Rochdale face Liverpool Under-21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday evening at Spotland. The Group North fixture offers a break from League Two action for a side sitting 17th in the table with seven points from seven games.
Their recent form has been mixed, with two wins, a draw and two losses in the last five outings. The most recent was a 2-0 home victory over Oldham last Saturday, with goals from Daniel Moss and Dajaune Brown. That win followed a goalless draw at Walsall and a heavy 4-1 home defeat to Gillingham.
Manager Jim Bentley is expected to rotate his squad for the cup competition, with the league trip to Fleetwood Town on Saturday a clear priority. The side that beat Oldham lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring Nils Ramming in goal and a midfield anchored by Harvey Gilmour and Babajide Adeeko.
Liverpool's youngsters will provide a different tactical challenge, with the EFL Trophy designed to give academy players experience against senior opposition. Rochdale's full fixtures list shows a busy period ahead, with this match followed quickly by the league encounter at Highbury Stadium. The club's current standings position highlights the importance of finding consistency in the league campaign after this cup diversion.
The match kicks off at 18:00 UTC on Tuesday, 22 September.
