Ronald Koeman relishing Capital One Cup clash with Liverpool

Ronald Koeman believes the Capital One Cup offers Southampton their most realistic chance of silverware this season.

Southampton, who have lost their last two Premier League matches, host Liverpool in the quarter-final of the competition at St Mary's on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports 1.

And the Saints manager is relishing the visit of Liverpool , a team he has fond memories of facing after recording a victory over them in the Champions League knockout stages in 2006.

"This is very important because as a Southampton team we have two opportunities to win a title. One is the FA Cup and the second is the Capital One Cup," said the Dutchman.

"We can't win the Premier League so this competition is very important. We'd like to reach the semi-final and after the two defeats the best way to get our confidence back is by winning.

"It's a great game to play tomorrow in a sold-out stadium and we're playing against one of the biggest clubs in the world. Liverpool are doing well with a new manager who gives a lot of energy to the team and the players. It's a nice challenge.

"When I was young in Holland, watching them in the league, FA Cups and European Cups they were a big club who had big players with a nice stadium and a fantastic crowd.

"I remember one time when I was the manager of Benfica we beat Liverpool. We won 1-0 at home and 2-0 in Liverpool and the crowd was amazing singing You'll Never Walk Alone when the team was out of the Champions League. That support was fantastic."

The match also sees Koeman's first-team assistant coach and former Liverpool favourite Sammy Lee come up against his old side.

"For Sammy it's a special day of course," Koeman said.

"He has so many friends in Liverpool, he's from Liverpool, he's played for Liverpool. But he's so involved in Southampton now that he can park all those feelings away from the pitch."

Steven Caulker looks set to start for Southampton due to an injury to skipper Jose Fonte.

Live Capital One Cup Football

The on-loan central defender impressed Koeman after coming on against Manchester City at the weekend as a substitute for Fonte, who suffered a cut on his knee that required stitches.

Watch Southampton v Liverpool live on Wednesday, 7.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD - the draw for the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup is live on Sky Sports News HQ following the match.