EFL Cup holders Liverpool to negotiate Rams test
2021/2022 EFL Cup winners Liverpool will ring the changes against League One outfit Derby County at Anfield in anticipation of the domestic season being interrupted in a few days' time for the mid-season FIFA World Cup. The Rams have recovered well from all the financial tumult and inevitable relegation from the Championship last term, and currently sit in 7th in the third tier. They have nothing to lose by going on the attack in front of the Kop. Read our preview here:
Ramsay street
With a fixture also at home to managerless Southampton on the horizon, Jürgen Klopp is sure to swap out some of his key men, particularly coming off the back of a draining 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, as well as the World Cup looming ever larger. Curtis Jones and Fabio Carvalho could both come in on the wider positions in attack, whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could get an increasingly rare start in a career beset by injuries. On the right of the back four, summer signing Calvin Ramsay could be handed his domestic debut. The 19 year old hot prospect made the position his own at Aberdeen in the SPFL at such a young age, his positional profile and style of play is similar to Trent Alexander-Arnold, and should continue to be handed meaningful minutes and opportunities to impress in a demanding fixture calendar.
Dob him in
Paul Warne has built an excellent CV in the EFL, both in his previous role as Rotherham United boss and now by steadying a ship that seemed doomed to sink for years, though it was often outside the gift of the manager to be able to affect that. After drawing 2-2 with Torquay United in the first round proper of the FA Cup at the weekend, he will be without Eiran Cashin after the ever-present centre-back was handed a straight red card in that tie. The hugely experienced pairing of Richard Stearman and Craig Forsyth will be holding the line in his absence. Elsewhere, Ramsay could come up against the versatile Everton loanee Lewis Dobbin, who likes to take the ball past his marker. That battle could be one of the most intriguing on the night.
Betting tip
The Reds can be backed at 2.33 with Casumo to win within 90 minutes and both teams scoring.
