A RULE change in the Carabao Cup will impact the upcoming match between Liverpool and Southampton.
The visitors have been handed a boost ahead of the Anfield clash, with forward Tom Fellows eligible to play.
Tom Fellows is eligible to play for Southampton against Liverpool tonight due to a new Carabao Cup rule change
Fellows played for West Brom in the first round
Fellows joined from last month – after playing for the Baggies against in the first round of the competition.
He would not have been permitted to play for the Saints under the previous rules.
However, the 22-year-old is no longer cup-tied thanks to a change.
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 listed criteria.
They can play if they have appeared for their parent club in the competition prior to the transfer window closing and subsequently moved to a new club on a loan or permanent deal.
Fellows falls into that bracket, meaning he can feature against with no issues.
Similarly, players are permitted to play if they appear for their parent club in the competition prior to the close of the winter transfer window or the first leg of the semi-finals and subsequently move on loan or permanently.
Finally, a goalkeeper can play in the competition if they move as part of an emergency loan.
The new ruling has already come into play this season.
loan star Alex Mitchell played for the Pilgrims against in the second round of the having already starred for parent club in the first.
The rule change could be a huge boost for Liverpool in future, should they make another attempt to sign from .
The centre-back played against in the third round of the Carabao Cup last week.
