Liverpool could be without Rhian Brewster for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Aston Villa after the striker picked up an ankle injury in training.
The Reds will send a very young side to Villa Park for the game as their regular first-team players are in Qatar for the Club World Cup, and the team will be managed by U23 boss Neil Critchley.
Brewster is one of the few players available to play on Tuesday who has first-team experience, having played in the previous two rounds of the competition, but he’s now a doubt after suffering a knock in training.
Speaking ahead of the game, Critchley said that the England U21 striker will be assessed on Monday before a final decision about his availability is made.
He said:
[Brewster’s] got a knock so he’s doubtful. We’re assessing him today, fingers crossed he makes it. We’ll see.
Read Aston Villa Verdict
It’s odd to say that relegation-battling Aston Villa are favourites for a game against the Champions of Europe and runaway Premier League winners but such is the nature of this fixture, that is actually the case.
If Liverpool are without Brewster, that weakens them even further and all being well, Villa should, regardless of the team Dean Smith picks, be too good for a very young Reds side.
