Liverpool will field different teams in two separate competitions within 24 hours after the EFL announced the date of their Carabao Cup quarter-final with Aston Villa will not be changed. The Reds will play at Villa on 17 December and will compete in the Fifa Club World Cup in Qatar the following day.
Manager Jurgen Klopp had ruled out the prospect of playing both fixtures. But the EFL said keeping the date followed a “request from the club”. A Liverpool statement said: “We would like to thank the EFL for their efforts to accommodate us and we can confirm alternative dates were discussed, but ultimately none were considered suitable without compromising the scheduling of the competition itself or placing an undue strain on our playing staff.
“As a result, we will be utilising two playing squads simultaneously, with one squad participating in the Fifa Club World Cup in Qatar and another in the Carabao Cup.
