Jurgen Klopp has threatened to withdraw Liverpool from the Carabao Cup if EFL cannot find a suitable date for their last-eight fixture.
With the Reds due to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup in the same week that the quarter-finals are scheduled, the Liverpool boss made his demands clear in no uncertain terms.
“If they don’t find an appropriate place for us, not 3am on Christmas Day, then we don’t play it," declared Klopp.
That has raised questions over what would happen with Liverpool's tie should they pull out, but Arsenal would not replace them in the next round.
Despite crashing out of the competition at the hands of the Merseysiders, the Gunners would not be re-entered into the competition.
Instead Liverpool's intended opponents, determined by today's fifth round draw , would get a free passage to the semi-finals.
That means League Two's Tottenham giant killers Colchester could find themselves in the last-four without having to play another game.
Liverpool are facing a fixture pile-up, with the Reds already scheduled to play every few days until the new year following the upcoming international break.
Their Premier League clash with West Ham , originally due to be played on December 21, has already been postponed to cater for their involvement in the Club World Cup.
They have 11 games lined up between their trip to Crystal Palace on November 23 and their home clash with Wolves on December 29.
The club would face repercussions if they were to drop out of the competition, but it is unclear what these would be.
A more likely conclusion would be for the EFL to discuss moving Liverpool's fixture with Sheffield United on January 2, to allow them to fulfil their quarter-final tie ahead of a potential semi-final the following week.
Liverpool's players would perhaps be disappointed to relinquish their spot in the last-eight, having played out a fascinating match with Arsenal on Wednesday.
After leading through an early Shkodran Mustafi own goal, Liverpool found themselves 3-1 and then 4-2 behind, and on the verge of elimination.
Despite wonder goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Divock Origi drawing them back to level terms, Joe Willock's screamer looked to have given Arsenal the win.
However Origi's late volley sent the game to penalties, before Curtis Jones scored the crucial spot kick after Arsenal's Dani Ceballos had seen his effort saved.
The fifth round draw takes place at 8:45am (GMT) on Thursday October 31.
