2019-20 Carabao Cup: Quarter Final – Tuesday

Aston Villa welcome Liverpool to Villa Park in the opening Quarter-Final of this season’s Carabao Cup. 

With several first team regulars away or injured, this is a huge chance for several Reds’ youngsters to impress, although they will face an Aston Villa team who haven’t reached the semi-finals since 2012-2013 when they lost to eventual runners-up – Bradford City.

 

Team news

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Keinan Davis could return for Aston Villa after nearly two months out with a thigh injury. 

Tyrone Mings (hamstring) and Conor Hourihane (knock) are sidelined whilst Jed Steer remains absent with an on-going Achilles issue.

Liverpool will field a young squad due to the majority of the first team squad playing in the FIFA Club World Cup this week. 

Sepp van den Berg, Harvey Elliott plus other youngsters including Rhian Brewster could therefore start this game.

Joel Matip and Nathaniel Clyne won’t feature for either team due to knee injuries, alongside Dejan Lovren (muscle) and Fabinho (ankle).

 

Stat Attack 

• Aston Villa lost their only previous League Cup meeting with Liverpool. which came at this stage in 2002-03 season in a 4-3 defeat.
• Villa have taken just two wins over Liverpool in all cup competitions (W2, L7).
• Conor Hourihane and Jack Grealish have scored in two of Villa’s three League Cup games this season, whereas James Milner netted in both of Liverpool’s two such matches. 

 

Prediction

I think this is a difficult clash to predict because it’s a case of experience vs youth, particularly given that a few of Liverpool’s youngsters has already made first team appearances this season. 

We should therefore see a cracking game of football because these youngsters will have a huge point to prove, ahead of January’s transfer window whereas Villa have an huge opportunity to reach the semis despite their league issues. 

A prediction therefore is difficult to call but I can see a surprise result coming here given Villa’s poor form in the past month. 

Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool

Result: Aston Villa 5-0 Liverpool