SHREWSBURY, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 26, 2020: Liverpool's Neco Williams celebrates with team-mate Harvey Elliott (L) after his cross forced a Shrewsbury Town own-goal to give his side a 2-0 lead during the FA Cup 4th Round match between Shrewsbury Town FC and Liverpool FC at the New Meadow. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Debuts & chance to impress for much-changed Reds in League Cup – Lincoln vs. Liverpool Preview

Attention turns to domestic cup for the first time in 2020/21 as Liverpool meet Lincoln City in the League Cup third round on Thursday night.

Lincoln City vs. Liverpool

Thursday, September 24, 2020 – 7.45pm (BST)
LNER Stadium
League Cup Third Round
Referee: Tony Harrington


Liverpool continued their winning start to the new Premier League season with a comfortable 2-0 win at Chelsea on Sunday, an occasion which marked the debut of Thiago.

It was a clash which saw Jurgen Klopp‘s side flex their muscles as Frank Lampard’s men struggled to lay a glove on the reigning champions, ensuring a full complement of points after two games.

But league exploits are to be temporarily put on hold as attention is cast towards League Cup commitments, with League One’s Lincoln City the opposition – a team Liverpool last met in the Second Division in 1961.

While not exactly high on the priority list, the competition presents another chance to clinch silverware while offering valuable game time to youth players and those on the fringe.

The trip to Lincoln comes four days after the league game at Stamford Bridge and four before Arsenal‘s visit at Anfield, where regular members of the XI are to receive an early mid-week break.

The Reds should have few issues in progressing to the next round, but will expect a plucky Lincoln side to meet them on Thursday night as they look to meet another Premier League side in the fourth round, with the winner to meet either Arsenal or Leicester in the fourth round.

 

Team News

It will be a much-changed side from the one which met Chelsea over the weekend, but the likes of Jordan Henderson, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be missing with respective injuries and knocks.

Excitingly, the game will likely provide the chance to cast an eye on two new signings in their first competitive fixture, with Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota in the running to start – while Thiago could also get a full debut.

Assistant Pepijn Lijnders has promised a surprisingly strong side for the tie, with plenty of options available to the Reds, especially in attack.

Youngsters Billy Koumetio, Sepp van den Berg, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are in contention, while James Milner, Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi, Xherdan Shaqiri, Neco Williams and Adrian will equally be aiming to seize a chance to impress early doors.

 

The Opposition

(Credit: The Coaches' Voice)

It has been three years to savour for the Imps, who in 2016/17 were plying their trade in the National League.

A total of two promotions in four seasons now sees them back in League One, with 2020/21 their second season in the division, where manager Michael Appleton took the reigns a month into last season.

Lincoln have started 2020/21 brightly, registering five wins from as many games – one of which included overcoming League Two’s Bradford in the second round of the League Cup to the tune of 5-0.

There will be an abundance of unknown faces for Liverpool fans, but Liam Bridcutt, formally of Brighton, Sunderland and Leeds is expected to feature, while midfielder Conor McGrandles and defender Joe Walsh both featured for MK Dons against the Reds at this stage of the competition last season.

 

Last 5 against Lincoln (All Competitions)

Bill Shankly, 14-Apr-1964 (Picture by PA PA Archive/PA Images)

Won 2-0 – February 1961 (Morissey, Lewis)
Won 2-1 – October 1960 (Hawksworth; Hunt x2)
Lost 3-1 – April 1960 (Moran; Linnecor x3)
Lost 4-2 – November 1959 (Graver x2, McClelland, Linnecor; Hickson, Hunt)
Lost 2-1 – Match 1959 (Chapman, Graver; Bimpson)

 

LNER Stadium

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHn7oOfmjaI

Capacity: 10,120


The fixture will, of course, take place behind closed doors as the effects of the pandemic remain ongoing.

Interestingly, the stadium has been home to the Imps since 1895, with the club initially playing at John O’Gaunts from its inception in 1884.

 

Did You Know?

Liverpool's Bruce Grobbelaar and Michael Robinson celebrate with the European Cup, 1984. (Picture by Peter Robinson EMPICS Sport)

Bruce Grobbelaar played for Lincoln City, albeit very briefly back in 1998.

Four years after leaving Liverpool, the legendary goalkeeper signed for the Imps on December 10 and went on to make just two appearances for the club.

The first came in a 0-0 draw with Colchester before a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Wycombe, but by Christmas, he was released from his contract to bring an end to a very short tenure between the sticks for Lincoln.

 

Form

Liverpool's Sadio Mane (centre) celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game with his teammates during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. (Image: Michael Regan/PA Wire/PA Images)

Liverpool – Last five results (all competitions)

Won 2-0 vs. Chelsea
Won 4-3 vs. Leeds
Won 7-2 vs. Blackpool
Drew 1-1 vs. Arsenal (lost 5-4 on pens)
Drew 2-2 vs. Salzburg

Lincoln – Last five results (all competitions)

Won 2-1 vs. MK Dons
Won 5-0 vs. Bradford
Won 2-0 vs. Oxford United
Drew 1-1 vs. Scunthorpe (won 4-2 on pens)
Won 2-1 vs. Crewe Alexandra

 

Lijnders’ View

Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Pep Lijnders again spoke of ‘attacking the competition’, saying:

“This group, the whole team has created a mentality to see each next game as a final. The team that represents us will be a strong team, they will show hunger, desire to put our game in place.

“We want to attack each competition. In football you cannot think far ahead, it will be each three days we play until January. We are prepared for that. This team has the mentality to just focus on the next game and that’s what we do.”

 

TV & Liveblog Info

League Cup trophy . (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Lincoln vs. Liverpool will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Events and Sky Sports Football, with coverage starting at 7.30pm (BST) ahead of the 7.45pm kickoff.

Chris Williams has you covered on This Is Anfield’s liveblog, keeping you entertained and up to date with all the action with his regular biased commentary, starting from 7.15pm (BST).