Liverpool Match Preview

West Ham United finally venture out of London tonight for the first time since their 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on 19 May. They travel to Anfield for their Carabao Cup third-round tie as they face Liverpool.

After their home defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, the Hammers hope to continue their current run of good form on the road but they don’t have the best of records here.

Last season’s run to the quarter-finals stage saw David Moyes’ side get past Sky Bet League One outfit Lincoln City, before causing a major shock with a 3-1 home win against Arsenal, which then booked a meeting with the eventual holders.

Liverpool may not see this game as a top Priority, given that they have the UEFA Champions League on their fixture programme for this campaign so it may give Julen Lopetegui hope that his team can progress

The home side have a new face in their dugout too this season, as Arne Slot replaced Jürgen Klopp this summer.

Slot’s men go into this game off the back of a 3-0 success against AFC Bournemouth four days ago after also being triumphant in Milan last week. Coincidently, The Cherries were the team that the Irons knocked out to make this latest meeting with the current holders a reality.

In the unlikely event that the scores were to be level at full-time, then a penalty shoot-out will take place to decide who goes into the draw, which will take place once all the ties have been completed.

Łukasz Fabiański started in the second- round tie and he looks likely to do so again with Wes Foderingham providing cover from the bench.  Niclas Füllkrug will once again face a late fitness check. However, Lopetegui stated in his pre-news conference ahead of this game on Tuesday that the striker has returned to training and may be involved, while Jean-Clair Todibo, Vladimír Coufal, Aaron Cresswell and Carlos Soler could all be in contention. Andy Irving made his first competitive appearance for the club in the defeat against the Blues at the weekend and he will be hoping for a full debut.

Tonight’s match is an 8pm kick-off and live coverage is being screened by Sky Sports from 7pm. The referee is Andrew Madley.