Lincoln City vs Liverpool
English Carabao Cup
Date: Thursday, 24 September 2020
Kick-Off at 19.45 UK
Venue: LNER Stadium, Lincoln.
Match preview
The visit of a giant football like Liverpool is always an exciting opportunity for a club like Lincoln, though their fans will not be there in person to witness Klopp stars in action.
The lack of fans is likely to further hamper the Lincoln hopes to shoot a stunning upset, but their players will dream to do anyway against what is sure to be a weakened side Liverpool.
The Reds have a Premier League showdown at home to Arsenal looming Monday night and turn sharply even this early in the season, which means that many star names can not play.
Regardless, Liverpool will still be able to field an XI important quality, and they want to continue their winning habit at the beginning of the campaign despite the EFL Cup being at the bottom of their priority list.
A national cup is silverware that has eluded Klopp during his time on Merseyside until now, and in two of the last three seasons, they were ejected from the EFL Cup at this stage.
Last season, they were thrown when they responded to their youngest team in the quarter-final against Aston Villa, while the senior team were absent at the Club World Cup.
It might be an idea of their young team in this game, but not to the same extent, but they still take confidence from their 2-0 victory taking Chelsea statement Sunday.
This has underlined their title credentials after a summer where most bookmakers is distant second favorites behind Manchester City to retain their crown, and the challenge for Klopp will now reproduce this dominance in other competitions.
As for Lincoln are concerned, they will go into this game with nothing to lose and full of confidence after their perfect start to the season.
The Devils won their five competitive games so far 2020-21, hit the ground running after winning only one of their last eight League One outings before last season was reduced in March.
Thursday's game will be the first meeting of the EFL Cup of the season at home, having already passed edged Crewe Alexandra and thrashed Bradford City on the road to reach the third round for the first time since 1996-1997.
Lincoln only made as far as the fourth round once before - back in 1967-1968 - and that another glamor tie against either Leicester City or Arsenal awaits should they claim the scalp of Liverpool.
These links would normally money spinning business that bring as much financial security off the field as they do on this band, but manager Michael Appleton will always urging his players to make the most of what could be a both a- career opportunity for many of them.
That said, two wins from two in the league so far lifted them in the automatic promotion places in this very early stage of the campaign, raising optimism that an unexpected playoff push could be possible this season.
It would be an achievement for a team that ranked 16th based on points per game last season and were playing in the National League three years ago, and matches like using Thursday drive home how Lincoln came to that point.
Lincoln City News Team
Lincoln City line normally in training and Thursday evening 4-3-3 should not be different from the side of the house. Without claiming to know too much about imps, it seems that the defender Lewis Montsma and striker Jorge Grant left side are two players who enjoy a good spell of form.
Liverpool News Team
Liverpool will be without Joël Matip and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for this game. Xherdan Shaqiri and Jordan Henderson should also missed. Henderson was taken with a slight muscle question halftime against Chelsea on Sunday. Matip should be available in October - after the next international break, according to Klopp. Oxlade-Chamberlain could miss a little longer than that.
Klopp could give his debut Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota Lincoln while Thiago can also start, even if it's just playing the first half or 60 minutes.
Joe Gomez should be fit and will probably get gametime to drop any rustiness since he only played once this season to date - against Leeds. Billy Koumetio could be Gomez's partner in central defense with Neco Williams coming right back.
Lincoln City vs Liverpool Head-to-Head
The last meeting of competition between the two clubs took place at Anfield in February 1961 in the second division.
As regards the form, Liverpool have won twice in a row with a 4-3 victory against Leeds United followed by a 2-0 win away against Chelsea.
For League One side of Lincoln, it was a cutting stroke they will remember after beating Bradford City 5-0 in the final round.
Prediction
Lincoln made a superb start to the season, winning five games so far in 2020/21. The Devils booked their place in the third round of the Carabao Cup with a resounding 5-0 victory over Bradford.
Liverpool came into the trip to Lincoln on the back of a 2-0 victory at Chelsea solid. Jürgen Klopp has used Carabao Cup last season as an opportunity for young people in the field and the social players and is expected to do so again this term.
However, the Reds should have enough in the tank to ensure a victory at Lincoln costs.
Lincoln City 0: 2 Liverpool
