Bolton v Aston Villa LIVE: Under-pressure Gerrard eyes win in tricky cup clash

Steven Gerrard appears to be under increasing pressure after being backed by the board in the transfer market and failing to deliver consistent results.

The Villains have picked up three points from their first three games and have lost both of their away fixtures.

Now, they are in for a very tricky test in the cup.

The Trotters are seventh in League One after one defeat in their first five, with only three goals conceded.

Ian Evatt's side are full of confidence, and if Gerrard makes lots of changes, they could sense an upset.

Bolton v Villa: Date and how to follow

This Carabao Cup clash will take place on Tuesday, August 23.

Kick off at the University of Bolton Stadium is scheduled for 7:45pm.

The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Football, with coverage starting at 7pm.

Alternatively, fans can purchase a Now TV day pass for £11.99.

talkSPORT will have match updates throughout the evening and talkSPORT.com will have all the reaction.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Bolton v Aston Villa: Team news

The hosts suffered their first defeat of the season at the weekend, so Evatt could shuffle his pack.

But captain Ricardo Santos should keep his place despite making an error that led to a Sheffield Wednesday goal on Saturday.

Evatt said: "He's human, he's allowed to make mistakes, we'll back him, we'll pick him up and we'll go again. We know how good he is."

Villa won't be able to call upon Diego Carlos or Kortney Hause. Carlos has been ruled out until at least the end of the year, while Hause is on the verge of joining Watford on a season-long loan.

Gerrard could choose to rotate some of his squad and play the likes of Robin Olsen, Ludwig Augustinsson, Marvelous Nakamba, Ashley Young and Cameron Archer.

However, given the unhappiness from some fans, it would be a surprise if the Villa boss made too many changes.

Bolton v Aston Villa: What has been said?

Bolton gaffer Ian Evatt: "It is (a good game to have a reaction) and it's not getting any easier.

"On the back of Villa we've got Plymouth away and they've had a really good result and that's a really tough place to go.

"September looks challenging with MK, Peterborough, Charlton, who I think are going well, so we have to dust ourselves down and go again."

Bolton v Aston Villa: Match facts

Bolton have progressed from their both of their previous League Cup ties against Aston Villa, winning 5-4 on aggregate in the 2003-04 semi-final, and 2-0 at Villa Park in September 2011.

Aston Villa have won three of their last four meetings with Bolton in all competitions, winning home and away against them the last time they met in the 2018-19 Championship campaign.

Bolton have reached the third round of the League Cup in just one of the last seven seasons, doing so in the 2017-18 campaign.

Aston Villa's Cameron Archer scored four goals in his two League Cup appearances last term, averaging a goal every 45 minutes in the competition that campaign.