Opposition Preview: Liverpool | OneFootball

Tomorrow evening, Tottenham Hotspur will take to the field for their most important game of the season so far - when they face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield. Heading into the game, Spurs have a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, after a late winner from Lucas Bergvall.

Liverpool are still the favourites to qualify, and that doesn't feel unfair on Spurs - but Ange's side are definitely still in the tie, which is what everyone was praying for ahead of the first leg. Let's take a look at how our hosts are shaping up ahead of the game.

How Liverpool are looking ahead of the showdown on Thursday

Not only are Arne Slot's side favourites to progress, they remain favourites to win the competition itself. They are also favourites to win the Champions League, and the heavy favourites to win the Premier League (let's hope so, right). Just to give you some context on how mammoth a task this will be.

Last weekend, they went to play away to AFC Bournemouth, whom were unbeaten in 11 Premier League games, fresh off battering two top sides in Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. Thanks to a Mohamed Salah brace, they were able to win the game 2-0. Just so relentless. That said, Bournemouth did have their chances, and showed that they can be got at defensively.

During the game, Andoni Iraola's side had three opta defined big chances, and yet were not able to take any of them. They managed to have joy in behind the Liverpool backline, which is something Spurs can exploit - and did in the first leg.

Particularly at left back, Andy Robertson is not the player he was a few years ago. With Brennan Johnson out injured, could we see Ange throw Mathys Tel in his for his debut straight away. There will be a lot of space for him to be able to dart in behind Robertson and have opportunities on the break.

At right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to miss the game through injury. Some fans have had mixed reactions, suggesting that deputy Conor Bradley is better defensively. There may well be some merit to that, but you can't imagine anyone at Spurs is gutted not to be playing against a world class creator like him. His crossing and passing would have been key to getting them back in the game. He very nearly scored in the first leg too, but for a goal line clearance from Radu Dragusin.

We don't need to go into detail about how good Salah is - this will be a huge test for the ever impressive Djed Spence - though he has said he is ready to play against anyone.

On the other side, Cody Gakpo is having a very good season, and Pedro Porro will need to be at his best to stop him. The left sided central midfielder, to create the left hand side with Robertson, Gakpo, and Van Dijk, is likely to be Alexis Mac Allister. An absolutely fine player, but not overly athletic. We could see Spurs play Pape Sarr there as a result to try and win the physical battle. In general, it is not the most athletic left side, aside perhaps from Van Dijk.

Up front, we may well see Diogo Jota play up front over the recently under firing Luis Diaz, though the latter has a good record against Spurs. In the ten role, Dominik Szoboszlai has been in good form and it is important Spurs do not allow the gaping holes in midfield like they did in the defeat against Leicester City. In the other central midfield role, Ryan Gravenberch is having an incredible redemption story this season - disrupting his rhythm is something Spurs must try and do well.

Although he looked pretty spent in the win over Brentford, Richarlison has a good record against Liverpool, both for Everton and Spurs. He is unlikely to be able to play the 90 minutes here, but he could certainly have a hand in the game. Ideally we see a front three of (R/L); Tel, Richarlison, Heung-Min Son.

No doubt an incredibly tough game. No doubt Spurs are the heavy underdogs - but everyone expected a battering in the first leg. This may be at Anfield, but who knows - let's see. Come on you Spurs.