Liverpool vs. Middlesbrough: Capital One Cup Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info

Liverpool will host Middlesbrough on Tuesday for a third-round Capital One Cup—or League Cup—match that will go a long way as to tell just how much the Reds are struggling to start 2014-15.

Two straight Premier League defeats have dropped Liverpool to losing three of their five league fixtures, and a last-minute Champions League victory over Ludogorets in between didn't do much to inject confidence. With the Merseyside derby coming up on Saturday, Brendan Rodgers' side can ill-afford to squander a morale-boosting opportunity.

But while they face lower-level opposition, Middlesbrough are no slouches in the Championship. Three consecutive league victories have propelled The Boro to fifth in the table, and they won't take lightly their chances of pulling the upset at Anfield.

Let's break down Tuesday's fixture.

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 23

Time: 2:45 p.m. ET (5:45 p.m. BST)

Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect

TV Info: Sky Sports 1

When Will Liverpool Right the Ship?

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Simply put, it hasn't been the start that Liverpool wanted as they look to chase trophies in 2014-15.

A slew of injuries and offensive struggles have led the Reds to three defeats in their first five league games, and they nearly sputtered to a Champions League draw against Ludogorets before Steven Gerrard saved the day with a late penalty winner. 

Defensive lapses put the Reds behind the eight-ball against West Ham on Saturday, conceding two goals in the first six minutes that led to a 3-1 loss. 

After a second-place EPL finish last season, the loss of Luis Suarez was set off by some big-time summer signings and title contention was expected this year. But Brendan Rodgers isn't short on confidence, as ESPN FC noted:

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"We played some outstanding stuff last season, but this time last year we weren't playing like that. We developed over the season, and we will do that this time around.

"We are patchy, yes, it's one where players are settling in. Against Tottenham we were outstanding, but the international break upset our rhythm a little bit, as we lost some of our players, and that affected us."

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The consistency just hasn't been there for Liverpool this season, but it's not exactly surprising for Rodgers considering his young roster needs more time to gel. However, there would be no excuses for an early Capital One Cup flameout against a Championship opponent.

If Liverpool are one of the top teams in England, they should have no problem sprinting past Middlesbrough on Saturday. But with recent form indicating otherwise, questions have arose in Anfield heading into Tuesday.

Rickie Lambert's Time to Shine

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

After a head-turning season at Southampton, the Reds snagged 32-year-old Rickie Lambert early in the transfer window—serving as part of the replacement of Luis Suarez until Mario Balotelli garnered most of those expectations when he was signed in August.

Lambert has made four appearances off the bench in six games of this young season, but Tuesday will be his first starting cap as a Liverpool Red, as Ben Smith of BBC Sport noted:

He will have big shoes to fill, likely replacing Balotelli in the midweek affair. But while the Italian international impressed with his first Liverpool goal in the Champions League last week, he's otherwise struggled to wreak havoc in the attack with Daniel Sturridge still injured.

Liverpool are counting on Sturridge back for this weekend's affair versus Everton, according to The Guardian's Andy Hunter. But on Tuesday, Lambert will be called upon to finish Liverpool's many stout offensive attacks led by Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard.

The Reds' goal-scoring prowess has been somewhat lost early on in the season, but perhaps Lambert can help to pick things up against an overmatched foe.

In-Form Middlesbrough an Upset Candidate?

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

It may be a lower-tier English club on the radar for Liverpool entering Tuesday's affair, but that doesn't mean Middlesbrough will be any less confident of their chances of victory.

Their last three victories in league play have been by a combined 7-1 scoreline, with a recent 4-0 drubbing of Brentford serving as a morale-booster entering a match in which they'll need all the momentum they can muster.

The Reds have advanced past the third round of the Capital One Cup in nine of the last 12 seasons, but two of those three defeats came against Championship competition. With that in mind, they can't afford to overlook their opponent.

Liverpool's defensive shortcomings have been apparent through five league games, and a continuance of that could open things up for Grant Leadbitter and his attacking teammates. The Reds have the skill to run past their opponent, but only if they treat them with the right respect. 

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