AITOR KARANKA has urged his Middlesbrough players to make a name for themselves when they attempt to produce a Capital One Cup shock at Anfield this evening.

Boro secured their third league win in succession when they trounced Brentford 4-0 at the weekend, but while they have risen to the Championship play-off places, their growing strength has been largely unacknowledged outside the confines of the North-East.

That would change in an instant if they were to dump Liverpool out of the League Cup, and while they will start as long-priced outsiders, Brendan Rodgers’ desire to rest the majority of his Champions League players, allied to Liverpool’s shaky start to the campaign, means they will head to Anfield in a bullish mood.

Karanka is expecting a difficult evening no matter what side lines up for the hosts, but with the pressure reduced given the strength of the opposition, the Spaniard is urging his players to grasp a golden opportunity with both hands.

“It is a great chance for the players to test themselves against one of the best sides in the Premier League,” said the Boro head coach. “If you are playing at Anfield, live on television, then it is a great opportunity and, if you are a top player, you will always want to do well.

“These are the kind of games that are very important because the players have an opportunity to prove to everyone how well they can play. “I go to Liverpool thinking about winning the game, but I know how difficult it will be as they are one of the best teams in the Premier League and in Europe. Last season, they were brilliant. This season, I know they’re not in a good way, but they have a very good manager and good players. It is not easy to play at Anfield, but I can understand why everyone is so excited.”

While Karanka played a number of European matches for Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid, he never got the opportunity to experience a game at Anfield.

He has visited the ground once as an observer, and cannot wait to sample the unique atmosphere of one of the most famous footballing arenas in the country.

“Of course I am excited,” he said. “I have the same feeling as the players. Everyone is going to watch the game and for me it is very, very important.

“I have played a lot of games in very big stadiums, but this is my first one in a big stadium as a manager. I have been to Anfield once to watch a game, and it is somewhere I would like to play a lot more games in the future.”

Having made a number of changes to his side for previous matches in the Capital One Cup, Karanka is expected to shuffle his pack again tonight even though it is unlikely his players will take too kindly to being rested for such a high-profile occasion.

Adam Clayton will definitely replace the suspended Dean Whitehead at the base of midfield, while Daniel Ayala is expected to start at the heart of the defence with Jonathan Woodgate having suffered another injury setback in training on Sunday.

Adam Reach could come into the reckoning in midfield, and Karanka may well recall Lee Tomlin in the number ten role and abandon his recent policy of playing two centre-forwards up front.

“Some of the players that played against Brentford were different, but they played just as well as we did against Cardiff,” said the Spaniard. “If against Liverpool, I make another five changes, I think we can be just as strong.

“That was one of the most important things for me when I started to rebuild the squad – to get that kind of depth – and I am happy with the options I’ve got.

“I need to think what to do against Liverpool because we don’t have Deano, so I need to consider who I will play. I know it is not a normal game, so I need to think very carefully about the team.”

It remains to be seen who will start for Liverpool, with the likes of Brad Jones, Kolo Toure, Jose Enrique, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert all coming into the reckoning after having limited opportunities to impress this term.

Brendan Rodgers must decide whether to start with Javi Manquillo after replacing the full-back in the opening 25 minutes of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham, and Karanka has revealed he attempted to sign the 20-year-old on loan for Middlesbrough in the second half of last season.

“I tried to sign him last season, but it was difficult for me,” he said. “He was playing at Atletico Madrid, and I know him well because I managed him with Spain under-16s. I tried to convince him to come here, but it was not possible.

“I think he’s an ideal player for the Premier League. He’s very strong and very good with his feet. He is young and has everything to enjoy success here in England. He will be a very good player in the future.”

Possible Line-ups:

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Jones; Manquillo, Toure, Lovren, Enrique; Allen, Henderson; Markovic, Lallana, Borini; Lambert.

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton; Adomah, Tomlin, Reach; Kike.