Norwich v Liverpool predictions: Canaries can spring a surprise

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Norwich City v Liverpool in the League Cup third round on Tuesday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 7.45pm Tuesday

Best bet

Norwich to qualify
1pt 14-5 Betfair, Power

Team news

Norwich
Jakob Soresen and Bali Mumba could return to contention but Sam Byram and Christoph Zimmermann are out.

Liverpool
Harvey Elliott is out with a long-term ankle injury, Thiago Alcantara was injured at the weekend and Trent Alexander Arnold is a doubt.

Match preview

Liverpool are second in the Premier League but they have a poor recent record in domestic knockout competitions – failing to reach a final since 2016 - and could be dumped out of the EFL Cup by top flight basement boys Norwich at Carrow Road.

Both clubs are set to field largely second-string sides and the drop in quality could be more noticeable for Liverpool, especially in forward areas.

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah were on target in Saturday's 3-0 success at home to Crystal Palace, but they could get the night off in Norfolk and their absence would be a significant boost for the home side.

Norwich manager Daniel Farke watched his team lose 3-1 to Watford at the weekend – leaving them rooted to the foot of the table – and is still searching for his strongest line-up.

Staying up looks a tall order but there is a long way to go and it is worth remembering that four of Norwich's opening five matches have been against teams who finished in last season's top eight.

Farke will be asking his fringe players to give him some food for thought and match the standards reached in round two when a much-changed side romped to a 6-0 success at home to Bournemouth.

Liverpool will be far tougher opposition than the Cherries, who made eight changes for their cup clash at Carrow Road, but they should be more beatable than the Reds outfit who cruised past the Canaries with a 3-0 success on the opening weekend of the season.

Jurgen Klopp makes no apology for focusing on the biggest competitions and the early rounds of the League Cup take place when Liverpool have Champions League group-stage fixtures on their mind.

Liverpool face away games at Norwich, Brentford and Porto in three different competitions before hosting Manchester City in their last match before the October international break.

It is perfectly possible that Liverpool could flourish on all fronts but something may have to give and Norwich could be the ones to take advantage.

Key stat

Liverpool have lost five of their last six League Cup ties against Premier League opposition.

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