Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur in the last 32 of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, with both sides hoping to book a spot in the draw for the next round.
Andoni Iraola's Liverpool enter the competition at this stage having been handed a bye in the second round due to their commitments in the Champions League this season. The Reds arrive at Anfield still unbeaten, and supporters can expect Iraola to rotate his squad given the busy fixture schedule.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have already made progress in the competition, having thrashed Charlton Athletic 5-0 in the previous round to set up this trip to Merseyside. For manager Roberto De Zerbi, the cup represents a welcome opportunity to shift focus away from a troubled start in the Premier League, where his team have failed to find the net in four league matches and sit with just two points collected so far this season. A positive result against Liverpool would go some way to easing the pressure building around the club.
Despite Liverpool's likely changes to their starting eleven, a trip to face an unbeaten host is far from a straightforward assignment for Spurs, who will need to be at their best to progress. Both clubs are eager to secure their place in Wednesday's draw for the last 16, making this an important, if unpredictable, cup tie.
Should the match remain level after the full 90 minutes, there will be no extra time - the tie will instead go straight to a penalty shootout to determine which side advances.
For those looking to catch the action, the match will be available on free-to-air television in the UK via ITV4, with coverage starting at 7:30pm BST ahead of the 8pm kick-off. Sky Sports subscribers also have the option to watch, with the broadcaster showing the game on both its Main Event and Football channels, with coverage beginning slightly earlier at 7pm.
Those with a Sky subscription can additionally stream the match live through the Sky Go app or website, offering flexibility for fans unable to watch via traditional television. Supporters looking for text updates throughout the game can also follow live blogs provided by various outlets covering the match in real time.
The clash represents a chance for both managers to test fringe players and give squad depth some valuable minutes, while also carrying genuine stakes given the prize of continuing in a competition that offers a route to major silverware. For De Zerbi in particular, breaking Tottenham's goal drought against a strong Liverpool side would be a significant confidence boost regardless of the final result in the tie.
With cup competitions often producing surprises, especially when one side fields a much-changed lineup, this last-32 encounter promises to be an intriguing watch for neutral fans as well as supporters of both clubs. The winner will discover their next opponent when the last-16 draw takes place following the conclusion of Wednesday's fixtures.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.