WELL, that’s another cup Liverpool can’t win for another year.

Some will say they’re not arsed and The Reds should refocus but the League Cup is always a good chance to lift one of those shiny things — and we’ve got a history of lifting it.

Here are Anfield Wrap contributors with talking points from a disappointing evening…

Pre Match

Phil Blundell: Reasonably strong side that. Be good to see Gomez at centre back

Josh Sexton: Coutinho missing out on Barca to play in the same side as Flanno. Unreal.

Dan Vincent: Is this the first time Gomez has played CB since Wolves?

Phil Blundell: Bar pre season I think so.

Ian Ryan: Think so mate. Phil tbf you called Flanno, loads didn’t have him involved in this.

Phil Blundell: Think he wanted Gomez CB and didn’t want to have to play Trent maybe four games on the run which he probably would if he started tonight

Reckon he’s only playing cause Gomez can’t play in Russia

Dan Vincent: No involvement at all for Sturridge is a bit mad. Can’t imagine he’ll play Saturday.

Josh Sexton: Mustn’t think he can do two in a row

Phil Blundell: He might play Saturday

Ian Ryan: Sometimes find out he’s injured out of nowhere with no one reporting it. Hopefully not the case, does seem a little odd he’s not involved at all

Dan Vincent: I expected him on the bench at worst. Actually wanted him to start again but I want lose any sleep over it as my squeeze is netting his first for The Reds tonight

Two yard dogs up top for these tonight.

Josh Sexton: Looking forward to the possibility of seeing Markovic run away from their defenders for 10 minutes later

Dan Vincent: Be decent to see Ings have a little run out when Klopp brings him on in the 87th minute.

Phil Blundell: Would quite like to see Flanno do enough to show he’s an option here. Concerned he’s absolutely finished but if he isn’t then you get another option at right back which could give us more Gomez centre back stuff.

Ian Ryan: Being totally honest I’d worry about Gomez in the PL playing CB. Then again I worry about them all

Phil Blundell: Maybe but I wanna see it first before we worry I think

Dan Vincent: I’d rather see Verne Troyer CB than Lovren, Matip or Klavan so if Gomez plays well tonight I’d keep him there for the weekend.

Phil Blundell: Haha

Dan Morgan: Their massively changed here too. Full of physicality and not the quickest side. Be shocked if they look to turn us around with that side. Reckon we’re much the better line up with the changes

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 23, 2017: Liverpool supporters cheer their side before the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Leicester City and Liverpool at the King Power Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

First Half

Phil Blundell: Confused me why teams like Leicester change so much

Surely this is bigger than Huddersfield the other day?

Ian Ryan: Dan Vincent must have had his kecks off there

Phil Blundell: Good start this. Not quite sure how we’ve not scored there. Even defended some corners well

Ian Ryan: It’s a great block on Ox Chambo tbf

Phil Blundell: Has this Leicester right side just got off? Robertson has had so much space it’s crazy

Josh Sexton: Looks like he’s more than willing to exploit it as well, just generally feel safer with him than Moreno though yet to see him have loads to do defensively

Ian Ryan: They looked ragged as fuck then

Josh Sexton: Coutinho looked like he didn’t know what to do with all that space then

Ian Ryan: Gini could have put Coutinho right through there.

Johnny Milburn: Robertson looks a great outlet

Klopp calm and cerebral

Ste Evans: Great delivery again from Robertson. Got to do better with them.

Ian Ryan: Robbo putting some great balls in here, no one getting close to him again

Josh Sexton: Robertson’s delivery is the best we’ve had since Aurelio on that side

Paul Senior: Mad how this Robertson is the best left back to ever play the game

Phil Blundell: Right I’ve had 20 minutes, Gomez centre back forever please

Dan Morgan: Henderson running it.

Josh Sexton: When did footie players jib the actual sock part of their socks?

Phil Blundell: How the fuck has that not gone in?

Paul Senior: What’s our initial thoughts of Alexander Mark David Oxlade-Chamberlain?

Phil Blundell: Enjoyed the way it came from a long ball

I’m concerned he’s shit Paul.

Ian Ryan: How the fuck is this 0-0.

Paul Senior: I’m growing on this opinion Philip

And I wanted him a lot

Phil Blundell: I’d like to see him do something

These are awful by the way.

Ste Evans: Henderson looks really sharp. Really need to make a goal here. So much pressure but no end product.

Johnny Milburn: Will these be this shit for 90? I doubt it – need goals while on top

Dan Morgan: Can someone talk to Phil about the shots

Ste Evans: Danny Ward is our only ‘keeper that doesn’t make me shit my pants every time he’s involved.

Dan Morgan: Loads of presence

Johnny Milburn: Him leaving his box earlier made me panic just as a reflex reaction based on the last three years — but he looks sound

Phil Blundell: He’s not had anything to do yet though has he?!

Good to see the corners are still good even when we get a new player to take them

Dan Vincent: Be careful, Blundell.

Grujic is a big lad, think he’s won every single header on the pitch.

Ste Evans: That wall was about six yards away.

Johnny Milburn: I meant when he came out his area before

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 23, 2017: Liverpool's goalkeeper Danny Ward during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Leicester City and Liverpool at the King Power Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Half Time

Craig Hannan: It’s going to be a lot more difficult for us second half surely

Ian Ryan: The Reds dominant, Leicester offered fuck all. Got to be more ruthless second half though or you can see what’s coming a mile off.

Johnny Milburn: Robertson very good when used — finding lots of space and threatening delivery but not chosen anywhere near enough — trying to walk it through bodies instead

Phil Blundell: It should be Craig but I think they’ve got 11 lads who can’t be arsed

Josh Sexton: Mad how Robertson and Solanke are our best ever signings

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phil Blundell: The best reason for giving Robertson the ball would be to get them to give him less space and then give Coutinho more by default

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠John Gibbons: Think I’ve got more chance of necking Perrie than her fella has of getting in our first team at the moment

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 23, 2017: Liverpool's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks dejected after missing a chance during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Leicester City and Liverpool at the King Power Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Second Half

Dan Morgan: Good to see Chambo has adopted our corner taking brief.

Ian Ryan: Clearly part of everyone’s contract.

John Gibbons: Has this fella really knocked himself out heading a ball?

Ian Ryan: Imagine him in the ’60s he’d have died.

Dan Vincent: Splinter looked fucked there.

Ian Ryan: Grujic loves one of them, goes in like a lunatic

Josh Sexton: Alan Smith has just made up that Grujic has been sent off before, hasn’t he?

…Just googled it, he’s never been sent off in his career.

Craig Hannan: Nah he has

John Gibbons: Maybe he watches the u23s

Craig Hannan: He’s been sent off has he not?

Josh Sexton: Didn’t he just snap somebody at Palace or something?

Didn’t get sent though

Phil Blundell: Got sent off in the under 23s in the summer didn’t he?

…Apparently not

Ian Ryan: Been booked twice against Palace, Anfield and pre season, both naughty ones like.

Josh Sexton: That pre season one is the one I’m thinking of

(Okazaki scores)

Josh Sexton: Surprising

Phil Blundell: Gotta be kidding

Ste Evans: Of course

Ian Ryan: Inevitable. Don’t take your chances then…

Phil Blundell: Can’t figure out if Gomez dropped too far or the others should have dropped

John Gibbons: Bit unlucky with the finish. Klavan blocks it

Paul Senior: The fuck is Flanagan doing

Dan Vincent: Ward running to the edge of the box to catch that ball is the best thing any of our GKs have done in three years.

(Slimani scores)

Phil Blundell: The fuck is that

He hasn’t scored for about 20 years

Josh Sexton: Shite cup anyway

Phil Blundell: How far away from Gomez was Flanagan there?

Ian Ryan: Probably doesn’t score again till April, that prick.

Ste Evans: Fucking despise these cunts.

Craig Hannan: This means we’ll win the league game. I’m sure of it

John Gibbons: Can’t wait to get beat again there on Saturday

Josh Sexton: Chamberlain, fucking hell

Dan Morgan: Watching Flanagan play for us is absolutely painful.

Dan Vincent: He’s awful. If he wasn’t a scouser he wouldn’t be near a single fan’s thoughts.

Ian Ryan: Couldn’t get near Burnley’s team for majority of last year.

Craig Hannan: Don’t imagine we’ll have to see him play for a while like

Dan Vincent: He’s just a scouse version of Andre Wisdom.

Josh Sexton: Flatmate just asked if this goes extra time or replay… felt an optimistic question at best

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 23, 2017: Liverpool's Danny Ings looks dejected as his side lose 2-0 during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Leicester City and Liverpool at the King Power Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Full Time

Josh Sexton: The fuck do you say about that?

Dan Vincent: Shite. I know I’m in the minority but I wanted us to win that. Easiest trophy to win, real chance to do so considering the rotation that goes on in the cup. Instead it’s another kick in the sack. Don’t fancy us there at the weekend at all.

Ian Ryan: Defensively we seem to make the same mistakes regardless of who is playing. They obviously work on stuff in training but Jesus Christ nothing seems to change.

Dan Morgan: Again, in game, manage the moments when you’re not on top better. I think we’ve got a real issue with how we start second halves this season.

Ian Ryan: Four without a win, Saturday was big anyway, feels like a massive game now.

Ste Evans: All the goals we concede are pretty much the same. How many is it gonna take for the manager to say OK this system with these players isn’t working. He needs to change something or he’s in trouble here. I’m a massive fan of his but these signs aren’t good. We look weak as piss defensively and have done for three years but none of the issues have been addressed. Massive worry.

Ian Ryan: Seems to have a lot of belief in certain players that just isn’t backed up by performances. Blind spots to a number of issues is a big concern.

Johnny Milburn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠One less ‘auto-cup’ to sort

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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo

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