Great play by Adrian who gets down to push the ball away as Eddie Nketiah looks certain to score from close range. The ball rolls out to Cedric Soares who blasts into an empty Kop.

That was a let off for Liverpool.

Liverpool try and play it out from the back. Virgil van Dijk with a back-pass to Adrian who passes out to Neco Williams who cannot control the ball and lets it go out of play.

It's an untidy start. Both teams are giving the ball away.

Roy Keane's face will be turning red with rage. Very sloppy.

Image source, Getty Images

So far so good for Stoke as the Championship side has the lead over their Premier League opponents.

And we're up and running!

Should be 1-1!

Aston Villa break quickly as Anwar El Ghazi plays a great ball in from the right and behind the defence towards the far post where Keinan Davis stretches... but prods wide.

That was the hosts' best chance of the game so far.

Some familiar names, some not so familiar. A reminder of how they line up at Anfield.

Liverpool XI: Adrian, Neco Williams, Rhys Williams, van Dijk, Milner, Grujic, Jones, Wilson, Jota, Minamino, Salah.

Substitutes: Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Gomez, Robertson, Origi, Kelleher, Elliott.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Cedric, Gabriel, Holding, Kolasinac, Willock, Xhaka, Pepe, Ceballos, Saka, Nketiah.

Substitutes: Tierney, Lacazette, Runarsson, Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Nelson, Elneny.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, speaking to Sky Sports: "We had to make changes, there was no chance to have all the same players in again.

"We kept some boys in who looked good from a physical point of view, Mo [Salah] and Virgil [van Dijk], and if we have to change at half time we will. We have to see.

"Some players are in slightly new positions. James [Milner] has to play at left-back but it is football. You have to play and enjoy playing, I hope I see that with the ball but not us showing we didn’t play five million times together in that formation."

Image source, PA Media

Arsenal have conceded 33 goals in their last nine visits to Anfield.

Mo Salah and Diogo Jota will be looking to make sure the Gunners do not keep a clean sheet tonight.

Stoke are playing some nice stuff at times in this game, despite the eight changes they have made. They looked in real danger of relegation to League One for large parts of last season but look a much better side now. I fancy them to challenge higher up the table this time.

Big chance for Henri Lansbury to score an equaliser as he rises to meet a cross from the right but gets his header wrong and puts it wide from close range. Should have done better.

Remember, the quarter-final draw takes place soon after Liverpool's tie with Arsenal finishes.

These are the teams definitely in the hat: Tottenham, Newcastle, Manchester City, Manchester United, Everton, Brentford.

The other two places will be filled by either Aston Villa, Stoke, Liverpool or Arsenal.

Liverpool

Image source, Reuters

Bye bye sunshine. Winter is coming and Jurgen is kitted out for a cold night ahead.

I'll continue to keep my eye on the action at Villa Park but I'm now joined by my colleague Neil Johnston, who is all over Liverpool's game against Arsenal.

First real chance of the game for Aston Villa as Jacob Ramsey gets an effort on target but it is a pretty routine save for Adam Davies.

All over and Brentford are through to the EFL Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history!

I'm not saying Liverpool and Arsenal are sick of the sight of one another but this is the fourth meeting between the two clubs in 11 weeks.

Liverpool were already Premier League champions when the Gunners beat them 2-1 at Emirates Stadium on 15 July, Reiss Nelson with the winner.

Arsenal then edged out Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield at Wembley before Jurgen Klopp's side won 3-1 on Monday to maintain their winning start to the Premier League season.