INSPIRATIONAL captain Tommy Elphick insists Cherries will respect Liverpool – but will not be in awe of them.

Elphick will be hoping to lead Cherries when they host the Premier League outfit in the quarter-final of the League Cup at Dean Court tonight (7.45pm).

The 27-year-old defender, a lifelong Liverpool fan, has played a key role in the club’s passage to the last eight and started in the previous two rounds against Cardiff and West Brom.

Elphick, an ever-present in the Championship this season, told the Daily Echo: “Liverpool play at the level we are aiming for so it would be foolish to be in awe of them. They have a wealth of talent and an amazing squad so you have to respect them.

“But we will be looking to progress. It is a massive opportunity for us to get to a semi-final and, possibly a final, of a major cup competition so the carrot is huge for both teams.

“Whoever they play, they are good players and are at Liverpool for a reason. It is a huge club and the likes of Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana are very good players. I just hope they field their strongest team and we can pitch ourselves against the elite to see how far off we are.

“The manager has changed the team quite a bit in the League Cup so it remains to be seen what he does against Liverpool. Whoever plays, the competition for places has been great for us this season because it has shown what a good squad we’ve got and how everybody is pushing in the right direction. We are 12 games unbeaten and, if the cup was a distraction, I think it would have told by now.”

Liverpool head to Dorset reeling from exiting the Champions League and on the back of a 3-0 defeat by arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday. The Reds are currently 11th in the Premier League, 18 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Elphick added: “I followed them all through my childhood. Things change when you become a pro and you lose that affinity a bit but I always look out for them.

“With the situation they are in at the moment, they will be looking to put a trophy in the cabinet and will see the League Cup as a big opportunity to do that. I imagine they will bring a strong team and it will be a severe test for us.

“I think they are in a transition period. Losing a player like Luis Suarez was huge and would be to any club. Liverpool relied on him and Daniel Sturridge so much last season and they have been without Sturridge for most of this season.

“They spent big and brought in a lot of players and that takes time so I do feel they are still finding their best 11 and best system. This will be a competition for them to try to win this season.”