Liverpool's Adam Lallana (centre) celebrates with his team-mates and manager Jurgen Klopp after scoring his side's fifth goal against Norwich. Jon Buckle
Analysis
Liverpool's most important match of the season and more Capital One Cup talking points
Plus, can Everton cause an upset against Manchester City on Wednesday night?
1. Liverpool’s most important of the season so far
TONIGHT’S MATCH WITH Stoke is undoubtedly Liverpool’s most important game of the season so far.
With the Reds’ top-four bid looking increasingly unlikely, a trophy would go some way towards assuaging impatient supporters that haven’t had much to cheer about for a while, further endearing Jurgen Klopp to Reds fans in the process.
However, if Liverpool are to progress, they will certainly need to improve defensively after Saturday’s unconvincing 5-4 win over Norwich.
The kind of individual mistakes and basic errors that were commonplace during the Brendan Rodgers era reared their ugly head again during the nine-goal thriller at the weekend, with set pieces — the source of two of the Canaries’ four goals — a particular area of concern.
Klopp admitted his side need to be better ahead of tonight’s match, telling reporters:
“It is not something I like to make jokes about but our defensive work from set plays, we know how it works now.
I was a below average player but when I was dealing with set-plays it was not that difficult.
“Now, as you saw, it is like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“Everyone is talking about it, we are thinking about it, (and) you are seeing the situation of course.”
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2. Can Everton upset City?
Everton's Romelu Lukaku has scored 15 Premier League goals this season -- only Jamie Vardy (16) has more. PA Wire / PA Images
PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images
Not many people are expecting Everton to prevail against Man City on Wednesday night, with the two teams currently 12th and second respectively in the table.
Graeme Souness is among those tipping Manuel Pellegrini’s side to prevail.
“I will go for a Man City-Liverpool final,” the Reds legend and Sky Sports pundit said to Omnisport.
“They will do enough to get past Everton. My heart tells me that I would like to see an all-Merseyside final, but my head is telling me Man City will get there.”
That said, Everton currently hold the advantage after winning the first-leg at Goodison Park 2-1, and boast one of the most talented sides in the Premier League on paper.
If they can limit the defensive mishaps they have been prone to lately, the Toffees will give themselves a big chance of progression.
However, Roberto Martinez’s side will have to cope without Muhamed Besic (hamstring) and winger Kevin Mirallas (tendon), after the duo picked up injuries in the weekend loss to Swansea.
3. Stoke must score first
Ireland's Marc Wilson could feature for Stoke tonight, after coming off the bench at the weekend. Rui Vieira
Rui Vieira
Yet perhaps Mark Hughes’ side had an eye on tonight’s match with Liverpool, as they bid to recover from a 1-0 first-leg loss at the Britannia Stadium.
Like Jurgen Klopp’s men, they are unlikely to get in the top four, while they are virtually assured of avoiding relegation at this stage.
Consequently, tonight’s game is of vital importance for The Potters, as winning a trophy would be another hugely significant step for a club that has developed considerably since Hughes’ arrival.
Nevertheless, the odds aren’t in Stoke’s favour this evening, and it’s vital they score first, as having to recover two goals at Anfield would make a difficult task start to look impossible.
4. City can take heart from their exceptional home form
Manuel Pellegrini's team trail 2-1 from the first leg. Steve Paston
Steve Paston
If the Premier League table were based purely on home results, Man City would be comfortably top.
While Pellegrini’s men have triumphed in just four of their 11 away league matches this season, at the Etihad, they have won nine, drawn one and lost only two.
While City have been outfought a couple of times on their travels, there is surely no side in the Premier League who are better at opening up teams who stick 11 men behind the ball and shut up shop.
Man City have the best attack in the league this season statistically — managing 45 goals so far — and Everton might come up short if they primarily try to sit back and hold on to their first-leg 2-1 advantage, with the likes of David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne all well capable of punishing them with a moment of magic.
That said, the Toffees recently came away from the Etihad with a 0-0 draw in the league, so they will go into tomorrow night’s game knowing a positive result is very much achievable.
N.B. Away goals count in this week’s semi-finals only after extra-time has been played should it come to that.
Liverpool's most important match of the season and more Capital One Cup talking points
Updated at 12.47
1. Liverpool’s most important of the season so far
TONIGHT’S MATCH WITH Stoke is undoubtedly Liverpool’s most important game of the season so far.
With the Reds’ top-four bid looking increasingly unlikely, a trophy would go some way towards assuaging impatient supporters that haven’t had much to cheer about for a while, further endearing Jurgen Klopp to Reds fans in the process.
However, if Liverpool are to progress, they will certainly need to improve defensively after Saturday’s unconvincing 5-4 win over Norwich.
The kind of individual mistakes and basic errors that were commonplace during the Brendan Rodgers era reared their ugly head again during the nine-goal thriller at the weekend, with set pieces — the source of two of the Canaries’ four goals — a particular area of concern.
Klopp admitted his side need to be better ahead of tonight’s match, telling reporters:
“It is not something I like to make jokes about but our defensive work from set plays, we know how it works now.
“Now, as you saw, it is like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“Everyone is talking about it, we are thinking about it, (and) you are seeing the situation of course.”
2. Can Everton upset City?
Not many people are expecting Everton to prevail against Man City on Wednesday night, with the two teams currently 12th and second respectively in the table.
Graeme Souness is among those tipping Manuel Pellegrini’s side to prevail.
“I will go for a Man City-Liverpool final,” the Reds legend and Sky Sports pundit said to Omnisport.
“They will do enough to get past Everton. My heart tells me that I would like to see an all-Merseyside final, but my head is telling me Man City will get there.”
That said, Everton currently hold the advantage after winning the first-leg at Goodison Park 2-1, and boast one of the most talented sides in the Premier League on paper.
If they can limit the defensive mishaps they have been prone to lately, the Toffees will give themselves a big chance of progression.
However, Roberto Martinez’s side will have to cope without Muhamed Besic (hamstring) and winger Kevin Mirallas (tendon), after the duo picked up injuries in the weekend loss to Swansea.
3. Stoke must score first
Stoke delivered an uncharacteristically limp display at the weekend, as they were convincingly beaten 3-0 by Premier League leaders Leicester.
Yet perhaps Mark Hughes’ side had an eye on tonight’s match with Liverpool, as they bid to recover from a 1-0 first-leg loss at the Britannia Stadium.
Like Jurgen Klopp’s men, they are unlikely to get in the top four, while they are virtually assured of avoiding relegation at this stage.
Consequently, tonight’s game is of vital importance for The Potters, as winning a trophy would be another hugely significant step for a club that has developed considerably since Hughes’ arrival.
Nevertheless, the odds aren’t in Stoke’s favour this evening, and it’s vital they score first, as having to recover two goals at Anfield would make a difficult task start to look impossible.
4. City can take heart from their exceptional home form
If the Premier League table were based purely on home results, Man City would be comfortably top.
While Pellegrini’s men have triumphed in just four of their 11 away league matches this season, at the Etihad, they have won nine, drawn one and lost only two.
While City have been outfought a couple of times on their travels, there is surely no side in the Premier League who are better at opening up teams who stick 11 men behind the ball and shut up shop.
Man City have the best attack in the league this season statistically — managing 45 goals so far — and Everton might come up short if they primarily try to sit back and hold on to their first-leg 2-1 advantage, with the likes of David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne all well capable of punishing them with a moment of magic.
That said, the Toffees recently came away from the Etihad with a 0-0 draw in the league, so they will go into tomorrow night’s game knowing a positive result is very much achievable.
N.B. Away goals count in this week’s semi-finals only after extra-time has been played should it come to that.
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