Carabao Cup draw LIVE: Semi-final ties revealed as Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham join Arsenal
The Carabao Cup semi-final draw will take tonight following the conclusion of the three remaining quarter-final ties.
Arsenal have already progressed into the last four of the competition after Eddie Nketiah starred with a clinical hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing of League One Sunderland. That result ensured that only Premier League sides remain in competition, although we are already guaranteed to see a new winner crowned after Manchester City’s four-year stranglehold was finally brought to an end by West Ham in the fourth round.
The Hammers were beaten by Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals, though, with Steven Bergwijn starring in a 2-1 victory in north London. Meanwhile, Liverpool pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Leicester on penalties at Anfield, while a depleted Chelsea side still had enough quality to see off Brentford. Follow the draw live below:
Carabao Cup semi-final draw
Depleted Chelsea defeat Brentford
Tottenham hold off West Ham
Liverpool fightback to beat Leicester on penalties
Tottenham vs West Ham: Steven Bergwijn stars as Spurs beat West Ham to reach Carabao Cup semi-finals
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Steven Bergwijn scored his first goal of the season and provided an assist to help Tottenham continue their momentum under Antonio Conte by beating West Ham to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
The Netherlands forward broke the deadlock after 29 minutes and it was the catalyst for three goals in five minutes with Jarrod Bowen’s equaliser quickly countered by Lucas Moura putting Spurs 2-1 ahead which is how it finished.
Victory helps Tottenham take another step towards ending their trophy drought dating back to 2008 and made it five wins under their new boss.
Steven Bergwijn stars as Spurs beat West Ham to reach Carabao Cup semi-finals
Carabao Cup semi-final draw
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Arsenal will play Liverpool, Chelsea face Tottenham.
Carabao Cup semi-finals
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The Carabao Cup semi-finals will take place on the weeks of 3rd and 10th January. At the moment the semis will take place over two legs but there is talk of reducing it to one.
That hasn’t happened yet.
The final is at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 27th February.
Liverpool beat Leicester on penalties to reach Carabao Cup semi-finals
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Just one of several key moments in a fantastic match between Liverpool and Leicester. Takumi Minamino scores in the 95th minute to send the tie into a penalty shootout.
Carabao Cup semi-final draw
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What a good way to close out the quarter-finals. The semi-final draw is coming up soon and these are the clubs involved:
Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool.
Liverpool beat Leicester 5-4 in a penalty shootout to reach Carabao Cup semi-finals
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Anfield erupts in celebration as Diogo Jota converts the decisive penalty. What a game that was. Leicester twice took the lead and had a two goal advantage going into the second half. Jurgen Klopp called on reinforcements and Jota got the Reds back into the game before Takumi Minamino scored in the 95th minute to send the match to penalties.
In the shootout Caoimhin Kelleher made two good saves and Jota ensured Liverpool are heading into the semi-finals.
Penalties: Liverpool 5 - 4 Leicester
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Jota scores! Liverpool win! What a comeback from the Reds!
Penalties: Liverpool 4 - 4 Leicester
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Ryan Bertrand is next up for Leicester. He goes low to Kelleher’s left and the goalkeeper saves it!
Jota can win it for Liverpool.
Penalties: Liverpool 4 - 4 Leicester
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NO! He smokes his penalty over the bar! It’s sudden death.
Penalties: Liverpool 4 - 4 Leicester
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Iheanacho scores! Minamino is up for Liverpool. He scored the equaliser right at the end of the 90. Can he send them into the semi-finals?
Penalties: Liverpool 4 - 3 Leicester
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Naby Keita scores! Leicester have to score now, Kelechi Iheanacho is going to take it.
Penalties: Liverpool 3 - 3 Leicester
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Luke Thomas misses! Or rather Kelleher leaps to his left and keeps Thomas’s penalty out! Advantage Liverpool!
Penalties: Liverpool 3 - 3 Leicester
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain continues the scoring run. Schmeichel chose the correct side again but couldn’t reach it.
Penalties: Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
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Marc Albrighton goes for power and boots it straight down the middle to score.
Penalties: Liverpool 2 - 2 Leicester
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Schmeichel gets a hand to it but can’t keep out Roberto Firmino’s spot kick!
Penalties: Liverpool 1 - 2 Leicester
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Straight and high from James Maddison puts Leicester back in front.
Penalties: Liverpool 1 - 1 Leicester
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James Milner finds the corner for Liverpool. All square.
Penalties: Liverpool 0 - 1 Leicester
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Youri Tielemans is up first for Leicester and he smashes it past Kelleher to give the Foxes the lead.
Full-time: Liverpool 3 - 3 Leicester
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90+7 mins: What a game! A six goal thriller ends in a draw and will be decided by a penalty shootout. Liverpool have to be the favourites to go through now surely.
GOAL! Liverpool 3 - 3 Leicester (Minamino, 90+5’)⚽️
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90+5 mins: CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! The ball comes into the left side of the Leicester box. Takumi Minamino chests it down and drills a low shot past the outstretched arms of Kasper Schmeichel and Liverpool are level. Never rule them out at Anfield!
This game is heading to penalties!
Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
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90+3 mins: Tottenham have beaten West Ham and Chelsea won 2-0 at Brentford in the other quarter-finals. Both of those games have finished and time is running out for Liverpool at Anfield.
Oxlade-Chamberlain gives away a free kick and it allows Leicester time on the ball in Liverpool’s final third. Maddison takes the ball off Vardy and hits a low left-footed shot at goal from the front of the box but Kelleher scoops it up without too much trouble.
Three minutes to go.
Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
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90 mins: Six minutes of added time to play at Anfield. Leicester’s time-wasting tactics seem to have gone against them here.
Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
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88 mins: Leicester are taking as much time out of the game as possible. Thomas takes his time with a throw in and picks up a yellow card before launching the ball as far as he can into Liverpool’s half.
Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
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85 mins: Williams wins a free kick on the right wing and Milner curls the set piece into the Leicester box. Vestegaard wins the ball in the air and heads it over to the left wing. Oxlade-Chamberlain makes a run into the box but can’t keep the ball in play as it’s threaded towards him.
Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
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82 mins: Leicester don’t manage to find Iheanacho in the box with a rare attack in this second half and the ball is cleared to Oxlade-Chamberlain. He smokes a long ball up to Minamino but Ndidi gets in front of the winger to send the ball out of play.
Chance! Liverpool are giving up without a fight here. Keita fires an effort at goal from outside the box. His shot deflects off Jota and heads towards goal only for Schmeichel to react quickly and palm it clear!
Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
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79 mins: Chance! Neco Williams finds some space on the right side and brings the ball into the box before firing a shot into the side-netting. The goal kick from Schmeichel is won in midfield by Liverpool and a simple header knocks the ball up to Firmino. He drives into the box but is dispossessed by Ndidi before he gets off a shot.
Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
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77 mins: James Maddison is booked for a stupid challenge on Keita, just sticking his leg in the way of the Liverpool midfielder as he tries to run past him.
Diogo Jota then takes on Thomas and catches the defender on the chin with his elbow. Thomas goes to ground and Jota weaves into the box. He cuts the ball back to Oxlade-Chamberlain who shoots from range and fires an effort over the goal. Thomas has a word with Jota, he felt that elbow was deliberate.
Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
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74 mins: Marc Albrighton stays down after a late challenge from Konate but Liverpool play on and work the ball down the left wing. It eventually goes out for a throw in and Youri Tielemans squares up to James Milner for not kicking it out sooner so that Albrighton could get treatment.
Both players get a talking to from the referee but no further action is taken. Albrighton is okay to continue.
Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
21:19 , Michael Jones
71 mins: If Liverpool score again and the match ends in a draw we’ll be headin straight to penalties. There is no extra time in the Carabao Cup. The Liverpool fans are very loud inside of Anfield now. It’s not going to be easy for Leicester to close out this game. Another corner for the Reds is played into Tsimikas he has a couple of shots blocked in the box and a scramble sees Leicester come away with the ball.
GOAL! Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester (Jota, 68’) ⚽️
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68 mins: Here we go! The ball is played up to Firmino who controls it well and spins away from Ndidi. He slots a pass into Minamino who taps the ball into the box for Diogo Jota to run onto. The forward breaks through the lines, collects the ball and then smokes it into the far side of the net! Great finish. This game is well and truly alive now.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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66 mins: Minamino shimmies around Albrighton before taking on Ndidi over on Liverpool’s left side. He wins a corner that gets swung into the penalty area and headed away by Jamie Vardy. Liverpool quickly flick the ball back into the box but Ndidi is there again to head it behind for a repeat.
The second Liverpool corner is whipped deeper into the box this time but Thomas has it covered for the Foxes.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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63 mins: Leicester have switched to a back three with those two substitutions, they are going to try and hold on to their lead. Luke Thomas switches the play with a diagonal pass over to Iheanacho who makes a bit of a mess of things trying to bring the ball under control and the attack dies down.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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60 mins: The game stops whilst Soyuncu receives some treatment. He injured himself when blocking Firmino’s effort. Jannik Vestegaard comes on to replace Soyuncu for Leicester. Ryan Bertrand also comes on in place of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Another change for Liverpool sees Naby Keita on for Jordan Henderson.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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59 mins: Brilliant from Soyuncu! Liverpool’s changes have changed the momentum of the game with the Reds firmly in the ascendancy. A poor goal kick from Schmeichel gives the ball to Oxlade-Chamberlain who knocks it up to Minamino. He threads a short pass into the box for Firimino and he lets fly only to be denied by a sliding block from Soyuncu!
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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56 mins: James Milner swings a corner into the box and picks out Roberto Firmino. He gets a glancing head to the ball but sends it wide of the back post.
Kelechi Iheanacho is introduced by Brendan Rodgers, replacing Patson Daka who’s had a good night for the Foxes.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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54 mins: Save! Kelleher has just kept his team in the game! Dewsbury-Hall intercepts a pass in his own half and Gomez doesn’t manage to take it off him. The ball comes loose as the two players come together but Daka is the first man to it and he flicks it into the vacant space on the inside left. Dewsbury-Hall sprints away from Gomez, collects the ball and drives into the box. He shifts to the right away from Konate and guides a low effort to the far bottom corner only for Kelleher to leap across and push the ball wide of the post!
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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51 mins: Milner fouls Daka as the Leicester striker wins an aerial ball. The Foxes are awarded a free kick that is slid into the left side of the box for Daka to chase down but he’s beaten to it by one of Liverpool’s defenders, Gomez I think, and the Reds work the ball out of the box.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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48 mins: Neco Williams has dropped back to right-back with Diogo Jota taking up the spot on Liverpool’s right wing. Klopp is giving it a go with those substitutions but Liverpool will have to score the next goal. It’ll set up an interesting finish this game if they do.
Williams carries the ball down the right wing but is tackled by Dewsbury-Hall who knocks the ball out for a throw in.
Second half: Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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Kick off: Liverpool get the game back underway with three changes made by Jurgen Klopp. James Milner, Ibrahima Konate and Diogo Jota are all on with Conor Bradley, Billy Koumetio, and Tyler Morton the men replaced.
Carabao Cup draw live: How to watch online today as semi-final ties are revealed
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The draw for the Carabao Cup takes place after the conclusion of this round of fixtures. It will be show live on Sky Sports after Tottenham’s match against West Ham. Here’s how to watch:
How to watch Carabao Cup semi-final draw
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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Four goals in the first half at Anfield as Leicester take a commanding lead over Liverpool. Will we see more in the second 45 minutes?
Carabao Cup half-time scores
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Lots of action in the Tottenham vs West Ham quarter-final going on as well. Steven Bergwijn put Spurs in front before Jarrod Bowen equalised for the Hammers. Lucas Moura then poked one home from the edge of the six-yard box to give Tottenham the lead at the break. Brentford vs Chelsea remains goalless.
The quarter-final scores:
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
Liverpool 1-3 Leicester
Tottenham 2-1 West Ham
Half-time: Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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45+4 mins: Oh hello. Conor Bradley steps up the pitch from his position at right-back and brings the ball down the wing. He cuts inside and squeezes into the box before firing an effort at Kasper Schmeichel who smother it low down to his right.
The whistle goes for half-time and Leicester take a two-goal cushion into the break.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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45+2 mins: Williams whips a cross into the box from the right but Albrighton beats Minamino to it and heads the ball out of the area. Oxlade-Chamberlain collects and sends it over to Tsimikas on the opposite wing. He delivers another cross but can’t pick out a teammate.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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45 mins: Four minutes of added time to play before the end of the first half.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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42 mins: Leicester are having some trouble with Ricardo Pereira. He’s gone down one or two times since being caught on the ankle by a Tyler Morton tackle. There’s another break in play as Ricardo gets some treatment.
Marc Albrighton is called on by Brendan Rodgers, he gets ready quickly and replaces Ricardo who limps off the pitch.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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39 mins: Off the post! Jamie Vardy comes so, so close to completing his hat-trick as he makes a run into the right side of the box and is fed the ball. He’s in almost the same position as his first goal and sends his shot towards the far bottom corner. Kelleher is beaten but the ball bangs into the post and bounces back into play allowing Liverpool to clear.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
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36 mins: Minamino snatches at a shot from just inside the box on the right but doesn’t connect well and boots it over the crossbar. Liverpool are still a threat to Leicester.
GOAL! Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester (Maddison, 33’)⚽️
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33 mins: What a beauty! James Maddison restores Leicester’s two goal lead with a brilliant strike from range. It’s Maddison at his best, near top corner leaving Kelleher absolutely no chance to stop it!
Liverpool 1 - 2 Leicester
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32 mins: Jarrod Bowen has equalised for West Ham against Tottenham, that game has kicked into life now as well.
Chance! Liverpool knock the ball back to Koumetio who is caught in possession by Vardy close to the halfway line. He and Daka fly up the pitch on the counter and Liverpool are left scrambling. Vardy takes it all the way into the box and gets off a shot that Kelleher stops with his body.
A shout out to Tyler Morton who sprinted back and did just enough to put Vardy off.
Liverpool 1 - 2 Leicester
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30 mins: Penalty shout from Liverpool as Firmino slides Minamino into the box but it’s a well timed challenge from Dewsbury-Hall to dispossess him. There’s a coming together and both players go down but the referee plays on and Leicester run the ball clear.
A reminder that there’s no VAR in the Carabao Cup until the semi-final stage.
Liverpool 1 - 2 Leicester
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28 mins: There are two other Carabao Cup quarter-finals taking place at the minute with Brentford hosting Chelsea and Tottenham taking on West Ham. Spurs have just taken the lead in their match with Steven Bergwijn finding the back of the net. Brentford vs Chelsea remains goalless.
Liverpool 1 - 2 Leicester
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27 mins: Vardy wins the ball high up the pitch and Leicester attack on the counter. Maddison drifts into the left side of the box and Vardy picks him out nicely. Daka provides an options in the middle of the box and Maddison’s pass deflects off Gomez and loops up for Kelleher to easily claim.
Liverpool 1 - 2 Leicester
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25 mins: Leicester send another long ball up to Daka but he gets leaned on by Gomez who heads the ball away for Liverpool. Daka goes to ground and wants a free kick but the referee is not interested at all.
After a shaky start Liverpool seem to have found their feet. They’re keeping the ball better and have cut out the mistakes.
Liverpool 1 - 2 Leicester
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22 mins: You can never rule Liverpool out of a game at Anfield especially this early in a match. The Reds take the front foot and win a corner that Tsimikas swings into the middle of the box. Soyuncu gets higher than anyone else and clears the danger for the Foxes.
GOAL! Liverpool 1 - 2 Leicester (Oxlade-Chamberlain, 19’)⚽️
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19 mins: What a game! Liverpool are back in the tie. It’s lovely work from Kostas Tsimikas who dinks the ball around Pereira and flies down the left wing. He whips an early cross deep into the box and Williams wins the header knocking it down to Firmino. Firmino has his back to goal so can’t shoot and instead lays the ball off to Oxlade-Chamberlain. He takes a touch and then smokes a powerful, low shot into the bottom left hand corner!
Liverpool 0 - 2 Leicester
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16 mins: Almost. Jordan Henderson does well to avoid a tackle on the right side of the pitch and poke the ball up to Takumi Minamino. He attempts to play in Tsimikas on the overlap but loses the ball to Youri Tielemans who pumps a long ball up the pitch for Daka to chase into the box. Kelleher comes flying off his line and heads the bal over the Leicester striker allowing his defenders to complete the clearance.
GOAL! Liverpool 0 - 2 Leicester (Vardy, 13’)⚽️
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13 mins: It’s the perfect start for Leicester! Again Liverpool cause their own problems by giving the ball away, Neco Williams is the culprit this time on the right side as his pass into midfield comes to Dewsbury-Hall. He in turn fires a lovely pass up to Daka who brings the ball into the box and draws Billy Koumetio out of position. Vardy runs into the vacant space in the penalty area, waits for the ball to be squared by Daka and then taps it home! 2-0 to Leicester.
GOAL! Liverpool 0 - 1 Leicester (Vardy, 9’)⚽️
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9 mins: Jamie Vardy gives Leicester the lead! Liverpool clear a throw in into their own box and attempt to attack on the counter. Tsimikas drives forward down the left before knocking the ball inside and giving it to Boubakary Soumare. He sends it quickly up to James Maddison who threads the ball into the right side of the box matching Vardy’s run. Vardy collects the ball, sends it back across the area and despite Kelleher getting a hand to it, the ball nestles in the back of the net!
Liverpool 0 - 0 Leicester
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6 mins: Save! Joe Gomez makes a mistake with a loose pass into the Leicester half that is intercepted by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. He quickly threads a forward ball in between the Liverpool centre-backs and plays Patson Daka into the box. Daka carries the ball to the left side of the area and blasts a shot towards the near post where Caoimhin Kelleher palms the ball behind with an outstretched right hand!
Liverpool 0 - 0 Leicester
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3 mins: Liverpool win the ball and sweep up the pitch. Takumi Minamino takes is down the inside left channel and brings the ball into the box before firing off a right footed shot. Leicester have plenty of men back and the effort is blocked in the box and booted out as far as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He attempts to find some space on the left wing but is tackled by Ricardo Pereira.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Leicester
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Kick off: Both teams take the knee before Leicester get the match underway. A long ball comes over to the left wing where Leicester recover the ball. They work it across the pitch and win a free kick as Kostas Tsimikas is punished for a foul.
Liverpool vs Leicester
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Here come the teams. Both sets of fans get a big round of applause as they head onto the pitch. This should be a good game, on paper Leicester have the stronger side but this is Anfield and Liverpool won’t want to lose here.
Liverpool vs Leicester: Brendan Rodgers returns to Anfield in need of a spark to brighten Leicester’s grim winter
19:41 , Michael Jones
Even without the wave of Omicron sweeping through the country, it is unlikely that Jurgen Klopp would select anywhere near his strongest side for Liverpool’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester City tonight. The competition is low down on the German’s priorities.
Just don’t mention the words ‘weakened team’ around the Kop when Brendan Rodgers is in town. One of the 48-year-old’s lowest points during his tenure at Anfield came from a decision to field a substandard XI.
In Rodgers’ infamous case it was not in either of the domestic cups. It was in the Champions League. Against Real Madrid. In the Bernabeu.
Brendan Rodgers returns to Anfield in need of a spark to brighten grim winter
Liverpool vs Leicester
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This season, Liverpool have lost only one of the six games in which they have conceded the first goal.
The Reds are unbeaten in their last 14 fixtures played on this date - with 11 wins and three draws - since a 2-0 loss at Cardiff City in 1923.
Liverpool vs Leicester
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Takumi Minamino starts for Liverpool tonight. The Japanese winger has scored five goals in four League Cup appearances for Liverpool.
Liverpool vs Leicester
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Liverpool have won the League Cup eight times - is the joint most with Manchester City.
The Reds beat the Foxes in the last League Cup clash between the teams at Anfield 4-1, with Steve McMahon’s hat-trick and a goal from Kenny Dalglish earning a comfortable third-round victory in 1986.
The clubs have met only once before in the last eight of a domestic cup competition, Roger Hunt scoring as the Reds won an FA Cup replay 1-0 on their way to winning the competition for the first time in 1965.
Liverpool vs Leicester: Leicester confident they can add Carabao Cup to FA Cup win, says Wilfred Ndidi
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Wilfred Ndidi insists lifting the FA Cup gives Leicester City confidence they can repeat that success in the Carabao Cup this season.
The Foxes won the FA Cup for the first time in their history in May, defeating Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley courtesy of Youri Tielemans’ superb second-half strike.
Leicester have won England’s other domestic cup competition three times, but not since 2000, and face Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night for a place in the semi-finals.
Leicester confident they can add Carabao Cup to FA Cup win, says Wilfred Ndidi
Liverpool vs Leicester: Ndidi on Foxes’ belief
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When asked whether he thought Leicester could go on a win the Carabao Cup this season Wilfred Ndidi threw it back to last season’s FA Cup which saw Leicester defeat Chelsea 1-0 in the final to lift the trophy. Ndidi says that victory gives his teammates confidence that they can go on and repeat the feat this year, albeit in a different competition. He said:
It gives us this mindset that it is achievable, it is possible, no matter the team you are playing,
“It is really possible. The confidence is here. When you think back to that amazing feeling of winning the FA Cup, it is something we have in our minds that we can achieve things together as a group.
“We’ve done it and it we can still do it. We’ve done it before and we can do it. It all depends on us to actually be at our best in every single game.”
Liverpool vs Leicester: Williams on the wing
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Perhaps the most eyebrow raising inclusion for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side is the inclusion of Neco Williams. When he has featured for the reds the 20-year-old is usually employed in his customary right-back role but tonight he’ll take up Mo Salah’s slot on the right wing with Roberto Firmino through the middle and Takumi Minamino on the left. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
Liverpool vs Leicester: Lijnders on Liverpool’s desire for trophies
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Pep Lijnders says that you only need to look at one of Liverpool’s training sessions to see how much the players want to win trophies and admits that their focus is full on tonight’s game and the chance to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals. He said:
First of all, you have to watch one of our training sessions! That will take the greed question away because they train every time as if it’s a final.
“They can make even a simple rondo very competitive. We have a squad full of personalities, we have a squad full of boys who still dream. Even say, James Milner, who is 35, he still dreams of winning prizes.
“Of course there’s an opportunity to reach the semi-final and we know this. If you want to be a proper Liverpool legend you need to win cups as well – national cups, I mean. We all know how big the FA Cup is and that we want to win this cup as well. But we don’t look further than this game.”
Liverpool vs Leicester: Head-to-head
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Liverpool have failed to score against Leicester in only two of the last 26 meetings at Anfield. Those matches were successive Premier League games back in April 1999 and May 2000.
Out of the 115 matches played between the sides, across all competitions, only seven games have ended in goalless draws meaning you should expect somes goals tonight.
The last time these teams met Leicester defeated Liverpool 3-1 back in February 2021 ending a seven game winless streak against the Reds. Before Leicester’s last victory over Liverpool came in September 2017 when they won 2-0 in the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool vs Leicester: Jordan Henderson accuses Premier League of ‘not taking player welfare seriously’
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Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is concerned that player welfare is not being taken seriously enough.
The Premier League announced on Monday its intention to continue with the scheduled matches over the Christmas period, even though there were 90 confirmed coronavirus cases among players and staff recorded last week.
A shareholders’ meeting which involved representatives from all 20 clubs came to a collective decision to carry on with the campaign as planned, despite six of the 10 games last weekend being off due to Covid outbreaks.
Jordan Henderson accuses Premier League of ‘not taking player welfare seriously’
Liverpool vs Leicester: Ndidi on dealing with Covid
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Leicester City haven’t played a competitive game since December 12th as the club has been dealing with the ongoing coronavirus outbreak amongst Premier League clubs. They have had two league matches called off and Wilfred Ndidi says dealing with the rising cases has been tough:
It’s been difficult because we haven’t really had time to train as a group.
"We have to follow the protocol and it’s been difficult because we haven’t been together as a group. We’ve been training individually because of Covid-19, but we will just see what comes."
Liverpool vs Leicester: Team changes
18:57 , Michael Jones
As expected Jurgen Klopp makes a whole bunch of changes to the Liverpool starting XI. Tyler Morton is the only player to remain in the team from the XI that started against Tottenham at the weekend. First teamers, Jordan Henderson, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino provide the experience as Klopp brings in some of the youngsters. Caoimhin Kelleher is reliable in goal with Conor Bradley and Billy Koumetio in defence.
Brendan Rodgers has played it safer making only three changes from Leicester’s last game. Caglar Soyuncu is fit enough to start and partners Wilfred Ndidi at centre-back with Ricardo Peirera and Luke Thomas either side of them. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall keeps his place in midfield alongside Youri Tielemans and Boubakary Soumare whilst Patson Daka plays with James Maddison and the returning Jamie Vardy up top. Jonny Evans, Harvey Barnes and Timothy Castagne drop out.
Liverpool vs Leicester: Line-ups
18:47 , Michael Jones
Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Bradley, Koumetio, Gomez, Tsimikas, Morton, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Williams, Minamino, Firmino
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🔴
Here’s how the Reds line up for #LIVLEI in the @Carabao_Cup quarter-final 👊— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 22, 2021
Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Ndidi, Soyuncu, Thomas, Tielemans, Soumare, Dewsbury-Hall, Maddison, Daka, Vardy
Here's how we start at Anfield in the Carabao Cup 🦊#LivLei pic.twitter.com/NPRfTtC0vk
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 22, 2021
Liverpool vs Leicester: Injuries and absentees
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Liverpool remain without Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones fortonight’s game at Anfield as they are still isolating after positive Covid-19 tests.
Divock Origi is also out through injury.
Leicester have big problems as centre-backs Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu, Jannik Vestergaard, Wesley Fofana and Filip Benkovic all look likely to miss out.
Liverpool vs Leicester: Liverpool hoping to entertain fans
18:38 , Michael Jones
Liverpool’s assistant coach Pep Lijnders expects the team to put on a good show against Leicester tonight regardless of who is on the pitch. He believes that there will be some rotation to the starting XI but whoever takes to the pitch for the Reds will be determined to earn a positive result for the fans. About possible changes to the team, Lijnders said:
Yeah, we know we are in an intense period, so what we always do is create a line-up, we make a small plan and we prepare well. And then we want to attack matchday.
“We will focus on ourselves; we know in these intense periods we need the whole squad. We know that’s something we want – we want to be in these intense periods, we want to play these games and we really look forward to it.
“What we want is to give our fans a cup night full of desire. That’s what we did before and that’s what we want to do now. If it’s Leicester at home or AC Milan away, that’s how it works.”
Liverpool vs Leicester
18:32 , Michael Jones
Tonight’s Carabao Cup quarter-final between Liverpool and Leicester is likely to see both managers rotate their squads to give their first choice players a rest during the bust festive period schedule.
This is Liverpool’s third fixture in seven days and they have another two games scheduled before the end of the year. Leicester meanwhile haven’t played since December 12th after their Premier League fixtures against Tottenham and Everton were postponed last week due to rising coronavirus cases at those clubs.
Liverpool vs Leicester: Jurgen Klopp thinks festive football fixture list is ‘absurd’
18:25 , Michael Jones
Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders said on Tuesday that it was “absurd” that Liverpool have to play two games in four days given the number of Covid-19 cases and injuries at the club.
The Anfield side drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in the league and will face Leicester City at home on Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.
Both the Premier League and English Football League announced on Monday that fixtures during the busy festive period will go ahead as planned despite the surge in Covid-19 cases.
Jurgen Klopp thinks festive fixture list is ‘absurd’, says Liverpool No2 Pep Lijnders
Liverpool host Leicester in Carabao Cup quarter-finals
14:50 , Tom Kershaw
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as Liverpool host Leicester in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals tonight.
Jurgen Klopp has been left infuriated by the Premier League’s officiating and fixture scheduling in recent days, but there is no respite for his side as they aim to secure a place in the semi-finals tonight. The Reds are likely to field a heavily rotated side as Klopp seeks to protect his players, while the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, and Thiago have tested positive for Covid-19.
Leicester are juggling a host of problems themselves, though, and have not been able to play since 12 December due to a widespread outbreak of Covid within their squad. Brendan Rodgers could be without as many as 11 first-team players tonight as the Foxes seek to add to last season’s FA Cup glory.
