Stoke are having the better of the few chances at Villa Park as Sam Vokes heads wide for the visitors.

Ultimately this has been a comfortable win for Brentford.

Appreciate that it is a different game with different things at stake, but they could have done with this performance when the two sides met in the Championship play off final a couple of months ago.

Seven Fulham players in their own box and Emiliano Marcondes still finds enough space to get a shot off but, fortunately for the visitors, Marek Rodak denies Brentford a fourth.

Image source, Rex Features

The last time Liverpool and Arsenal met in this competition there were goals galore. Ten, actually.

Twelve months ago, the Gunners led 3-1 and 4-2 before a crazy ending which saw Divock Origi net a stoppage time equaliser.

In a pulsating tie, Liverpool eventually went through on penalties.

Another bonkers night at Anfield?

Ten minutes gone and Nick Powell's shot is the only chance of note so far at Villa Park.

Slow start.

Job done and night done for Said Benrahma as he is taken off, replaced by Finley Stevens for the final 10 minutes.

This performance must surely have caught the eye of one or two Premier League managers.

Early chance for Stoke as Nick Powell breaks into the Aston Villa area but bends his shot just over the bar.

Neeskens Kebano finds a bit of space just outside the Brentford box but doesn't connect properly with his shot and scuffs it straight at David Raya.

The second EFL Cup last 16 game of the night is under way.

Arsenal

Around 45 minutes until kick-off at Anfield and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says his players have belief they can beat Liverpool - despite losing to the Reds on Monday.

The Gunners had led through Alexandre Lacazette before goals from Sadio Mane and Andrew Robertson and new signing Diogo Jota won it for Liverpool.

"We will come back and try to win again," said Arteta.

"I am happy that we competed throughout the game and I think there are a lot of things that we can do better - and we will do better - and that's going to help us so much in the process.

"To play here with character and to play our way and now we just accept that they were better and that they are better at the moment and that we have to improve. This is the level that we have to reach."

Image source, Reuters

There's also a double change for Fulham as Aleksandar Mitrovic replaces Anthony Knockaert while Denis Odoi comes on for Ola Aina.

Fulham need a goal soon if they are to claw back into this.

Double change for Brentford as Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard come on for Josh Dasilva and Saman Ghoddos.

Brentford are looking bright now after getting that second goal, which has also knocked the stuffing out of Fulham. They were battering on the door for an equaliser but got caught out at the back and paid the price.

Nine changes for Liverpool from the side that started the 3-1 win over Arsenal on Monday. Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk are the two survivors while Diogo Jota, who scored after coming on as a substitute against the Gunners, makes his first start in red.

Arsenal make eight changes, with keeper Bernd Leno, defender Rob Holding and midfielder Granit Xhaka the survivors from Monday.

Will 19-year-old Bukayo Saka mark his call up to the England squad with a goal?

He's in from the start at Anfield.

The excellent Ademola Lookman cuts the ball back for Jean Michael Seri, who is unmarked in the middle of the area but leans back too much and fires well over.

Brentford spring into life as Josh Dasilva powers an effort at goal but it is straight at Marek Rodak.

Good pace to the game now. Much needed.