Middlesborough Head To Anfield In Capital One Cup

Middlesbrough get the opportunity to test their Premier League credentials tonight (23rd September, 7:45), with an away trip to Anfield in the third round of the Capital One Cup. Whilst the home side received a bye through to the third stage, Boro made light work of both League 1 Oldham Athletic and Preston North End to earn themselves a tie against the eight-time winners of the competition.

In round one, Aitor Karanka`s men struck three times without reply away at Lee Johnson`s Oldham. Luke Williams` thirty-yard belter separated the sides at half-time before captain Grant Leadbitter and summer signing Kike sealed the result with over half an hour still on the clock. A goal from Jordan Hugill couldn`t help Preston come from behind in round two as a hectic second half saw a Lee Tomlin brace and an own-goal from North End`s Tom Clarke send the Teesside club into the third round for the first time since their quarter-final exit back in 2012-13.

Middlesbrough have also collected 15 points from eight games in the Championship so far this season, with the team sitting in fifth position and only one win away from heading the table.

Their hosts have been suffering from fatigue after a quick succession of games, Liverpool making their first Champions League appearance after an absence of five years. Brendan Rodgers` men have recorded three losses in their first five Premier League fixtures, already half the six registered during the whole of last season. After an away defeat against West Ham United on Saturday, Liverpool sit 11th in the table with six points from five games.

It is the home side, however, who are the 4/7 (bet365, Matchbook, paddy Power) favourites to avoid an early upset and progress through to the fourth round. Middlesbrough can be backed at 11/2 (betfair, betfred, Coral, Totesport, william hill) to knock the Merseysiders out prematurely, whilst 7/2 (betfred, Betvictor, Coral, Totesport, william hill) says the match will be tied after 90 minutes.

With Rodgers expected to rotate his squad resting his key men for Saturday`s (27th Spetember, 12:45) Merseyside derby with Everton, perhaps an away victory wouldn`t be all that surprising.

Mario Balotelli is set to drop to the bench to allow Southampton summer signing Rickie Lambert his first competitive start for his boyhood club. The £4 million man has come off the bench in his four previous appearances for Liverpool though has failed to grab his first goal in red. The 32-year-old did manage to score 106 goals in 207 matches for his previous club and will be looking to get off the mark tonight. He is 22/19 (32red, 888sport, unibet) to find the back of the net at any time.

Joining Balotelli on the bench may well be club captain Steven Gerrard whose performance against the Hammers at the weekend was heavily criticised by supporters and pundits alike. Rodgers told a pre-match press conference that whilst he has `no concerns` regarding the aging midfielder he will be rested to allow him to stay fit for key games.

`We want him to be involved in the big games because of his experience,` The 41-year-old Northern Irishman said. `We will always taper that recovery to allow him to be at the very best he can be.` Simon Mignolet, Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling will also be spared ahead of their game against the Toffees.

Such rotation makes the job of Boro boss Karanka that bit easier, the former Real Madrid assistant telling journalists that he was preparing his team to win.

`I will go to Liverpool thinking about winning the game,` The 41-year-old Spaniard said. His team are 8/1 with Skybet to nab the game with a solitary goal.

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23/09/2014     © Frixo 2026