After the World Cup break, both teams are deciding when and how to blood their key players, with the Premier League return now only days away.
Jurgen Klopp was particularly impressed with Ben Doak, Stefan Bajcetic and Melkamu Frauendorf after Liverpool put four goals past AC Milan in their last of two mid-season friendlies.
Speaking ahead of the game, assistant Pep Lijnders told reporters: “If the World Cup proved one thing it is that you need your whole squad.
“When we play League Cup, it is always during a busy schedule. It is a perfect moment to use a full squad. It is a different situation as we’ve had a long time off. Age is just a number. We still believe we need to give our talents chance because we believe in them.”
Arthur Melo (thigh), Diogo Jota (calf) and Luis Diaz (knee) all absent. Ibrahima Konate is also unavailable following France’s World Cup final defeat.
With Naby Keita and Joel Matip back fit, they are likely to start against City with doubts over Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson and their other stars of Qatar.
Liverpool will have to decide how best to fit Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Roberto Firmino.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold; Matip, Gomez, Robertson; Thiago, Keita; Salah, Carvalho; Nunez, Firmino.
Pep Guardiola could use Manchester City’s mouth-watering Carabao Cup tie with Liverpool as a chance to help bring Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez back to full fitness.
Guardiola has confirmed a week off for the striker; Julian Alvarez will miss the fourth-round tie having featured for Argentina in Sunday’s final.
Guardiola showed his frustration with the fixture calendar after the friendly, saying: “We just don’t have players because the big brains of football decided this schedule and we are going to play this game [against Liverpool]. Some players are coming back now and in the next few days and step by step, they will re-join their teammates here.”
It remains to be seen if those that played in the knockouts, such as Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Ederson will be available for City.
On Saturday, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan both started a 2-0 friendly win over Girona.
The previous line-up had Haaland and Mahrez with many youngsters. Pep could once again use youngsters like Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis and Shea Charles for today’s meeting with Liverpool.
Predicted Manchester City XI: Ortega; Lewis, Charles, Laporte, Gomez; De Bruyne, Phillips, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Palmer.
Lipool all the way 👿✅
City to win regardless