Can Carlisle United shock Liverpool?

Carlisle United have faced plenty of tough tests over the past few years... but tonight's game against Liverpool takes some beating.

The Premier League giants have spent 100 years in the top tier of English football, and their net spend on transfers last season was more than £27 million.

In contrast, Carlisle United faced the very real prospect of relegation from the football league last season, and this summer they sold arguably their best two players, Kyle Dempsey and Brad Potts.

But in spite of all that, most of the 6,000-odd Carlisle fans heading to Anfield will be doing so with a quiet confidence today.

In Jabo Ibehre, Carlisle have the football league's top goalscorer leading the line.

He's likely to start up front alongside Derek Asamoah, who's chipped in with his fair share of goals too.

In total, Carlisle United have scored 17 goals in League Two this season, more than any other club.

They've also conceded 17, the most in the league, but they'll be hopeful of nicking a goal or two against a Liverpool defence that has struggled this season.

Liverpool shipped three goals against West Ham at Anfield, despite arguably playing their strongest back line.

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has been plagued by the mistakes and criticisms that affected him last season, while Dejan Lovren also looks like he has an error in him.

Add to that the prospect of Liverpool fielding a weakened team against Carlisle, with the weekend's game against Aston Villa in mind, as well as a Europa League tie against FC Sion coming up, and there's a very real chance the Blues could score.

Of course, whatever team they put out, Liverpool will remain the clear favourites, and will themselves fancy scoring plenty past a leaky Carlisle defence.

But the thousands of Carlisle fans heading to the game, and listening from home, will be hoping their side can give the Reds a real scare.