Must be a tough game. Liverpool vs Chelsea in this season, in epl not yet meet. In Carabau Cup 26.9.2018.
Ethan Ampadu
Ampadu has long been regarded as a thrilling young prospect but the buzz around him has increased recently. He earned widespread plaudits for his commanding performance in Wales’ 4-1 win over Ireland in the UEFA Nations League earlier this month. Then, a few days after his 18th birthday, he was handed a new five-year contract by Chelsea.
How good is Ampadu?
How Chelsea’s Ethan Ampadu became one of the most coveted and exciting young players in the game.
Antonio Conte called the Exeter City academy product “the future of Chelsea” last season, and he has been described in the same terms by Maurizio Sarri, who said he was “very, very happy” to have secured him to a new long-term contract last week.
Ampadu, who joined Chelsea from Exeter last summer, is an intelligent and technically gifted central defender who can also play in midfield. He boasts maturity beyond his years, but the problem under Sarri is that opportunities have not yet been forthcoming.
Liverpool vs Chelsea
He is yet to make a competitive appearance under the Italian despite impressing during pre-season, and many Chelsea fans were disappointed that he did not even make the squad for their Europa League trip to PAOK Salonika last week. Could the Carabao Cup open the door to him? He is certainly eager to impress.
“You could say there’s been frustration on one hand, but at the same time I’m getting experience training with the players,” he said recently. “I’m just trying to improve to get into the team. This season’s plans are this season’s plans and at the moment I’ve just to keep improving to try and get in the team. I want to show the manager what I can do.”
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Hudson-Odoi is another exciting Chelsea youngster pushing for first-team inclusion. The 17-year-old forward has been on the club’s books since 2007, impressing in their academy and representing England at youth level.
He does not turn 18 until November but has already tasted senior action. He made his debut as a late substitute in a 3-0 win over Newcastle in the FA Cup in January and went on to make his Premier League bow against Bournemouth a few days later. Before the end of the campaign, there were further appearances against Hull and Tottenham
Sarri confirmed the fast, skilful forward was a part of his first-team plans soon after his appointment in the summer, and his impressive performances during pre-season earned him a starting spot in the Community Shield clash with Manchester City.
“Callum has shown great quality and character and now it is up to him to keep that level,” said Chelsea team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta. “I am sure if he keeps doing the things he’s doing at the moment and working the way he is doing for the team, he will be very important for the team. It’s something he has in his hands.”
Curtis Jones
Could Jones be the next Liverpool youngster to make the step up to the senior side? Jurgen Klopp has shown he is unafraid to trust in youth, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez becoming key members of his defence in recent months, and the 17-year-old Jones has been tipped for a similarly bright having trained with the senior squad since the age of 15.
Jones certainly made a big impression on Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States, impressing against top opposition in front of packed crowds. Klopp insists there is a “long way to go” for him to fulfil his potential but he has been impressed by his confidence and self-belief.
“Curtis is a proper Scouser,” Klopp said during the summer. “I don’t know if I have the right words, but he is not shy to say a few things and probably that’s a surprise for one or two players! It’s easy, he accepts the rules of the group, there is no doubt about that.”
Klopp rates him highly in terms of his ability, too, but says his game still needs to be refined. “He is a tall boy but still very mobile, good at dribbling and stuff like that, but now we need to make sure he finds the right moment to pass the ball – and dribbling is not for dribbling, it’s to change the situation in a better way and then to pass the ball,” he said.
Jones is yet to make his competitive debut, but he already feels he is improving his game under Klopp’s guidance. “I like to get on the ball, I like to dribble, I like to get assists and goals, but he’s definitely helping me on the other side of the game, defending, tackling, getting back, helping the team,” he said during pre-season. “One hundred per cent he’s got me fitter, too.”
He will be eager for a chance to show that improvement on the big stage soon.
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- Liverpool have won only two of their last 14 games against Chelsea in all competitions (D7 L5), with both victories coming at Stamford Bridge.
- This is the eighth League Cup meeting between Liverpool and Chelsea and the first at the third round stage since November 2000, when the Reds won 2-1 at Anfield with goals from Danny Murphy and Robbie Fowler.
- Liverpool have lost their last three League Cup matches without scoring a single goal, their worst ever run in the competition – the Reds have not been eliminated at the third round stage in back to back seasons since doing so in 1989-90 and 1990-91.
- Chelsea have progressed from each of their last seven League Cup third round ties since losing 4-3 to Newcastle United in 2010-11.
- None of the last eight Chelsea managers to manage in the League Cup have lost their first match in the competition (W7 D1), with Claudio Ranieri the last Blues boss to lose his maiden game – losing against Liverpool in November 2000.
- This is the 57th meeting between Liverpool and Chelsea since the turn of the millennium, making it the most played fixture in English football in that time.
Goodman’s prediction
This is juicy isn’t it, especially because they are playing each other in the Premier League at the weekend as well. Whoever loses this game will say the cup was not the priority and has no relevance to Saturday, and whoever wins will definitely use it going into that game.
Neither side will want to lose but I just think the depth of Liverpool this season will be what sees them through to victory at Anfield.
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will make his first appearance of the season in his side’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Chelsea on Wednesday.
Summer signing Alisson will be rested at Anfield, with Mignolet to play his first Liverpool game since January.
Chelsea are expected to rotate their line-up, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Antonio Rudiger and Pedro are doubts.
Top scorer Eden Hazard will be part of the squad despite the clubs meeting again in the league on Saturday.
Chelsea’s assistant manager Gianfranco Zola suggested defender Gary Cahill could make his first start of the season while teenagers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ethan Ampadu are also in contention.
Liverpool and Chelsea are both unbeaten this season and are currently first and third in the Premier League respectively.
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp said he will play a “really strong side” for the cup fixture but the inclusion of Mignolet was the only change he confirmed at his pre-match news conference.
“I will not name a number of changes,” Klopp said.
“It will not be the maximum and it will not be the minimum.
“One I have already confirmed, so it cannot be nil, and it will for sure not be 11.”
Zola said the game is an “opportunity to see players who didn’t have many games so far” but that they would “take it seriously”.
“The game on Saturday is going to be huge, the type of game means a lot,” the Italian said.
“We are greedy, we want to win both of them if we can.”
Head-to-head
- Liverpool have won only two of their past 14 games against Chelsea in all competitions (D7 L5), with both victories coming at Stamford Bridge.
- This is the 57th meeting between Liverpool and Chelsea since the turn of the millennium, making it the most played fixture in English football in that time.
- This is the eighth League Cup meeting between Liverpool and Chelsea and the first at the third-round stage since November 2000, when the Reds won 2-1 at Anfield with goals from Danny Murphy and Robbie Fowler.
Liverpool
- Liverpool have lost their last three League Cup matches without scoring a single goal, their worst ever run in the competition – the Reds haven’t been eliminated at the third-round stage in back to back seasons since doing so in 1989-90 and 1990-91.
Chelsea
- Chelsea have progressed from each of their past seven League Cup third-round ties since losing 4-3 to Newcastle United in 2010-11.
- None of the last eight Chelsea managers to manage in the League Cup have lost their first match in the competition (W7 D1), with Claudio Ranieri the last Blues boss to lose his maiden game – against Liverpool in November 2000.