Liverpool don confirm say Joe Gomez go start their Carabao Cup third-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur this evening for Anfield. The defender na im first appearance of the season after e recover from injury. Andoni Iraola make 10 changes for the XI wey draw with Fulham for weekend. Only Ronald Araujo keep im place.
Liverpool lineup na Mamardashvili, Gomez, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Frimpong, Araujo, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha. Bench get Alisson, Endo, Jacquet, Szoboszlai, Isak, Munoz, Barcola, Gravenberch, Chambers.
Tottenham Hotspur lineup na Dubravka, Gray, Tosin, Senesi, Udogie, Bentancur, Bergvall, Kudus, Gallagher, Tel, Marmoush. Their bench na Kinsky, Robertson, van Hecke, Maddison, Savio, Fernandes, Solanke, Davies, van de Ven. Referee na Andrew Madley from West Yorkshire.
Both teams make plenty changes from their Premier League selections at weekend. For Liverpool, only Ronald Araujo survive from the XI wey start the 0-0 draw with Fulham. He go move from right back to form central defensive pairing with Joe Gomez, who return from injury lay-off. Spurs retain three members of their starting XI for the goalless draw against Everton: Rodrigo Bentancur, Omar Marmoush and captain Archie Gray go again.
Some LFC old boys dey on Spurs bench: Dominic Solanke and Andrew Robertson, the latter having made 378 appearances for the Reds. Expect emotion if Robertson gets minutes.
Andoni Iraola speak to Sky Sports before the game. He tok say: We decided to change a lot of the team. We needed fresh legs. We have a lot of players willing to have a good performance, get us to the next round. Also looking forward to seeing those players. I am sure they will take that chance. It is a great chance to see the younger players. If we put them in, it is because we think they are ready to help us and ready to perform. We will get a lot of information from this game. It is a matter of execution and keeping calm. I trust them. I hope they do well. We know we will face a strong team. But I trust my players.
Iraola also talk about schedule. He say e must affect team selection. Na the third game, game, two days rest, game, two days rest, game. In terms of schedule we no lucky, because after this one we have small more before we play Bournemouth. We had small more between Ipswich and Atletico. You notice when e be five days compared to two or three days. E be big difference, but na wetin e be. After international break we have period where we dey play four games in nine or ten games. We must get used to this.
On goalkeepers, Iraola confirm say Giorgi Mamardashvili go start. He say there are few doubts with Alisson, he dey play very well. I rate Giorgi very highly, I know him from Spain. We tried to sign him for Bournemouth before I came here. For me, he be very good keeper and he go start tomorrow.
About Conor Bradley recovery, Iraola say he no close to training with team. He dey train alone but don start touching ball. I want him as quickly as possible. With long term injuries, I think Giovanni Leoni small ahead of him. E still go take some time for Conor.
Roberto De Zerbi also speak to Sky Sports. He say: I am lucky I have a great squad. Many very good players. Changing the first XI, I hope we no change the quality of the players. I am sure they be the same level. I would like to see the goals. The same attitude of the first 30 minutes against Everton. We have qualities enough to score. It is a tough moment. No pressure, but we play to win the games. Playing at Anfield against Liverpool is always tough. But my focus is on my team. After one month of working together, keep our eyes on our goal. Our organisation of the play and nothing else.
For the match itself, early exchanges see Spurs dominate. Sky flash stat say Spurs make 20 successful passes in opposition final third to Liverpool three. Mamardashvili make spectacular reaction stop from Bergvall after Udogie low cross. Ngumoha and Koumas combine, but Dubravka block Koumas shot. Kerkez bustle down left and cross too high for McConnell. Referee Andrew Madley no get VAR tonight.
Liverpool drew miserable blank against Fulham on Saturday and never beat English team at Anfield this season. Spurs get zero goals in four matches against top-flight opposition. But League Cup team selections dey left-field. When these clubs meet, things usually happen: last four seasons get scorelines like 5-1, 4-0, 3-6, 4-2 and 4-3, last-minute equalisers and later winners, four red cards, and one egregious VAR balls-up. Kick-off na 8pm BST.
