Pre-Match: Aston Villa v Liverpool Carabao Cup QF Tues 17th Dec 19:45KO

Whatever happens think the kids will do the club proud. They will be eager to impress, to move into the main squad. The mentality of never give up, could certainly spring a shock tomorrow night.

I have a feeling we will play very well, but just lose. doing the club proud and the u23s gaining some great experience.

cmon young ones , You ARE good enough to give these a proper game. show what you do, but play together as a team.
Every faith lads, be supporting you all the way

No reason we can't win this with the young lads. They have nothing to lose all the pressure is on Villa to win.
Villa at best are a decent Championship side and nothing more.

C'mon the young Reds.

Pass and move, pass and move.
Remember what you were told in training. No heroics, just stay concentrated. The Adrenalin will carry you through. Win it and send out a statement.
We are Liverpool, This means more !

I have a feeling we will play very well, but just lose. doing the club proud and the u23s gaining some great experience.

I've selected some pre-match team talk given by our very own. We've some solid backing for our young lads. It's very encouraging. Which as a young lad, would you like to hear or not hear before you head out for kick off?

How about "guys, I'm actually not too bothered if you lose. I've nothing to say to you. Go out and enjoy yourselves like it's your last big match."  evil coaching staff.

Really looking forward to this one, something completely different to what we're used to.

Certainly won't be writing the lads off - they proved against Arsenal that they're good enough to stand up & be counted so they're definitely capable of an upset here.

Just thinking of how bizzare it's going to be for Klopp & the lads over in Qatar - all sitting there watching Liverpool play in a quarter final on the TV. Will be like an out of body experience!

Really looking forward to this one, something completely different to what we're used to.

Certainly won't be writing the lads off - they proved against Arsenal that they're good enough to stand up & be counted so they're definitely capable of an upset here.

Just thinking of how bizzare it's going to be for Klopp & the lads over in Qatar - all sitting there watching Liverpool play in a quarter final on the TV. Will be like an out of body experience!

yepp will be a unique experience to lose a game ;-)

in all seriousness I hope the kids enjoy the experience and play with no pressure or expectations on them, if they do that then who knows what might happen but I would be amazed if we don't lose this quite heavily.

The kids will do us proud tomorrow whether we win or not. Win and we get closer to another trophy, lose and we have less matches to worry about.

are you joking, there is every reason that we WILL lose, Villa players are stronger, faster, better technically

Says who? I fancy our kids to give Villa a game.

Villa may well rotate, thinking its an easy tie.

Critchley on Williams and Jones: "For two 18s to go to CWC that doesn't happen every day, does it? If they are involved them they have a chance of getting on the pitch. What an occasion that would be for them!"

So Jones is with the WCC squad.

And apparently Brewster is a doubt for the game.

& Elliott is with the WCC squad.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-squad-club-world-cup-17427324

So Jones is with the WCC squad.

And apparently Brewster is a doubt for the game.

& Elliott is with the WCC squad.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-squad-club-world-cup-17427324

OK - so originally Harvey, Curtis, Neco and Rhian were going to play at Villa and then travel to Qatar (but not be available for selection on Wednesday).

NOW, Curtis and Neco have already flown to Qatar and will be available for selection Wednesday, but will not play at Villa.

Harvey will play at Villa and then fly out to Qatar. Kijana Hoever and Sepp Van den Berg will do the same.

But Rhian Brewster faces a late fitness test for Villa and will not travel to Qatar.

Really looking forward to this one, something completely different to what we're used to.

Certainly won't be writing the lads off - they proved against Arsenal that they're good enough to stand up & be counted so they're definitely capable of an upset here.

Just thinking of how bizzare it's going to be for Klopp & the lads over in Qatar - all sitting there watching Liverpool play in a quarter final on the TV. Will be like an out of body experience!

I am looking forward to the game and it's a great opportunity for our young players, I just have no expectations for it.

You mention Arsenal - here is the team we sent out to draw 5-5 with them:

Kelleher (will be at Villa)
Williams (will not be at Villa)
Van den Berg (there)
Gomez (not there)
Milner (not there)
Lallana (not there)
Keita (not there)
Oxlaide-Chamberlain (not there)
Elliott (there)
Origi (not there)
Brewster (probably not there - injured).

subs who came on were Curtis Jones (not there) and Pedro Chirivella (there)

So if you're counting, only 3 of the 11 we sent out against Arsenal, plus one sub, will be on hand for tomorrow's game.

It's going to be a lot of U23s and even some U18s in the lineup, including maybe 4 or 5 senior debuts, and nobody who has played as many as 5 senior games except possibly Pedro Chirivella.

Saying all of that, Klopp says the following today about the team's chances vs. Villa:

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, the boss said: "It's good. Tomorrow night we start with watching the other semi-final live in the stadium, I think it should be possible. And then we will leave there a bit earlier and sit here in front of the television and watch that game.

"It will be absolutely exciting. I'm really delighted for the boys.

"I know how a lot of people in the public see it, but if all the football games would be decided before we start, only because of the perception of the people, then most of the games wouldn't be played. I believe, I'm a big believer in everybody has a chance.

"From the boys' point of view, if I would be in their boots I would be excited like hell, looking forward to it like hell, run for my life, all that stuff.

"Of course we took two players away because of our own situation, we needed to have at least 16 players. So Neco and Curtis, two important players for that team, are now here with us, that was not to change it. But apart from that, just give it a proper try and we will sit and will be with them."

Klopp continued: "All our thoughts are with them, the more experienced players are looking forward to it to watch the game and shout them forward from here.

"Whatever we can do we will do, but Critch and his staff and the boys, I'm sure they're really looking forward to it and will enjoy it.

"You can only enjoy football if you work hard and go for the result – whichever result it will be. Aston Villa is the big favourite, that's clear, but who cares? It's football and the ball rolls in each direction, that's pretty cool."

Actually would hate to be in Villa's shoes for this. It's kind of a no win situation. If they win, they were expected to because we fielded a team of youngsters. If they lose...well.......


Hopefully the kids take it to them early and you never know what may happen.

I am looking forward to the game and it's a great opportunity for our young players, I just have no expectations for it.

You mention Arsenal - here is the team we sent out to draw 5-5 with them:

Kelleher (will be at Villa)
Williams (will not be at Villa)
Van den Berg (there)
Gomez (not there)
Milner (not there)
Lallana (not there)
Keita (not there)
Oxlaide-Chamberlain (not there)
Elliott (there)
Origi (not there)
Brewster (probably not there - injured).

Cheers for that. For some reason I had it in my head that the Arsenal team was a lot less experienced than the one you've posted.

Weird one this...not sure what to make of it...we'll out pimple them that's for sure. To be honest I know very little about some of the players we put out. It could be a step to far. step a bit to early for some of them but lets hope it's a positive experience for them.

The plumbers.milkmen,insurance salesmen live for a shot at the big boys in the cup so....look to lads in parkas.

Says who? I fancy our kids to give Villa a game.

I bet its not even close, I wish the kids all the best and I'll be cheering them on but it would take a miracle for them to win. We literally have no established defence, midfield or attack. In other words we've got no one to get any goals for us or to keep them out. It will be a slaughter if Villa play their A-team.

7/1 win the bookies. Probably should be 14/1 with the team we have.

are you joking, there is every reason that we WILL lose, Villa players are stronger, faster, better technically, more experienced and are also playing at home and will be every bit as motivated to win.

I'm actually not bothered about losing this, it means 2 games less that Leicester and Citeh in February

I might have known you would come along and piss on my chips.
What is your problem eh ? Yes we will probably get beat but can't  you get behind the team and support them ffs.
I expect if we do get beat badly you will be able to come along like Billy Big Bollocks and say told you all so.

Think the youngsters will struggle but what the hell as long as they give it a go

I'm not waiting for any result but I demand that all of them give their utmost. Passion can't be bought.

Think the youngsters will struggle but what the hell as long as they give it a go

I’m hoping they cause an upset & win the game.. would be great news

i wonder if it would have been worth keeping a couple of senior players in this team? Like i dunno. Milner and Ox or something/? U know grab names out of a hat

Sorry, being lazy here, is this game on BT or Sky? Just wondering if I need to go to the Pub to watch it?