Liverpool
Line-up
- 22Simon Mignolet
- 18Alberto Moreno
- 6D. Lovren
- 32Joel Matip
- 2N. Clyne
- 8N. Keïta
- 3Fabinho
- 7J. Milner
- 23X. Shaqiri
- 10S. Mané
- 15D. Sturridge
- 14J. Henderson
- 9Roberto Firmino
- 11Mohamed Salah
Subs
- 73K. Grabara
- 12J. Gomez
- 48C. Jones
- 29D. Solanke
Chelsea
Line-up
- 13W. Caballero
- 33Emerson
- 27A. Christensen
- 24G. Cahill
- 28César Azpilicueta
- 17Mateo Kovacic
- 4Cesc Fàbregas
- 8R. Barkley
- 22Willian
- 15V. Moses
- 29Alvaro Morata
- 30David Luiz
- 7N'Golo Kanté
- 10E. Hazard
Subs
- 59M. Bułka
- 5Jorginho
- 21D. Zappacosta
- 20C. Hudson-Odoi
Kick-started in the days of Bill Shankly and Tommy Docherty and sustained by various controversies, Liverpool and Chelsea share a unique, historic rivalry despite the geographical distance; this EFL Cup clash marks the first of two grudge matches in just four days.
Chelsea's 0-0 draw at West Ham on Sunday was the first match that saw either side drop Premier League points; given that Jurgen Klopp and Maurizio Sarri have made just five changes apiece to their domestic starting XIs thus far, this match might offer us a better idea of the depth these two squads possess.
Liverpool's excellent recruitment under Klopp means that very good players like Jordan Henderson are now in reserve; Chelsea's more inconsistent recruitment means that their squad is at a slightly different stage of it's development, which could become evident when familiar foes meet.