90min
·8 January 2025
90min
·8 January 2025
Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are aiming to put one foot in the Carabao Cup final this Wednesday as the pair meet in the first leg of their semi-final.
The Reds are the defending champions having triumphed in this competition during Jurgen Klopp's final season on Merseyside, while Tottenham supporters are left to reminisce over their 2008 EFL Cup crown - the last time Spurs won a trophy.
Wednesday's duel is likely to be a cracker if the pre-Christmas encounter between the sides is anything to go off. Liverpool won 6-3 in north London in December in a staggeringly open affair, with Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah both bagging braces.
Spurs have failed to win any of their three fixtures since as injuries continue to derail their campaign. Another weakened side will be fielded against Liverpool midweek, with the Reds potentially making alterations themselves after Sunday's gruelling draw with rivals Manchester United.
James Maddison is missing through suspension / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Not only will Spurs be without a host of first-teamers through injury, they will be without James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr due to suspension. Both have accumulated two yellow cards in previous rounds.
Tottenham's defence is decimated for the visit of the Premier League's top scorers, with Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie all missing. Fraser Forster was absent at the weekend due to illness, meaning new singing Antonin Kinsky could feature between the sticks.
Further forward, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison are still sidelined with long-term injury problems, but Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that youngster Mikey Moore could be in the matchday squad after a lengthy spell out with illness.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Bentancur, Bissouma; Johnson, Kulusevski, Son; Solanke.
Dominik Szoboszlai could miss out / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
Liverpool have endured a comparatively rosy season in regards to injuries, but they will be without versatile defender Joe Gomez after he pulled his hamstring in the 5-0 win over West Ham United. He will be missing until the end of January at the earliest.
Dominik Szoboszlai missed the weekend's draw with Man Utd through illness and Arne Slot has confirmed he is a doubt for Wednesday.
"Yesterday [Monday] he wasn’t in [training] yet. If he's in today, I would doubt if he's available to start the game. But hopefully he's in today. Yesterday he wasn't," admitted the Dutchman.
Otherwise, Liverpool have a fully-fit squad - even if Slot rotates his team. Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate both returned from five weeks in the treatment room on Sunday against Man Utd, while Diogo Jota could earn a first start since his return against Spurs.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Jota.
Goals are all but guaranteed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with last month's nine-goal affair indicative of what is to come this Wednesday. However, with Liverpool potentially making alterations after a tiring encounter with Man Utd last weekend, the goals may be more evenly shared on this occasion.
Spurs showed their attacking prowess in the 6-3 defeat, staging a late show as Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke sparkled. Liverpool's formidable attack are likely to enjoy themselves midweek, too, leading to a frenetic affair that may keep Spurs in the tie heading to Anfield in early February for the second leg.
View publisher imprintfeed