Rate it!

37 votes

Liverpool's £20 million midfielder Alberto Aquilani could make his debut against Arsenal in their Carling Cup clash at the Emirates.

ALL MATCHES KICK OFF AT 19:45 UK TIME

Arsenal v Liverpool

Alberto Aquilani could make his Liverpool first-team debut in the Carling Cup tie against at Arsenal at the Emirates.

The £20 million Italian midfielder has been recovering from a knee operation since his arrival at the club in the summer, but was fully involved in Liverpool's training this week, and is clearly being considered for a role - possibly from the bench - in the fourth-round tie.

Liverpool are being wary over talking up Aquilani's possible debut despite his playing 15 minutes for the reserves last week. Boss Rafael Benitez is expected to make a final decision early on Wednesday morning before the squad travel to London for the match.

Defenders Andrea Dossena and Sotirios Kyrgiakos could also figure having recovered from injuries.

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are set to sit the match out, while Albert Riera (hamstring) and Martin Kelly (ankle) are also injured.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is likely to stick with the core of the young side that looked impressive in the previous round against West Brom, with Carlos Vela, Sanchez Watt, Fran Merida, Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere all likely to feature.

Midfielder Samir Nasri and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski are set for their first starts of the season after shaking off injuries, while Wenger is expected to field and experienced defence that includes Philippe Senderos and Mikael Silvestre.

Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti will make wholesale changes to his league-topping side for the Carling Cup clash with Bolton at Stamford Bridge.

John Terry, Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are all likely to be rested.

Paulo Ferreira, Alex, Deco, Daniel Sturridge, Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou are all set to start, while Nemanja Matic, Jeffrey Bruma and Fabio Borini will be on the bench alongside Lampard, Drogba and Essien.

Jose Bosingwa (knee), Ashley Cole (ankle), Yury Zhirkov (knee) and John Mikel Obi (knee) are all sidelined.

For Bolton, Swedish striker Johan Elmander is set to return to the side.

The 28-year-old has been missing with a hamstring injury, but is now back in full training and should be available for the match at Stamford Bridge.

Bolton manager Gary Megson has no other major injury concerns aside from those involving long-term absentees Joey O'Brien and Sean Davis, who both have knee problems.

Manchester City v Scunthorpe United

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes will be without Kolo Toure and Martin Petrov for the Carling Cup match against Scunthorpe.

Toure and Petrov are suffering from heel and knee injuries respectively while Roque Santa Cruz remains doubtful for the fourth round match with tonsilitis.

Wayne Bridge is expected to recover from a knee problem and Pablo Zabaleta is available again after missing the draw against Fulham because of a one-match ban.

Blues boss Hughes says that though he will not take unnecessary risks in midweek, he will still put out a strong side.

Scunthorpe will be without striker Gary Hooper, who is still missing with a foot injury, though defender David Mirfin could return after missing Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Peterborough with illness.

Boss Nigel Adkins has several members of his small squad carrying knocks, but has refused to divulge any names.

Follow all the action from tonight's Carling Cup with live text commentary right here on eurosport.yahoo.com!

Eurosport