---
title: "Liverpool: Fans call for Matteo Ritaccio to play in Carabao Cup quarter-final – but he’s injured"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fans-call-for-matteo-ritaccio-to-play-in-carabao-cup-quarter-final-but-hes-injured/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2019-11-13T19:45:05Z"
modified: "2019-11-13T19:45:05Z"
---

# Liverpool: Fans call for Matteo Ritaccio to play in Carabao Cup quarter-final – but he’s injured

**Liverpool have announced that teenage midfielder Matteo Ritaccio has signed his first professional contract with the club.**

The news was posted on their website [liverpoolfc.com](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/academy/373188-matteo-ritaccio-professional-contract-liverpool-fc?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=TwitterWebsiteCards&utm_content=Digital&utm_campaign=LFCTwitterCards) and also shared on official Twitter channel [@LFC](https://twitter.com/lfc/status/1194298928491061248?s=21).

> Matteo Ritaccio has signed his first professional contract with the Reds 🙌🔴
>
> — Liverpool FC (@LFC) [November 12, 2019](https://x.com/LFC/status/1194298928491061248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The [New York-born](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/academy/373188-matteo-ritaccio-professional-contract-liverpool-fc?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=TwitterWebsiteCards&utm_content=Digital&utm_campaign=LFCTwitterCards) 18-year-old has been [involved with Barry Lewtas’ under-18 squad since the beginning of last season](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/academy/373188-matteo-ritaccio-professional-contract-liverpool-fc?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=TwitterWebsiteCards&utm_content=Digital&utm_campaign=LFCTwitterCards), with a goal and two assists to his name from five appearances so far this term.

Ritaccio is among a number of young prospects hoping to establish themselves at Anfield, with teenagers such as [Ki-Jana Hoever](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ki-jana-hoever/leistungsdaten/spieler/485583), [Harvey Elliott](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/harvey-elliott/leistungsdaten/spieler/565822), [Rhian Brewster](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rhian-brewster/leistungsdaten/spieler/406560) and [Curtis Jones](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/curtis-jones/leistungsdaten/spieler/433188) all being given chances in the Carabao Cup this season.

Liverpool’s next fixture in that competition takes place away to Aston Villa on December 17th, the day before the Reds play in the Club World Cup semi-finals in Qatar. \[[via liverpoolfc.com](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/match/2019-20/first-team/fixtures-and-results)\]

The club confirmed last week that they will field two separate squads for those games, as reported by [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/11/05/liverpool-confirm-will-field-two-different-teams-two-different/), which will likely see numerous youngsters being handed a rare first team opportunity.

These Liverpool fans on Twitter have hoped to see Ritaccio being given a senior debut in next month’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at Villa Park – seemingly unaware that the midfielder currently has a leg injury that is [set to keep him out until January](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/academy/373188-matteo-ritaccio-professional-contract-liverpool-fc?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=TwitterWebsiteCards&utm_content=Digital&utm_campaign=LFCTwitterCards):

> Start him vs Villa
>
> — Liam 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (@Allez\_LesRouges) [November 12, 2019](https://twitter.com/Allez_LesRouges/status/1194299011227947010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> I bet all my money he’s gonna be on the squad to play at Villa in the Carabao
>
> — Adri\_Pltr 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 (@adrienpelletier) [November 12, 2019](https://twitter.com/adrienpelletier/status/1194301647096299520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Man’s making his Liverpool first team debut against Villa a month from now
>
> — ahamsic (@amarh7) [November 12, 2019](https://twitter.com/amarh7/status/1194299574132891648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Getting as many signed players as possible to have them play v villa
>
> — emircan (@Cannsss\_) [November 12, 2019](https://twitter.com/Cannsss_/status/1194299689497235458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Watch out Aston Villa
>
> — Sol X (@SolXolani) [November 12, 2019](https://twitter.com/SolXolani/status/1194303840956354569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Bolstering the squad for villa I see
>
> — NabySZN (@Akzyy) [November 12, 2019](https://twitter.com/Akzyy/status/1194303381164167174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> New player for Carabao Cup
>
> — Michael (@Mickle0002) [November 12, 2019](https://twitter.com/Mickle0002/status/1194300157195673600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Do you think Ritaccio would be in line to play against Aston Villa next month if it weren’t for his leg injury? Comment below with your views!***