Liverpool lifted the League Cup last season at Wembley for a record tenth win; on Wednesday night their defence of the trophy begins as they face West Ham United.
The Reds will hope to go the distance in the Carabao Cup once more, but the big change from last term is Arne Slot being in the dugout after replacing Jurgen Klopp. The Hammers also have a new man in the dugout, Julen Lopetegui having been hired to fill the void left by David Moyes’ departure, but it’s well over 40 years since their last domestic trophy: this competition back in 1981, in fact.
They did win the Europa Conference League in 2023, however, so the fans remain expectant about the chances of them adding to their silverware cupboard – but it’s a tough start they’ve been handed here, after winning just one of their five Premier League matches so far this term.
Follow live updates from the match below, with the fourth-round draw set to follow at full-time:
Liverpool v West Ham – live updates
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Kick-off 8pm
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Match marks Arne Slot’s first game in English cup football
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West Ham enter the game having won just two of their last five matches
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LFC XI – Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Gomez, Tsimikas, Endo, Jones, Chiesa, Gakpo, Jota, Nunez
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WHU XI – Fabianski, Coufal, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Soucek, Alvarez, Soler, Bowen, Ings, Summerville
Liverpool FC – West Ham United FC
Line-ups
19:02 , Chris Wilson
West Ham XI: Fabianski; Coufal, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Soucek, Alvarez, Soler, Bowen, Ings, Summerville.
Subs: Foderingham, Antonio, Paqueta, Kudus, Mavropanos, Rodriguez, Emerson, Wan-Bissaka, Irving.
Confirmed lineups
19:01 , Karl Matchett
Teams are in – Nunez starts up top for Liverpool, Ings is in for the Hammers against his former side.
Team news
18:40 , Chris Wilson
Here’s a reminder of the early team news – we can expect the line-ups to be announced in around five minutes.
Darwin Nunez will be hoping to start his second match in a row up front for Arne Slot, after scoring at the weekend against Bournemouth on his first of the season.
Arne Slot has already suggested Federico Chiesa could start for the first time since signing in summer, while Caoimhin Kelleher will continue in goal after Alisson’s injury. The likes of Jarell Quansah, Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo will hope to start after recent bench duty.
The Hammers might look to rotate after a sluggish start to their league season, with Carlos Soler and Danny Ings among those hoping to start. Niclas Fullkrug will miss out injured but otherwise Lopetegui has a full squad to choose from.
Arne Slot reveals challenge for Darwin Nunez to earn spot in Liverpool team
18:30 , Chris Wilson
Arne Slot insists the goals will come for Darwin Nunez when he plays – but said the striker first needs to understand his tactical demands to get a spot in the side.
Nunez is on a 14-game goal drought for Liverpool and is yet to start a match under new manager Slot, with all four of his appearances this season coming as a substitute while the Dutchman is waiting to see if the £85m signing can do “special things” for his team.
Slot has preferred to use Diogo Jota in the centre of his attack and appreciates the Portugal international’s ability to drop deeper and join in the build-up play.
Slot reveals challenge for Darwin Nunez to earn spot in Liverpool team
With five goals in five games, Luis Diaz is reaping the rewards of Arne Slot’s quiet evolution
18:20 , Chris Wilson
And here’s the report from Liverpool’s last match…
Liverpool are top of the league. But while that may only be for a day, more significantly, Liverpool are back on track. The tame home defeat to Nottingham Forest looks more of a one-game anomaly. After three goals in the San Siro came three at Anfield. As Bournemouth were beaten, like AC Milan before them, a week that began badly for Arne Slot has featured an impressive response.
And a success story of his fine start again illustrated Slot’s early impact. When the final whistle blew, Erling Haaland remained the Premier League’s runaway top scorer. So far, so predictable. What rather fewer would have expected when the season started was that Luis Diaz is his closest challenger. At times in his Liverpool career, the Colombian has provided everything but the goals. Now he has five in as many league matches for Slot: that average of one per game comes after a return of worse than one every four for the club before then.
A win made in South America also included Darwin Nunez’s first for Slot, as he made his maiden start under the Dutchman.
With five goals in five games, Diaz is reaping the rewards of Slot’s quiet evolution
Nicolas Jackson brace helps Chelsea ease to victory as West Ham fans turn on Julen Lopetegui
18:10 , Chris Wilson
The report from West Ham’s last result…
Goals from Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer secured another away win for Chelsea and raised serious questions about West Ham‘s direction under new boss Julen Lopetegui.
The Spaniard looked furious as his expensively-assembled side crashed to a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to their London rivals.
Jackson scored twice, the first within three minutes of kick-off, and Palmer added a third just moments into the second half.
Chelsea ease to victory as West Ham fans turn on Lopetegui
When is the Carabao Cup fourth-round draw? Ball numbers, TV channel and start time
18:00 , Chris Wilson
The Carabao Cup draw takes place this evening with just three more fixtures to be played before the third round is complete.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa joined the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in reaching the fourth round on Tuesday night.
Liverpool host West Ham and Arsenal play Bolton on Wednesday, while the postponed fixture between Newcastle and AFC Wimbledon will be staged next Tuesday and held at St James’ Park after it was postponed due to a sinkhole at Plough Lane.
Below is everything you need to know about the League Cup fourth-round draw.
Federico Chiesa and Liverpool teenager in contention to start against West Ham
17:45 , Chris Wilson
Federico Chiesa and teenager Trey Nyoni are in contention to start for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup against West Ham.
Arne Slot has spoken positively about the Italian winger, whose fitness is progressing since his summer move from Juventus.
While Nyoni, the 17-year-old former Leicester academy graduate, has also impressed the Reds boss.
“I don’t think he (Chiesa) is able to play 90 minutes,” Slot said. “He only played 25 now, as a maximum, in the last three, four, five months. I don’t think he played any friendly for Juve as well.
“But he’s able to start, in our opinion, and if he will, let’s see. There are many options that we have, but he’s able to start in our opinion.”
Federico Chiesa and Liverpool teenager in contention to start against West Ham
Prediction
17:30 , Chris Wilson
Liverpool to go through thanks to depth in attack, if not overall dominance on the night.
Liverpool 2-1 West Ham.
Predicted line-ups
17:25 , Chris Wilson
LIV – Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Gomez, Tsimikas, Endo, Jones, Gakpo, Chiesa, Jota, Nunez
WHU – Fabianski, Coufal, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Alvarez, Soucek, Soler, Bowen, Ings, Summerville
Odds
Liverpool 1/3
Draw 4/1
West Ham 7/1
Team news
17:20 , Chris Wilson
Team news is coming up shortly.
Darwin Nunez will be hoping to start his second match in a row up front for Arne Slot, after scoring at the weekend against Bournemouth on his first of the season.
Arne Slot has already suggested Federico Chiesa could start for the first time since signing in summer, while Caoimhin Kelleher will continue in goal after Alisson’s injury. The likes of Jarell Quansah, Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo will hope to start after recent bench duty.
The Hammers might look to rotate after a sluggish start to their league season, with Carlos Soler and Danny Ings among those hoping to start. Niclas Fullkrug will miss out injured but otherwise Lopetegui has a full squad to choose from.
Liverpool v West Ham – live updates
17:10 , Chris Wilson
Liverpool are the ten-time record winners of the EFL Cup and are also the reigning champions – and they begin their defence at home to West Ham United on Wednesday night.
Arne Slot inherited a team which won the Carabao Cup under Jurgen Klopp last season and while the Reds have made a strong start to the Premier League campaign under the Dutchman, he’ll be hoping to continue adding silverware – making this competition a big part of his plans.
The Reds briefly topped the Premier League, winning four from five so far, with Man City a point ahead.
The Hammers, now under Julen Lopetegui’s management, have won one, drawn one and lost three in an inconsistent start under the Spaniard – they’re 14th and will be looking for improvements in the weeks ahead.
Nevertheless, they’ll still harbour hopes of causing an upset and putting themselves in the draw for the fourth round.
That draw will take place straight after this fixture – and as there must be a winner on the night, only one team will remain involved.
Liverpool v West Ham – live updates
Monday 23 September 2024 17:07 , Karl Matchett
Welcome to the Independent’s live coverage of the League Cup third-round clash between Liverpool and West Ham at Anfield.
Team news is coming up shortly; Darwin Nunez will be hoping to start his second match in a row up front for Arne Slot, after scoring at the weekend against Bournemouth on his first of the season. The Reds briefly topped the Premier League, winning four from five so far, with Man City a point ahead. West Ham have won one, drawn one and lost three in an inconsistent start under Julen Lopetegui – they’re 14th and will be looking for improvements in the weeks ahead.