Liverpool are looking to overturn a one-goal first leg deficit when they host Tottenham in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Thursday evening.
Spurs ran out narrow victors in the January meeting as Lucas Bergvall’s solitary goal gave them an advantage ahead of Thursday’s Anfield duel. The result saw Tottenham take a step towards their first major trophy since 2008, while defending champions Liverpool are now in a precarious position heading into the second leg.
The Reds will need to win by two clear goals to progress to the final in regulation time, while a one-goal victory would send the game to extra-time and potentially penalties. Spurs must simply avoid defeat to book their spot in the showpiece event at Wembley Stadium.
Both sides enter the upcoming fixture following 2-0 weekend victories in the Premier League. Liverpool toppled in-form Bournemouth on the south coast to maintain their six-point league lead, while Tottenham brought a woeful run of seven league matches without victory to an end by beating Brentford.
Here is 90min’s guide to a crunch clash on Merseyside.
Liverpool vs Tottenham head-to-head record (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Liverpool |
Tottenham |
|---|---|
|
Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool – 01/02/25 |
Brentford 0-2 Tottenham – 02/02/25 |
|
PSV 3-2 Liverpool – 29/01/25 |
Tottenham 3-0 Elfsborg – 30/01/25 |
|
Liverpool 4-1 Ipswich – 25/01/25 |
Tottenham 1-2 Leicester – 26/01/25 |
|
Liverpool 2-1 Lille – 21/01/25 |
Hoffenheim 2-3 Tottenham – 23/01/25 |
|
Brentford 0-2 Liverpool – 18/01/25 |
Everton 3-2 Tottenham – 19/01/25 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
ITV1, ITVX, STV, STV Player, UTV, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports+, Sky Ultra HD, Sky GO, Sky GO Extra, NOW TV |
|
United States |
Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
Liverpool have just the one absentee on Thursday evening but it’s a sizeable one, with Trent Alexander-Arnold missing for Arne Slot having sustained an injury to his leg in the weekend win over Bournemouth. Conor Bradley will replace him at Anfield.
Slot confirmed that the right-back is Liverpool’s only injury concern, meaning Joe Gomez, who has been missing since the end of December, could return to the matchday squad.
The Reds welcomed Darwin Nunez back into the action on Saturday following illness, while Diogo Jota was among the unused substitutes on the south coast as he returned from another injury setback.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz.
Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that new recruits Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso are eligible to feature on Thursday and could make their debuts. The former signed on loan from Bayern Munich, while the latter has joined from Lens.
Micky van de Ven briefly returned to action against Elfsborg but was not in the squad for the weekend victory over Brentford. Postecoglou has admitted that he has to be cautious with his re-integration despite the fact that he’s not injured, with the Dutchman not yet ready to face Premier League opposition.
Radu Dragusin added his name to an extensive injury list last Thursday after suffering an ACL tear that will keep him out for the season. He joins fellow defenders Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie on the sidelines, while first-choice stopper Guglielmo Vicario is also in the treatment room.
James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert and Timo Werner are all absent and former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke will miss an Anfield reunion due to a knee injury.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs Liverpool (4-3-3): Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Davies, Spence; Sarr, Bentancur, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Richarlison, Son.
Liverpool have an incredibly strong home record this season and have won five of their previous six meetings with Spurs at Anfield – scoring four on the Lilywhites’ last two visits. They will be favourites to win on Thursday and will fancy their chances of overturning the first leg deficit against an injury-stricken Spurs.
While they did manage to secure victory over Liverpool in the first leg, Spurs conceded six to the Reds earlier this term and have been in generally poor form despite successive victories. In front of a buoyant Anfield crowd, the Lilywhites could suffer a bruising defeat that would see their wait for silverware continue.
