Paul Gorst - Dream night for youngsters
Last season's successful Carabao Cup campaign started with a host of youngsters making their Liverpool debuts at Norwich as Kaide Gordon, Conor Bradley and Tyler Morton all got their chance.
So could we see something similar tonight when Derby County visit Anfield?
Jurgen Klopp is expected to make wholesale changes ahead of Saturday's visit from Southampton and it could mean a dream night for some relatively unknown members in the junior ranks.
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Caoimhin Kelleher will make his first start of the season. The Ireland goalkeeper was the penalty shootout hero in this competition last season and will hope to continue with that this evening. In defence, Calvin Ramsay and Kostas Tsimikas can start in the full-back berths with a centre-back partnership of Joe Gomez and Nat Phillips.
In midfield, James Milner can patrol as the No.6 alongside Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones, while Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho can occupy the wide-attacking slots.
Up top, the options are pretty threadbare for Klopp given the injuries to Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, so Darwin Nunez can start between the two former Fulham youngsters as he looks to build on his seven-goal Anfield career to date.
My team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Ramsay, Gomez, Phillips, Tsimikas; Milner, Jones, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Elliott, Nunez, Carvalho.
Ian Doyle - Full debuts for trio
All change for the League Cup visit of Derby County, and why not? It's about time some of these Liverpool players got a good run-out.
The goalkeeper we already know. That's Caoimhin Kelleher. And the rest of the defence is all change, with Calvin Ramsay coming in for a full debut at right-back, Nat Phillips making only his second outing of the season at centre-back alongside Joe Gomez, and Kostas Tsimikas at left-back.
There's another first start in midfield where Stefan Bajcetic can line up alongside Curtis Jones on the left-hand side and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the right of him.
And up top, Fabio Carvalho can come in from the left, with another full debutant in Bobby Clark on the right. For pure amusement value, Darwin Nunez starts as the centre forward.
My team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Ramsay, Gomez, Phillips, Tsimikas; Bajcetic, Jones, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Clark, Nunez, Carvalho.
Theo Squires - Doak has earned senior call-up
Liverpool’s League Cup defence starts here and I’m expecting a whole host of changes from Jurgen Klopp as he rotates his Reds side against Derby, though two players can keep their places from Sunday’s win over Spurs.
Having not played since his heroic performance in last year’s final at Wembley, Caoimhin Kellher gets the nod in goal. Ahead of him, Calvin Ramsay makes his first Liverpool start with Nat Phillips partnering Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas making up the back four.
Stefan Bajcetic is also handed his maiden Reds start as the number six in midfield, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones starting either side of him to provide a bit of experience in the engine room. The likes of Bobby Clark can wait in the wings for an appearance off the bench.
With Roberto Firmino having started every game since the loss to Arsenal last month, he’s handed a rest along with Mohamed Salah, but Darwin Nunez starts upfront against Derby. The agent of chaos can hopefully score a couple of goals against the League One outfit before being replaced early on with the job already done.
Meanwhile, Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho start on the flanks, with 16-year-old Ben Doak having done enough for the Under-18s, Under-19s and Under-21s since his summer move from Celtic to earn a maiden senior call-up and place on the bench against the Rams.
My team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Ramsay, Phillips, Gomez, Tsimikas; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Bajcetic, Jones; Elliott, Nunez, Carvalho.
Charlotte Coates - Run to Wembley begins
Liverpool begin their defence of the Carabao Cup they won in dramatic fashion last season and how the Reds would love another run to a Wembley final.
Jurgen Klopp is known for giving youth a chance and that is exactly what will happen in this clash at Anfield with League One side Derby County.
Pep Lijnders has already confirmed Caoimhin Kelleher will start in goal after his heroics in the competition last season.
Calvin Ramsay will start his first game in a Liverpool shirt at right-back as Kostas Tsimikas will play at left-back. Joe Gomez will be partnered by Nat Phillips in the heart of the defence.
The talented Stefan Bajcetic will be partnered by Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the middle of the pitch.
Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho and Darwin Nunez will all start for Liverpool in the front three.
My team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Ramsay, Gomez, Phillips, Tsimikas; Bajcetic, Jones, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Elliott, Nunez, Carvalho.
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