Liverpool handed Marc Guehi transfer boost after Carabao Cup rule change
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Southampton could take advantage of a Carabao Cup rule change against Liverpool on Tuesday night.
The Reds host the Saints in the third round of the competition, with Arne Slot already confirming he intends to make wholesale changes against the Championship outfit.
The Dutchman has already revealed that none of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch or Dominik Szoboszlai will be involved against Will Still’s side.
As a result, the likes of Giovanni Leoni, Federico Chiesa, Wataru Endo, Joe Gomez and Rio Ngumoha could all be handed opportunities against the Saints.
Southampton come into the tie off the back of a 3-1 defeat to Hull City in their last outing.
And under previous EFL rules, Still would have had to make at least one change to his starting XI vs Liverpool.
READ MORE:Premier League rule change given approval after Liverpool vs Everton controversy
Tom Fellows joined the Saints in an initial £8m from West Bromwich Albion at the end of August, and has made two appearances to date for the South Coast club.
Prior to the switch, he had featured four times for the Baggies this season - including in their Carabao Cup first round tie against Derby County.
In the past, the midfielder would have been cup-tied and ineligible to face Liverpool as a result of representing West Brom in the competition.
But a change in EFL rules means Fellows is actually eligible to play at Anfield.
Rule 6.4 notes that a registered player shall be permitted to play for up to two clubs in the competition should they meet any of the following criteria:
Has appeared for this parent club in the competition prior to the closure of the summer transfer window and has subsequently moved to a different club on a loan transfer or permanent transfer prior to the end of that summer transfer window.Has appeared for his parent club in the competition prior to the closure of the winter transfer window or the first leg of the semi-final and has subsequently moved to a different club on a loan or permanent transfer prior to the closure of the winter transfer window or the first leg of the semi-final.Such a player moves on as an emergency goalkeeper loan at any time during the season.
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With Liverpool entering the competition at the third round stage and Alexander Isak their only new arrival since the Carabao Cup got underway, they possess no players who would have been at risk of being cup-tied in the competition under the previous rules.
However, following the change in regulations, it does mean that should the Reds reach the at least the semi-finals for a third successive season, any January signings would be eligible to represent Liverpool in the latter stages of the competition provided they had not featured for one of the other semi-finalists in the final four first leg.
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So, hypothetically, were the Reds to revisit interest in Marc Guehi in January, he could still be eligible to feature for Liverpool in the semi-finals and final following this rule-change despite already representing Crystal Palace in this season’s competition.
However, it is worth noting that while the Reds remain interested in the defender, at present they are unlikely to move for Guehi in January given the player will be available on a free at the end of the season.