Venjulega, þá væri þetta bara svona rútínuleikur í kvöld gegn neðrideildarliði - leyfa ungu strákunum að spila, hvíla aðalhetjurnar, innbyrða auðveldan sigur.

EN … ef eitthvað er að marka blaðamenn og pistlahöfunda úti í Liverpool-borg þá mætti halda að þessi leikur sé álíka mikilvægur og úrslitaleikur í bikarkeppni. Tökum nokkur dæmi:

David Prior: Champion display is needed in Carling Cup:

“RAFAEL BENITEZ has called for a Champions League attitude in tonight’s Carling Cup clash at Crystal Palace after revealing his dismay at Liverpool’s latest league setback.

The Spaniard, who subjected his players to a video repeat of their Fulham defeat on Sunday, believes a lessening of the intensity and tempo Liverpool regularly produce on the Continent is the main reason behind their domestic failings.

And Benitez wants his men to use tonight’s third-round clash at Selhurst Park - the site of one of the Anfield men’s most ignominious Premiership defeats last term - to show they have the mentality to sustain a challenge at home and abroad.”

Chris Bascombe: Stevie back for Reds:

“STEVEN GERRARD will be thrust straight back into action for tonight’s Carling Cup tie at Crystal Palace.

The Liverpool skipper has been declared fit to start the clash at Selhurst Park having travelled with the squad to London last night.

Manager Rafa Benitez will underline the importance of this season’s competition by playing a strong line-up.”

Og svo sú sem mér finnst áhugaverðust…

Ian Rush: Reds stars who coast through life at Anfield:

“Nowadays, big clubs make major signings and it’s as though the player feels he’s achieved everything he wants from the game.

Signing for Liverpool becomes the pinnacle of their career. They think they’ve proved how good they are by moving to Anfield and the task of improving and winning trophies is a bonus.

That’s the kind of attitude which explains why some players don’t seem too bothered if the team loses, or if they’re subbed or left on the bench.

The great players are those who realise getting into the Liverpool side has to be the beginning of their ambitions, not the end.

As a manager, you want to see your team hurt by a defeat, or upset to be left out of the team. I never like hearing players say they don’t mind being part of a rotation system.

I prefer it when they say they hate being left out of any game.”

Það er orðið nokkuð ljóst að það mæðir mikið á leikmönnum þeim sem spila fyrir okkur í kvöld - það er á hreinu að eina leiðin til að menn sleppi við slátrum í fjölmiðlunum á morgun er sú að leggja sig 250% fram, berjast til síðasta blóðdropa, skora allavega 2-3 mörk, halda hreinu og spila eins og, tja, Evrópumeistarar.

Hvernig bregðast okkar menn við kallinu? Í byrjun október hefði ég eflaust sagt að þetta væri svona ómerkilegasti eða minnst áhugaverðasti leikurinn í mánuðinum, en ég held svei mér þá að þessi leikur gæti reynst vera einn sá mikilvægasti á öllu tímabilinu.

Ég er opinberlega orðinn spenntur fyrir kvöldið …