Liverpool face West Ham in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup at Anfield on Wednesday night (kick-off 8pm).
The Reds are looking to reach their 14th League Cup final and win the trophy for the 10th time.
They won the competition for the first time in 1981. Alan Kennedy scored in a 1-1 draw and Bob Paisley’s team went on to win the replay 2-1.
The 1981 League Cup Final pitched Bob Paisley's #Liverpool against John Lyall's #WestHamUnited in front of a packed out Wembley.
Hope none of the 100,000 supporters tried to make an early exit! ⌚️🏃 pic.twitter.com/FHJMb0CFNF
— 3Retro_Football (@3Retro_Football) December 20, 2023
Liverpool will be without the injured Alexis Mac Allister, Joel Matip, Andy Robertson and Diogo Jota for the game, although Ryan Gravenberch should be fit.
Watch Pep Lijnders pre-match press conference
Read Jurgen Klopp’s programme notes ahead of the game…
“Welcome to Anfield for our Carabao Cup quarter-final against West Ham United, our second home fixture in just a few days as we continue with the extremely busy December schedule.
“The world that we live in is one in which clubs like ourselves have to win every game – this is not a complaint, it is just a reality – so even when we do not beat a team like Manchester United the reaction outside is that it is a setback. Although I know this world and I respect it, as manager it is not one that I can be part of.
“This is why I have spoken about the positives when others wanted to find negatives. I also do the reverse when we are being praised for a result. This is the truth of football. There has to be balance in what you see and how you view it. If everything you think is defined only by the outcome, it would not make too much sense.
“So I was definitely able to see the good parts of our performance against United. It was not perfect, of course. Our finishing was not what we would like and there were also times when our decision-making could and should have been better. But so many other of the indicators that I look for from my team were positive.
“The counter-pressing was as good as it has been this season. The intensity levels were so high. Against an opponent that many underestimated but we did not, we created a lot of shooting opportunities and on another day I would hope and expect that we would make more of them.
“I know people do not like to hear this but the period we are in is one in which everyone has to find a way through. There are no easy routes, no shortcuts and no comfortable passages. It is about digging in, moving on from one game to another and looking to pick up as many points and positive results as we can. I am not a native of England but I have been here long enough to know that this is always the way it is during December.
“Tonight we have another challenge and also another opportunity. The Carabao Cup is a competition that we have very fond memories of, from winning it back in 2022. The experiences of our run to Wembley will live with us for a long time but this does not mean only the special moments.
“It means also the memories of the hurdles we had to clear on the way, the opponents who were just as determined as we were to make it through to the final and the difficult moments when we find something within ourselves in order to keep going. This is what cup football is about and it will be no different tonight.
“West Ham are a team that I really admire and in David Moyes they have a manager that I have enormous respect for. What they achieved together last season in winning a European trophy was really special and I told David this at the time.
“I don’t know why it is but it sometimes feels that David’s work is not always appreciated as much as it should be but this is certainly not the case for me. Whenever we face his teams I know that we are in for a proper test. This is not a coincidence – it is because he is a manager who has great experience, knowledge and ability.
“Maybe because we live in an era in which it is easy to want change and to believe someone else might do better, some can overlook those qualities but, as I’ve said, I never will. So I welcome David, his staff and the West Ham players and supporters to Anfield in the knowledge that we will have a really tough game.
“This knowledge is always helpful, though. We know what we are facing so it makes sense that we should be prepared for it. We are at Anfield in a cup tie against a strong opponent and we are one step away from the semi-finals. Hopefully we can make the most of the opportunity.”
