Arsene Wenger shares how he thinks Liverpool will do against Aston Villa in EFL Cup quarter-final

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Dean Smith and Aston Villa now know when Villa Park will host the League Cup quarter-final clash with a side also in Club World Cup action.

Arsene Wenger has suggested that Liverpool could still have too much for Aston Villa when the two sides lock horns in the League Cup quarter-finals following the EFL’s fixture date confirmation (BeIN Sports).

Dean Smith’s charges reached the last eight of the competition after defeating Wolves, while a young Reds side beat Arsenal 5-4 on penalties after a 5-5 draw to make the quarter-finals, where they will take on the claret and blue side at Villa Park.

Despite Liverpool being in FIFA Club World Cup action the same week as the League Cup quarters, the EFL has confirmed that the League Cup tie between them and Villa will take place on Tuesday 17 December (7:45pm kickoff) as originally scheduled, with Jurgen Klopp’s side set to utilise two playing squads simultaneously in the two competitions.

The general belief amongst many fans – both of Villa and of Liverpool – is that Klopp will be prioritising the FIFA Club World Cup and utilise his best players in that competition, while something akin to a second string could face the B6 side in the League Cup.

Nonetheless, Wenger thinks even a young Liverpool side could beat Villa, as seen by their victory over Arsenal, while commenting on the prospect of the opportunity presented by the debacle to play first-teamers who are coming back from injury or are on the fringes.

“They have to play,” Wenger told BeIN Sports. “They can beat Aston Villa, anybody in a big club in England plays the Carabao Cup with a youth team, basically, they did that against Arsenal recently and drew 5-5.

“I don’t think it’s a big problem for the club and I believe they can adapt to get through, even if they play with a younger team. Sometimes it gives you an opportunity as well, in the Carabao Cup, to play some players who have come back from injury or do not play enough competitions, so you can get them fit and competitive because you have this cup.”