough for it to make me think of the ex Chelsea player and manager.

I'm thinking Howard's younger brother.

[Too early for flapjacks?]

News on Thiago and Trent?

Thiago was due to join in the training warms ups (rondos, etc) last Friday. Doubt he'd be available for this even if that all went well.

Not sure about Trent but I guess Pep Lijnders will be asked about injuries in the pre-game press conference tomorrow at 1.30pm.

[Red Beret]

Expecting this shite to go full strength. They probably still haven't gotten over Minamino dumping them out a couple seasons back.

[Crosby Nick]

That is old!

No offence.

To be fair I remember him as a manager. And then found out he was a player (scored in a cup final I think). One of their early 90s crop of shit managers like Ian Porterfield who all lasted about 5 minutes.

[Dave McCoy]

Would like to win this Cup if possible but it's not high on the list for this season. All eyes should be on the game at the weekend. Ange has Spurs in a good form and it will be a tough game. Would rest whatever that starting XI is expected to be and let the dice roll where they may on this one. Should still be strong enough to win but Leicester seem like the best Championship team this season so should be a good challenge.

[anitrella]

Referee: Tim Robinson
Assistant Referee: Simon Bennett
Assistant Referee: Daniel Robathan
Fourth Official: David Webb

No VAR for the match.

VAR only for the later stages, from the semis isn’t it?

[Ghost Town]

At least leicester have the confidence booster of knowing they no longer have that useless biff Maddison if it goes to penalties

#stillnotoverit

Does Steptoe still play for them?

[MonsLibpool]

Play the kids. 

Kweev will play his 2nd game in the space of a week

[shank94]

Similar setup to the LASK game I'd think but use the CBs and forward players who didn't start against West Ham. Strongest bench possible.


                                 Kelleher


Bajcetic         Konate         Quansah         Tsimikas


                 Elliott         Endo         Gravenberch


                  Doak         Gakpo         Jota

Yeah, this should be the team.

[shank94]

Thiago was due to join in the training warms ups (rondos, etc) last Friday. Doubt he'd be available for this even if that all went well.

Not sure about Trent but I guess Pep Lijnders will be asked about injuries in the pre-game press conference tomorrow at 1.30pm.

Thanks!

[xbugawugax]

Similar setup to the LASK game I'd think but use the CBs and forward players who didn't start against West Ham. Strongest bench possible.


                                 Kelleher


Bajcetic         Konate         Quansah         Tsimikas


                 Elliott         Endo         Gravenberch


                  Doak         Gakpo         Jota

we have quite a decent squad now if everyone is fit.

[ScubaSteve]

Surely Leicester won’t care about this. I’d expect them to field a weakened team too

[rossipersempre]

Now they're down a league and consequently without a couple of particularly annoying gobshites, I'm completely indifferent towards Leicester.

Our 2nd/3rd XI should have more than enough for this tie.

[Crosby Nick]

At least leicester have the confidence booster of knowing they no longer have that useless biff Maddison if it goes to penalties

#stillnotoverit

Does Steptoe still play for them?

He does. Think he’s been starting big League games for them though so doubt he’ll start in this one.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Which cheating dog turds are officiating?

[BarryCrocker]

Which cheating dog turds are officiating?

Referee: Tim Robinson
Assistant Referee: Simon Bennett
Assistant Referee: Daniel Robathan
Fourth Official: David Webb

No VAR for the match.

[Eeyore]

Which cheating dog turds are officiating?

Just thankfull it is English officials after the Lask game. 

[Bincey]

Referee: Tim Robinson
Assistant Referee: Simon Bennett
Assistant Referee: Daniel Robathan
Fourth Official: David Webb

No VAR for the match.

[Jookie]

Similar setup to the LASK game I'd think but use the CBs and forward players who didn't start against West Ham. Strongest bench possible.


                                 Kelleher


Bajcetic         Konate         Quansah         Tsimikas


                 Elliott         Endo         Gravenberch


                  Doak         Gakpo         Jota

Agree with this team as being the likely starting XI.

Compared with LASK I wouldn’t be surprised to see a slightly weaker bench. Give some senior players the night off and give a few (3 or 4) of the U23s a place on bench.

[NarutoReds]

Over the past ten fixtures, we have been by far the better team. Winning seven, drawing one and losing two.

Striking force that I hope:

Jota --- Nunez --- Gakpo

[thaddeus]

Similar setup to the LASK game I'd think but use the CBs and forward players who didn't start against West Ham. Strongest bench possible.


                                 Kelleher


Bajcetic         Konate         Quansah         Tsimikas


                 Elliott         Endo         Gravenberch


                  Doak         Gakpo         Jota

I appreciate there's a risk of overplaying him but I'd like to see Gomez have another game at right back.  He was mimicking the inverted role much better against West Ham than in the first half against Wolves (I don't think he even tried it after half-time in that game).  He's not got the passing range or vision of Trent but he's a tidy footballer and it would be good to develop him further in that role.

I guess the counter-argument is that playing Bajcetic - who is already very good in the middle - will develop his ability to play at right back.  I'm probably biased though in that I'd really like to see Gomez make it rather than just drift to the end of his contract like Ox did.

Other than that though I think that team is spot-on.

Leicester have had a very good start to the season but I think, like Burnley last season, they're benefiting from playing a bit of football in a league that still largely embraces the olden ways.  Man for man they don't look very strong and presumably will also be rotating a bit.

[Dougle]

He does. Think he’s been starting big League games for them though so doubt he’ll start in this one.

Thanks RG for the OP.

They started a decently strong team in the last round. I'd say it'll be a good enough team this time too. They have nothing to lose as it's obviously not the priority this season. We lashed them 4-0 (?) pre-season didn't we ?

Hope it's as good a game as 2 seasons ago with a similar result.

Team could well be the Lask team with added extras (Quansah, Konate getting some minutes, Trent as well ??).

Hope Mo is on the bench to pick up his goal/assist. Hope Szobo isn't anywhere near it.

It'll be fun I think.

[Crosby Nick]

With no extra time these days, there’s always a risk of games you feel you should be winning getting taken to penalties. Like Derby last season, or if you go ahead but can’t kill it off with a second.

Seem to have a lot of good penalty taking options in the squad, depending on who makes the bench here. Nice back up in case we needed it.

[Red Beret]

Now they're down a league and consequently without a couple of particularly annoying gobshites, I'm completely indifferent towards Leicester.

Our 2nd/3rd XI should have more than enough for this tie.

If memory serves, I believe the majority of the Leicester fanbase are particularly annoying gobshites. It will be a true pleasure to beat them.

I think they'll go strong. Top of the Championship, only domestic cups to bother with, and likely keen to maintain a winning momentum. They know we'll field a second string and will look to take full advantage.

[Keith Lard]

If memory serves, I believe the majority of the Leicester fanbase are particularly annoying gobshites. It will be a true pleasure to beat them.

I think they'll go strong. Top of the Championship, only domestic cups to bother with, and likely keen to maintain a winning momentum. They know we'll field a second string and will look to take full advantage.

Like many teams, they appear to have an irrational dislike for us, even though we don’t even say anything to them or pay attention to them