LCFC Women vs. Liverpool - Match Preview
Both sides got off to the perfect start in Group B, winning their opening games against Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland respectively to sit first and second in the early standings.
Ahead of facing off at Pirelli Stadium in Burton, here’s a look at all the pre-match information you need to know…
The Foxes camp
There were plenty of positives to take from a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at King Power Stadium last Sunday, as Nikita Parris netted the only goal of the game for the Red Devils.
This fixture against the Reds presents an opportunity to put league woes to one side, as the Foxes search to maintain a 100 per cent record in the cup competition.
Mackenzie Smith, Connie Scofield and Aileen Whelan all scored their first goals for the Club in victory away to Blackburn on matchday one.
Talking points
Lydia Bedford told LCFC TV: “I think the main priority for the League Cup is to be as competitive as we can, while rotating the squad and giving players who maybe haven’t got as much game time in the league an opportunity to perform.”
Defender Ashleigh Plumptre added: “The Blackburn game just gave us a bit of a boost, considering we hadn't got a win before that, so we'll be looking to have the same mentality going into this game.”
The opposition
Liverpool were promoted back to the Barclays Women's Super League at the second attempt, beginning their first campaign back in the top-flight with a stunning 2-1 victory over champions Chelsea on the opening day of the season, courtesy of two Katie Stengel penalties.
Things have been slightly more difficult since then, with three successive defeats leaving Matt Beard's side ninth in the WSL standings, three points above Leicester in 12th.
Beaten 3-0 by Merseyside rivals Everton at Anfield, Tottenham Hotspur claimed a 1-0 victory over the Reds before Arsenal's 2-0 win at Prenton Park.
In the dugout
Matt Beard returned as Liverpool manager at the start of 2021/22 and took the team back into the top division as Barclays Women's Championship winners in his first season, claiming the LMA Manager of the Year award.
Previously winning back-to-back WSL titles with the Reds in 2013 and 2014, he went on to manage the Boston Breakers in the NWSL between 2016 and 2017 before heading back to England and taking charge of West Ham United until 2020. A brief spell as interim manager at Bristol City preceded the 44-year-old's current job.
Last time out
This is the first time that Leicester City and Liverpool have met as WSL clubs. City emerged victorious in both Championship meetings during their title-winning season of 2020/21.
A 2-1 home success, secured by goals from Lachante Paul and Paige Bailey-Gayle, was followed by another triumph by the same scoreline at Prenton Park. Natasha Flint and Charlie Devlin found the net in January 2021.
The last cup fixture also went the way of the Foxes, as Hannah Cain scored the only goal in the 2020/21 Vitality Women's FA Cup Fourth Round.
Ticket and coverage details
Click HERE for all the ticket and coverage information for tonight's match.