Two ties, one night

Liverpool host Tottenham at Anfield while Ipswich take Arsenal at Portman Road. Both kick off at 19:00 and Spurs get the ball rolling on Merseyside.

“And we are underway in both games!”

Liverpool make ten changes

Andoni Iraola rips up the side that flopped against Fulham, with ten fresh faces. Teenager Ngumoha is handed a start.

Zubimendi at right back

Arsenal line up with a patched defence of Martin Zubimendi, Gabriel, Marli Salmon and Myles Lewis-Skelly. A holding midfielder filling in at full back raised eyebrows at Portman Road.

“An interesting call having Zubimendi at right back.”

Five games across the country

Peterborough vs Barnsley, West Ham vs Fulham, Ipswich vs Arsenal, Liverpool vs Tottenham and Reading vs Brentford all run at the same time.

O'Neil wants a run

The Ipswich manager is not treating this as a free hit. He rotates, but says the cup is a route he actually wants to travel.

“I'll make some changes to my team, I'm sure Mikel will make changes to his team, but it's a game we want to win.”

The Liverpool regret

Ipswich already lost to Liverpool this season and O'Neil thinks the performance deserved better. Chasing a two goal deficit ruined it.

“I think we missed the opportunity against Liverpool. We played well, but it was already 2-0.”

Arteta reads the room

Arsenal won 2-0 at Sunderland and their manager still wants more. He says the squad will review that game and come back hungrier.

“I want to win a game, and I want to improve.”

Dowman has to earn it

Arteta is protecting his young forward rather than promising him anything. Minutes are coming, but on merit like everyone else.

“He will have his chance. He will have his minutes, and he will have to earn them like anybody else.”

Four from four

Arsenal have won every league game, opened the Champions League with a win, and ground out a hard-fought 2-0 at Sunderland at the weekend.

Depth as a weapon

Even with heavy rotation, the Gunners field a side that would start for most clubs. Gyokeres is named in the XI at Portman Road.

“Their squad depth is just a joke.”

De Zerbi takes the blame

The Spurs boss insists his players are good and the work is right, then puts the goal drought squarely on himself.

“We can say it's the coach's responsibility if we don't score, yes. I accept, no problem.”

Four games, zero goals

Tottenham have not scored a single Premier League goal this season. De Zerbi clings to the fact they have not conceded in the last two either.

“We didn't win any game so far, yes. We have to improve. We are sorry.”

£300m has not fixed it

Spurs spent more than £300million in the summer to escape back-to-back 17th place finishes. The league table so far says it has not worked.

The cup is different

Tottenham did score in this competition, thrashing Charlton 5-1 in the previous round. Kudus starts at Anfield with a win worth real confidence before Aston Villa.

Iraola's fixture squeeze

This is Liverpool's third game in seven days and their manager is not hiding his frustration at the schedule.

“It's the third game (in seven days) - it's the worst scenario in terms of schedule.”

Learning who can cope

Iraola says some players handle three games a week without a dip and some do not. He is still working out which of his squad is which.

“I have to learn who is ready to play and who is ready to rest so their performance level doesn't drop.”

High notes and flat ones

Draws with Newcastle and Forest, a win over Ipswich, then a statement result against Atletico Madrid at Anfield. Then they went flat against Fulham.

“A period of transition, if you will.”

Why Liverpool look vulnerable

A new manager, a rotated XI and tired legs make the Reds beatable on the night. Spurs will not get many better invitations than this one.

“It may mean they are there for the taking tonight.”