Liverpool vs. Carlisle: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Liverpool host League Two side Carlisle United in the Capital One Cup third round, at Anfield, on Wednesday evening.
Brendan Rodgers is under pressure after five games without a victory and will be hoping his side can smoothly navigate past lower-league opposition and ensure he can then focus on the task of Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday.
Last season Rodgers' side exited this competition at the semi-final stage, losing to Chelsea in extra time. The Northern Irishman became the first Liverpool boss since the 1950s to not win a trophy in his first three seasons in charge at the club.
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These two sides haven't played each other since 1989, when the illustrious Reds saw off their Cumbrian opposition 3-0 in the FA Cup fourth round at Brunton Park.
The last Anfield meeting between the sides was back in 1977, also an FA Cup tie, and also won 3-0 by the Reds.
Rodgers will be hoping to ensure he doesn't endure a Roy Hodgson moment when his Liverpool side lost on penalties to Northampton Town in 2010.
For the visitors, this is their Cup final, a match that the players and fans have been looking forward to since the draw was made.
"I’ve not tried to keep their minds off Anfield. I’ve tried to embrace the occasion and not be fearful or scared in any way," said United boss Keith Curle, per Glenn Moore of the Independent.
The Cumbrians will be looking to provide a huge upset and put another nail into Rodgers' managerial coffin.
Match Information
Date: Wednesday, 23 September 2015
Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. EST
Venue: Anfield
TV Info: N/A
Form Lines
Liverpool:
Drew 1-1 vs. Norwich City
Drew 1-1 vs. Bordeaux (Europa League)
Lost 3-1 vs. Manchester United
Lost 3-0 vs. West Ham United
Drew 0-0 vs. Arsenal
Won 1-0 vs. Bournemouth
Carlisle:
Drew 2-2 vs. York City
Won 2-1 vs. Dagenham and Redbridge
Won 3-2 vs. Barnet
Lost 1-0 vs. Port Vale
Won 3-2 vs. Hartlepool
Won 2-1 vs. QPR (League Cup)
Predicted Formations
First-team coach Gary McAllister hinted that Liverpool will stick with the same shape as they adopted vs. Norwich City at the weekend—3-4-3—at his pre-match press conference
"It will be a strong squad," McAllister said, per the Guardian. "You’ve got to utilise the players you’ve got but we’ve also got to get momentum going too."
Rodgers made eight changes for the Europa League opener at Bordeaux last week and a similar number can be expected here.
This would be the ideal game to give goalkeeper Adam Bogdan his debut, while youngsters Jordan Rossiter and Jordon Ibe will also come into the side.
The more high-profile names of Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana should also start, while Danny Ings could continue up front or Rodgers may opt for Divock Origi instead.
Liverpool: Adam Bogdan, Joe Gomez, Kolo Toure, Dejan Lovren, Jordon Ibe, Jordan Rossiter, Joe Allen, Alberto Moreno, Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi
For Curle's side, the United manager is likely to pair two up front, with experienced Derek Asamoah alongside the leading goalscorer in English football's top divisions this season, Jabo Ibehre.
Former Middlesbrough defender David Atkinson could return.
Carlisle: Mark Gillespie, Tom Miller, Michael Raynes, Troy Archibald-Henville, Danny Grainger, Luke Joyce, Jason Kennedy, Antony Sweeney, Gary Dicker, Jabo Ibehre, Derek Asamoah
Players to Watch
Liverpool: Roberto Firmino
£29 million summer signing Roberto Firmino enjoyed a strong 20-minute cameo in the draw against Norwich City on Sunday and should come into the side on Wednesday evening, providing the star name in the Liverpool XI.
The Brazilian has had a slow start to life on Merseyside but is showing signs he's finding form and he should be able to control the game for Liverpool as one of the dual No. 10s behind the centre-forward.
Carlisle: Jabo Ibehre
Veteran Football League centre-forward Ibehre is the top scorer in England's top four divisions this season so far, with an impressive 10-goal haul already—that's double Liverpool's goal tally in their opening seven games.
He hit a hat-trick in their 4-4 draw with Cambridge United earlier in the campaign and scored two in the Capital One Cup first-round victory over Chesterfield.
The 32-year-old forward signed for the Cumbrians in the summer after playing for eight other Football League clubs in his career.
The tall, strong, powerful forward will be looking to expose the defensive duo of Toure and Lovren.
Key Battle: Mentality
A League Cup tie at home to lower-league opposition is always about showing the right attitude and mentality. Liverpool must stay composed and focussed and be prepared to find different ways to break down their opposition.
The Reds must avoid League Cup embarrassments such as Northampton Town (2010) and Grimsby Town (2001).
Rodgers has experience exiting domestic cup competitions to lower-league opposition, having suffered a 3-2 defeat at Oldham Athletic in his first season in charge at Liverpool.
But with the quality available at his disposal on Wednesday night, his side should be capable of avoiding any upset.
Odds (via Oddschecker)
Liverpool to win: 1-4
Carlisle to win: 37-2
Draw: 29-4
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Carlisle
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