Liverpool v Crewe

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will hand Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri a debut in the Reds' Carling Cup clash with Crewe.
The 25-year-old joined the Reds in the summer from Palmeiras and will replace Jose Reina - who has played every minute of the campaign so far - for the third-round tie at Anfield.

Benitez has no fresh injury worries ahead of the game, with only Fabio Aurelio ruled out as he continues to recover from a calf problem.

The Liverpool boss is likely to rest striker Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard and will give some of the club's promising youngsters a chance to impress - but not at the expense of a place in the next round of the competition.

While strengthening the Reds first team for a Barclays Premier League title challenge has been Benitez's priority he is also building for the future and bolstered the reserve side with an array of talented youth players.

The policy has begun to reap its reward as Liverpool won the Premier Reserve League title last season in addition to their back-to-back FA Youth Cup wins in 2006 and 2007.

Emiliano Insua, Damien Plessis and Daniel Pacheco in particular are three players who have received encouraging reports from reserve-team coach Gary Ablett.

All three will hope to be involved against Crewe but Benitez is wary of fielding below-strength teams in the competition.

The Spaniard had his fingers burnt in 2005 when he fielded an inexperienced team in an FA Cup match against Burnley and was criticised for being disrespectful to the tradition of cup competitions in English football.

"It's an important competition for us but it's also one which gives us the chance to use some different players,'' Benitez said

"We have to be careful though. We want to win the game and go on to win the tournament so while we can use some of our youngsters, we need to make sure we get the team right for winning.

"It's a good opportunity for the youngsters who are selected. We have four or five of them training with the first team every day so they know how we work, but to be involved for a match gives them a chance to show us what they can do.

"They played well in pre-season and also in some games last year, so we know they have the quality to have a future here.''

Crewe will arrive at Anfield on the back of a 4-3 defeat at home to Southend at the weekend - but Benitez is not expecting them to sit back and defend.

"I think they will probably attack more than Stoke did on Saturday,'' he explained.

"They will play direct to their strikers, look to win second balls and also have some success from set-pieces.

"They will be well organised and will look to break on the counter attack. We know it won't be an easy game. In England games against clubs from a lower league are always tough.

"Hopefully we can play well and score the first goal because then things will be easier for us.''

Crewe first-team coach Steve Holland will check on the fitness of Calvin Zola and Michael O'Connor.

Forward Zola was withdrawn against Southend on Saturday after complaining of a tight calf.

O'Connor has been suffering with blisters on his feet and the midfielder did not take part in training on Sunday.

Holland believes his side are capable of causing an upset at Anfield, despite their heavy defeat against Southend.

"To lose 4-3 at home was disappointing. Our defending will obviously have to be much better against Liverpool but there are positives we can take from Saturday's defeat,'' Holland told the club's official website.

"Our attacking play was good and we are scoring goals, so hopefully that aspect of our play will continue.

"We have an opportunity to cover ourselves in glory and make a name for ourselves. We must go there with the belief that we can cause an upset.''