EFL Cup: Can Liverpool really pull off the double game day over two days

The first of two games in as many days for Jurgen Klopp and his Anfield “club” is their Carabao Cup quarter-final fixture against Aston Villa. The Reds have deployed different squads for each fixture in their back-to-back matchdays.

The Reds of Merseyside is enduring a high influx of football in a limit amount of days. The space between the next two being the most limited. Literally, a time where they can say, “I can’t even change my kit and it’s the next encounter already.

In the first clash, we have the infamous Carabao Cup quarter-final. Infamous because of the way Klopp has delegated his squads for travels to the FIFA Club World Cup and the aforementioned EFL showdown against the Villians. Does he really care about the cup?

However, they meet a side hungry for silverware on their return to Top Flight football in England. Aston Villa who host the current Premier League leaders will be counting their blessings and know they stand a pretty good chance of going through to the next round and making the final four.

What to expect from Aston Villa

Dean Smith has many choices but losing this match is not an option. His choices start with his team selection and how free the EPL manager is to use whoever he’d like in this fixture.

Liverpool have taken all the pressure off Smith with regards to selection, giving him the opportunity to give those out of form some valuable minutes on the pitch and a chance to redeem themselves ahead of the winter transfer window.

The only thing that can’t be mistaken, is how good these younger Reds are and that they can do the business on the field as they’ve previously displayed against Arsenal in the round of 16. As per This is Anfield, of these youngster travelling to Villa Park, they have a total of 18 first-team appearances with the club.

"Excluding those that have flown to the Club World Cup, those that could appear in this fixture have a combined total of 18 first-team appearances for the club.Pedro Chirivella has played seven times, with Rhian Brewster, Ki-Jana Hoever, Caoimhin Kelleher, Harvey Elliott and Sepp van den Berg all having appeared twice and Herbie Kane once. Hoever (with one) is the only Reds player to score for the senior team. (via: This is Anfield)"

The last meeting between the two was their Premier League outing at the same venue. Liverpool just about walked away as the winners of that. But giving the Villians major confidence against a side that’s only lost one game across all competitions this season, the FA Cup encounter prior to their EPL one.

The Villians took the winning honours with the same scoreline of 2-1, however, back when Brendan Rodgers was the Reds boss. This time around, Neil Critchley will be Dean Smith’s opponent.

Liverpool led by Neil Critchley

The man voted strong enough by the club to take on this unique challenge they face over the next couple of days is Neil Critchley. What a time it is to be a part of the Anfield club and what a time to be Neil.

This is a once in a lifetime test, as well as a once in a lifetime opportunity. Yes, maybe he will get the chance in years to come, but it might never occur under the same circumstances as it is now.

He will be making the calls from the sideline for the 90 minutes and appears to be extremely excited about the prospect of managing the Merseyside side during this extra busy period.

Along with his boyish squad they, “want to make the first team proud against Villa”. Shouldn’t be too difficult as he works night and day with these boys in the under-23 program. The cohesion is there and Klopp, plus the club would not have allowed for him to take charge of the boys later this evening.

So goes for the two hands full of youthful Reds taking the pitch in what’s going to be an epic English League quarter-final. Huge call to say the young Reds will win, but this Anfield side has been of a different world in recent times.

Villa’s experience and their home ground advantage should turn the fixture in their favour. So it is leading towards a home victory for Aston Villa.

Preview here: This is Anfield