The Reds are at risk of being kicked out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player, understood to be Spanish midfielder Pedro Chirivella, during their win over MK Dons last week.
Chirivella was introduced for the final 27 minutes of Liverpool’s 2-0 victory at Stadium MK – James Milner and Ki-Jana Hoever the goalscorers for the Reds.
In ordinary circumstances expulsion from the competition is the standard sanction for using a player who isn’t eligible.
However, the Daily Mail reports that Liverpool are pinning the blame on the FA in the hope of receiving a lesser punishment.
The club insists that they applied for an international transfer certificate for Chirivella when he return to Anfield from a loan spell with Spanish second division side Extremadura last summer.
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Liverpool are understood to be blaming the FA for the administrative oversight because they first sought clearance for Chirivella in July, which they will use in mitigation to try to prevent being thrown out of the competition.
The FA are of the viewpoint that the clubs must take responsibility to make sure their players are eligible to play.
The governing body will assist with the investigation opened by the EFL, who have a range of sanctions available to them from a written warning, to a fine or even expulsion from the Carabao Cup.
If they don’t get expelled from the competition, Liverpool will face Arsenal at Anfield in the fourth round, in the week beginning October 28.