Liverpool head to Tottenham for the primary leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final conflict on Wednesday, with adjustments anticipated for the Reds.
Tottenham vs. Liverpool
League Cup semi-final first leg | Tottenham Hotspur StadiumJanuary 8, 2025 | 8pm (GMT)
Arne Slot‘s aspect may solely draw 2-2 at residence to Man United on Sunday in a bitterly disappointing consequence.
Premier League obligation is traded for home cup commitments this week, beginning with a midweek journey to Tottenham within the League Cup.
Right here’s all that you must know forward of the sport.
1. A repeat of final month’s mauling?
That is the second time Liverpool have travelled the Tottenham in below a month, following the league conflict on December twenty second.
The Reds romped to a 6-3 win in that recreation, with Luis Diaz scoring twice in addition to Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah additionally discovering the online.
In reality, the scoreline was variety to Spurs that day, too.
The same consequence on Wednesday would guarantee that Liverpool have multiple foot within the remaining at Wembley on March 16.
2. Postecoglou feeling the warmth
Ange Postecoglou isn’t fairly the likeable determine he was when he first arrived at Spurs, with the strain of the job turning him extra prickly.
The aforementioned 6-3 defeat to Liverpool was one in every of many poor current outcomes, and his aspect misplaced 2-1 at residence to Newcastle on Saturday.
Postecoglou nonetheless has the assist of some Spurs fasn, maybe as a result of the soccer is no less than entertaining, however he’s now pushing his luck.
Optimistic outcomes must return quickly or the north Londoners may very well be trying to find a brand new supervisor.
3. Doable Liverpool XI
With Liverpool tackling a busy January schedule, Slot is prone to make adjustments in midweek, however not essentially wholesale ones.
Saturday’s FA Cup third spherical conflict with Accrington Stanley at Anfield may see a far weaker beginning lineup fielded.
Jarell Quansah may begin at Spurs instead of Ibrahima Konate, whereas Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas may are available at full-back.
The likes of Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez are all pushing to begin, too.
Szoboszlai continues to be struggling to beat sickness and is a doubt, whereas Joe Gomez is Liverpool’s solely harm absentee.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Jota
4. How will Tottenham line up?
Spurs are nonetheless tackling an harm disaster, not least at centre-back, with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven nonetheless lacking.
Guglielmo Vicario, Future Udogie and Ben Davies are all absentees within the back-line, so Radu Dragusin and Archie Grey may once more begin at centre-back.
Fraser Forster and Wilson Odobert are two others who’re lacking.
Richarlison, Mikey Moore and Antonin Kinsky all took half in coaching on Monday, with the latter a brand new signing in purpose who has now been granted a piece allow.
Rodrigo Bentancur is again after suspension however Pape Matar Sarr and James Maddison are banned.
Doable Tottenham XI: Austin; Porro, Dragusin, Grey, Reguilon; Bissouma, Bergvall; Johnson, Kulusevski, Son; Solanke
5. Spurs’ painful anticipate trophy glory
Spurs could also be seen as one of many largest golf equipment within the nation, however their lack of trophies in current a long time is extraordinary.
The north Londoners haven’t gained a chunk of silverware since their League Cup triumph in 2008, beating Chelsea 2-1 within the remaining because of a Jonathan Woodgate winner in extra-time.
Within the 17 years previous to that, Spurs gained only one FA Cup and League Cup apiece, in 1991 and 1999, respectively.
Supporting them should be an absolute nightmare!
6. Alexander-Arnold is aware of the place “he has to enhance”
After a dreadful efficiency towards United, Slot spoke actually about Trent Alexander-Arnold, displaying him assist however saying enhancements are wanted:
“It’s regular that you simply speak to gamers, on this scenario it wasn’t his finest recreation so there have been issues I needed to present which he has to enhance.
“That’s what you do after each recreation. Typically you present them how effectively they did, principally in terms of work fee – so that you don’t need to say their sensible 80-yard cross as a result of they know.
“And generally you need to present them what they will enhance, however I don’t solely do that with Trent.
“We have been simply speaking about Macca, in the event you take a look at the second purpose we concede, if he sprints a bit exhausting he can lower off the shot from Diallo as effectively. There’s at all times issues you possibly can enhance.”
7. Liverpool unrivalled in League Cup
No crew within the historical past of the League Cup has gained the competitors extra instances than Liverpool, with the Reds tasting glory on 10 events.
The primary of these got here in 1981, earlier than profitable the following three in succession – two below Bob Paisley and one with Joe Fagan in cost.
Liverpool needed to wait till 1995 for his or her subsequent triumph, earlier than sealing victory in 2001 en path to Gerard Houllier’s Reds profitable a cup treble.
Additional League Cup wins got here in 2003, 2012 and 2022, earlier than final season’s memorable remaining win over Chelsea at Wembley, because of Virgil van Dijk‘s winner.
8. Did You Know?
Final season, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Diaz scored 54 targets between them in all competitions, discovering the online 25, 16 and 13 instances, respectively.
This time round, the trio have already got 45 mixed, 21 of which have come from Salah, who may very well be having fun with his greatest-ever season for Liverpool.
In the meantime, Gakpo and Diaz have netted 12 instances apiece, highlighting how prolific they’ve been in half a marketing campaign in comparison with an entire season in 2023/24.
Assuming all of them keep match, they need to dismantle final time period’s mixed tally within the coming months.
9. Attwell in cost
• READ HERE: Defined – How League Cup VAR trial will work at Tottenham vs. Liverpool
Stuart Attwell will referee Wednesday’s recreation, in what’s his second Liverpool outing of the season.
The primary was the 2-0 win at residence to Brentford within the Premier League in August, the place he handed yellow playing cards to Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch.
James Mainwaring and Constantine Hatzidakis are Attwell’s assistants, it’s the latter’s first Liverpool recreation since elbowing Robertson within the jaw in 2023.
Tim Robinson is fourth official and Paul Tierney is on VAR.
A VAR trial can even be on present on Wednesday, with in-stadium bulletins by referees made following checks. It means for the primary time ever within the English recreation, crowds and viewers at residence will have the ability to hear officers announce their remaining choices.
10. Comply with the match with TIA
Tottenham vs. Liverpool is dwell on Sky Sports activities Soccer from 7pm (GMT), with kickoff at 8pm.
This Is Anfield‘s matchday shall be off and working from 7.15pm, with Henry Jackson answerable for protecting you entertained.
Come on you Reds!