Jurgen Klopp's team has successfully navigated past Bournemouth and Leicester City to reach this stage, while West Ham caused a stir by defeating Arsenal in the previous round, following a narrow victory against Lincoln City. Liverpool faced Manchester United recently, where despite breaking attendance records at Anfield, they were held to a draw.
Klopp expressed his surprise, noting that despite dominating the game more than their 7-0 win over Man United last season, they couldn't secure a victory due to a lack of finishing prowess and solid defending by the Red Devils.
Despite their recent setback, Liverpool sits second in the league standings, trailing behind Arsenal. Ahead of their highly anticipated clash with Arsenal, Klopp's side is focused on advancing in the EFL Cup, aiming for their record-extending 10th title. Liverpool's impressive home run in the 2023-24 season ended in their last game.
Reflecting on their history in quarter-finals, Liverpool has stumbled only once in their last six, a notable defeat in the 2019-20 season when a young academy lineup suffered a 5-0 loss to Aston Villa as Klopp's senior team was busy in the Club World Cup.
On the other side, West Ham, led by David Moyes, is eager to add another honor to their cabinet. Despite missing out on the Club World Cup spot earned by Champions League winners Manchester City, West Ham's recent successes, including reaching the Europa League last 16, show promise.
However, they must break a quarter-final hoodoo, having lost their last three ties since the 2013-14 season when they reached the semi-finals but suffered a 9-0 aggregate defeat to Manchester City.
West Ham's last round showcased their strength, defeating Arsenal, and their playmaker Lucas Paqueta has been in stellar form. However, a 3-1 loss to Liverpool in September marked their fourth consecutive defeat against the Reds, and they aim to overturn this trend in the upcoming clash.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Already grappling with a midfield hit by injuries to key players like Thiago Alcantara (hip), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), and Alexis Mac Allister (knee), Jurgen Klopp faced another setback when Ryan Gravenberch had to be substituted during the Man United game due to what seemed like a hamstring problem.However, Klopp's assistant, Pep Lijnders, later clarified that Gravenberch was dealing with fatigue and might be available for Wednesday's match. There's a slight chance of Mac Allister making a comeback, but unfortunate news surrounds Ben Doak, who suffered a serious knee injury during the Under-21s match and is now slated for surgery.
The injury list for Liverpool continues to grow with Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Joel Matip (ACL), and Diogo Jota (muscle) also sidelined. Despite these setbacks, Klopp is set to make several changes, providing opportunities for players like Joe Gomez, Harvey Elliott, and Cody Gakpo to showcase their skills.
On the West Ham front, the injury situation is relatively stable, with Michail Antonio being the lone occupant in the treatment bay due to a knee issue. His return to the first-team lineup is expected to take a couple more weeks.
Edson Alvarez overcame a hip injury to complete the full 90 minutes against Wolves, while Lukasz Fabianski retained his spot in goal over Alphonse Areola, who recently recovered from a wrist problem.
Considering the demanding schedule, David Moyes might stick with Fabianski for Wednesday's game before reintroducing Areola into the Premier League XI. The hectic schedule could also open the door for changes that might favor Danny Ings's chances of starting against his former team.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool possible starting lineup:Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Quansah, Tsimikas; Elliott, Endo, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Kehrer, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Cresswell; Soucek, Ward-Prowse; Kudus, Fornals, Benrahma; Ings
EXPERT PREDICTION
Liverpool 2-1 West Ham
Liverpool has been prolific in front of their home crowd, scoring numerous goals this season. Despite a lackluster performance on Sunday, it's likely just a one-time occurrence. If the Reds can demonstrate their usual form, securing a spot in the EFL Cup last four should be within reach. However, an in-form West Ham is poised to present a formidable challenge, making the battle for advancement an intriguing one.
