Liverpool searching for domestic hardware

Deprived of European football, Liverpool and Chelsea are looking for domestic success this season. And that includes a trophy occasionally ignored by the bigger clubs — the English League Cup.

Liverpool has won this trophy a record eight times and plays secondtier Burton today in the second-round match. Juergen Klopp’s team finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League last season but made it to the League Cup final, losing on penalty kicks to Manchester City.

Liverpool is already showing inconsistency in the league this season. It roared back from a goal down to beat Arsenal 4-3 in a thrilling season-opener, before losing 2-0 against Burnley on Saturday.

With Sadio Mane still fighting a shoulder injury, Klopp is unlikely to make drastic changes, given the lack of European football to worry about.

“We will make changes but not big changes,” the German said. “It is not really likely we change seven or eight positions.”

With new manager Antonio Conte at the helm, Chelsea also has time to thrive in the League Cup — which it last won in 2015 — after finishing 10th in the league last season for one of its worst campaigns in recent history.

Chelsea plays third-tier Bristol Rovers at Stamford Bridge today.

Unlike Klopp, Conte is likely to make changes to the side that beat Watford 2-1 on Saturday. Ruben LoftusCheek is expected to feature, along with Asmir Begovic adding experience.

Premier League teams Everton and Crysal Palace both face 4th-tier opposition in Yeovil and Blackpool, respectively.

Stoke, beaten 4-1 by Man City in the league on Saturday, faces a trip to fourth-tier Stevenage.

Teams involved in the Champions League or Europa League enter the tournament in the third round.