MK Dons vs Liverpool | Confirmed team news | Line-up’s | Predicted score

Liverpool will be looking to avoid an upset when they take on the MK Dons in the third round of the Carabao Cup this evening. 

The Reds head to Milton Keynes sitting five points clear at the top of the Premier League table after extending their faultless start to the new campaign with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Obviously Jurgen Klopp’s priorities lay elsewhere as he bids to end Liverpool’s long wait for a league title and defend their Champions League crown so he’ll use the Carabao Cup to blood the youngsters and give fringe players some game time.

Liverpool will take on an MK Dons side that sit 15th in League One following an inconsistent start to the season that’s seen them lose their last two games to Ipswich and Southend so boss Paul Tisdale will be hoping to bounce back by causing an upset at the Stadium MK this evening.

Team news

Liverpool confirmed on their official website that Xherdan Shaqiri will miss the game tonight after suffering a calf injury in training on Monday while Sadio Mane also misses out after picking up a knock against Chelsea.

Divock Origi remains on the sidelines with an ankle injury while Alisson Becker is still working his way back to full fitness having missed the majority of the season so far with a calf problem.

However, Naby Keita is back in the Liverpool squad tonight after overcoming a hip issue and highly-rated youngster Rhian Brewster is expected to be given his chance to shine this evening.

Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Ki-Jana Hoever, Joe Gomez, Sepp van den Berg, Herbie Kane, Luis Longstaff and Leighton Clarkson could also be in the squad with several key men rested.

As for the MK Dons, they are expected to be without Rhys Healey, Baily Cargill, Joe Mason, Jordan Moore-Taylor and Ben Reeves as they are all injury doubts.

Expected line-ups

MK Dons XI: Nicholls; Lewington, Walsh, Poole; Martin, McGrandles, Houghton, Kasumu, Brittain; Boateng, Nombe

Prediction

MK Dons 1-2 Liverpool: The match will be shown live on Sky Sports and it’s in front of their home crowd so no doubt the MK Dons will be right up for this game. I expect the League One outfit to put up a good fight and give the European champions a game but despite making wholesale changes, I still think Liverpool will have too much quality in the end. I’m backing the Reds to edge it to book their place in the next round of the League Cup.