Some Premier League players might turn their nose up at the prospect of having to play a midweek League Cup match. Not Harry Arter. The Bournemouth midfielder is pulling on his boots for the first time this season after recovering from a hip injury.

"It's a game that I've looked at as one I can come back into and get some minutes in - I'm really excited," says the 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international.

"It was tough over the summer but I'm glad it has been sorted and now I'm looking forward to playing.

"We will try to attack the game and win - you can only go through if you win the game. We will be trying to carry on the philosophy we have."

Making changes, kid for a quid, it's all change tonight for the League Cup.

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John Hartson
BBC Radio 5 live

"It is so difficult for youngsters to break through into the first team at Manchester City or Manchester United now.

"Even if you are in the youth team, the reserves, scoring every week, if the main striker is injured or struggling you still won't get a game as the club can go out and spend £40m on a proven striker."

Heard the one about a football stadium being evacuated after a bloke sneaked off from an official tour? It's true you know.

Anfield had to be cleared yesterday as police searched the ground after Liverpool reported a man had gone missing from a group being shown around the famous stadium.

Officers spent several hours combing the bowels of Anfield before announcing the stadium was secure. Panic over. Game on.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp has entered the building! The Liverpool boss may be dressed like a funeral director - his black suit matched with a black tie - but his mood is far from sombre. The effervescent German marches down the Anfield corridor, wearing a broad smile and high-fiving the security guard stood on the changing room door. That grin will be wider than the Mersey if he earns his first win tonight.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at St Mary's Stadium

Image source, Reuters

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman believes his squad can challenge on a number of fronts this season and has his eyes on reaching the League Cup final.

"The difference between this season and last season is that, in my opinion, we have more competition between the players," said the Dutchman.

"Some players deserve to play and this is the opportunity for them to show they count in our squad and they give real competition to the rest of the players.

"You have to be 100% to go on in this tournament. We like to win and we like to reach the final."

As you would expect, Manchester United make numerous changes for the League Cup. Sergio Romero returns in goal, while youngsters Andreas Pereira, James Wilson and Jesse Lingard all start.

Man Utd XI: Romero; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Rojo; Carrick, Fellaini, Pereira; Lingard, Wilson, Memphis

Stewart Downing overcomes a rib injury to start for Middlesbrough at Old Trafford and Spaniards Tomas Meijas, Carlos De Pena and Kike all play.

Middlesbrough XI: Mejias, Kalas, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Stephens, Nsue, Downing, De Pena, Kike

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini picks a strong XI to face Palace. He makes six changes from the side that drew 0-0 with city rivals United, with Willy Caballero replacing Joe Hart in goal, while Kelechi Iheanacho, 19, starts in attack. Winger Brandon Barker, 18, is on the bench.

Man City XI: Caballero, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov, Toure, Fernando, Navas, De Bruyne, Bony, Iheanacho.  

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew makes six changes from the starting XI that lost 1-0 to Leicester. Damien Delaney returns from injury while Patrick Bamford is picked as the forward, with fellow forwards Dwight Gayle and Fraizer Campbell on the bench.

Palace XI: Hennessey, Mariappa, Delaney, Dann, Kelly, Jedinak, Ledley, Zaha, Mutch, Bolasie, Bamford.

Whatever happens at Old Trafford tonight it should be a hell of an atmosphere inside the ground.

Middlesbrough have shifted a phenomenal 9,900 tickets for this evening's game. That must be one of the largest away followings in a long, long, long time...

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace will need to win at Manchester City for the first time since 1990 if they are to reach the Capital One Cup quarter-finals.

Alan Pardew's side, who have never won the League Cup or FA Cup, have striker Dwight Gayle back from a ban for the trip to the Premier League leaders.

Victor Wanyama captains Southampton as Ronald Koeman makes seven changes from the 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.

Maarten Stekelenburg, Virgil van Dijk, Wanyama and Graziano Pelle are the only survivors from the Anfield starting line-up.

Gaston Ramirez starts his first game for the club since April 2014.

Aston Villa caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald makes five changes from the defeat against Swansea on Saturday with the likes of Jack Grealish and Jordan Ayew dropped to the bench.

Southampton XI: Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Targett, van Dijk, Caulker, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Wanyama, Ramirez, Pelle, Juanmi.

Aston Villa XI: Guzan, Hutton, Richardson, Westwood, Clark, Amavi, Bacuna, Crespo, Sanchez, Agbonlahor, Gestede.  

It's a conversation that happens every season or so at football grounds up and down the land. An unfamiliar name has shown up on the teamsheet...

"Who the heck is he?!"

"Er, a local lad I think. Been captaining the ressies."

Some Liverpool fans may be forgiven for not recognising the names of Connor Randall, Cameron Brannagan and Joao Carlos Teixeira.

Image source, PA

Scouse right-back Randall, 20, has been on the Reds books since the age of eight, and starts for the first time after being named on the bench recently.

Teenage midfielder Brannagan, who like Randall has represented England at youth level, is making his second Reds appearance following his debut against Bordeaux. 

And Portuguese attacker Teixeira, who spent time on loan at Brighton last season, finally makes his Anfield debut after arriving from Sporting Lisbon in 2012.

Sweeping changes for Liverpool - nine to be precise. Only Belgium striker Divock Origi and England right-back Nathaniel Clyne keep their places from the team which started the weekend draw against Southampton. Teenage defender Connor Randall makes his first Reds start.

Injury-hit Bournemouth welcome back Republic of Ireland midfielder Harry Arter, who makes his first start of the season following a hip injury.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe makes six changes from the 5-1 home defeat by Tottenham, including goalkeeper Adam Federici for Artur Boruc.

Liverpool XI: Bogdan, Clyne, Toure, Lovren, Randall, Allen, Brannagan, Teixeira, Ibe, Firmino, Origi.

Bournemouth XI: Federici, Smith, Distin, Francis, Daniels, Stanislas, Arter, MacDonald, Ritchie, Pugh, Kermorgant.

What a week for football and traffic in Manchester. Just a few days after the Manchester derby, tonight sees City and United both playing at home for the first time in six years.

Gridlock?

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew says he is looking forward to the forthcoming Manchester-club double header. The Eagles follow up Wednesday's cup encounter at the league leaders with United at home on Saturday.

"They’re good games for us. Man City and Man United," he said.

 "We look forward to those and hopefully we can get ourselves a win."

Image source, Getty Images

Four matches, four potential penalty shootouts on the cards. Well, we had three last night!

Here's tonight's agenda:

Liverpool v Bournemouth - 19:45

Manchester City v Crystal Palace - 19:45

Southampton v Aston Villa - 19:45

Manchester United v Middlesbrough - 20:00