Liverpool vs Tottenham Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2024-25 English League Cup | Semi-Final
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This is a delicately poised EFL Cup semi-final tie with Liverpool, the heavy favourites, currently trailing by a goal to nil after Tottenham Hotspur’s surprise victory in north London last month.
Kick-off date/time: Thursday 6th February, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports & ITV / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go & ITVX / US – Paramount+
Liverpool Preview: Chasing a quadruple
Arne Slot’s Liverpool confirmed top spot in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League last week despite defeat to PSV Eindhoven and then maintained a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win against AFC Bournemouth at the weekend.
The Reds, with a trip to Home Park to face Plymouth Argyle in the fourth round of the FA Cup coming up this weekend, have suffered a dip in their performance level but remain almost relentless in their ability to grind results out as they search for a turnaround in this one.
Tottenham Preview: Spurs need to show bottle
Ange Postecoglou has been under immense pressure with many supporters suggesting the only reason he remains in charge is because of this EFL Cup semi-final. He said he always wins things in his second season and Spurs are half-way to a cup final in this competition.
Their 1-0 win over Liverpool last month has combined with other cup victories against Tamworth in the FA Cup as well as Hoffenheim and Elfsborg in the UEFA Europa League but their 2-0 win against Brentford at the weekend was just their second league win in ten games.
Liverpool Team News: Trent expected to be absent
Arne Slot confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold asked to be taken off against Bournemouth and he has said that he would think it is unlikely that he features in this one. Joe Gomez has returned to training as he continues to build his fitness back up.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Nunez
Unavailable:
Questionable: Gomez (Fitness), Alexander-Arnold (Injured)
Tottenham Team News: Tel could make debut
Tottenham’s deadline day signing Mathys Tel, who joined on loan from Bayern Munich, could make his debut for the club in this second-leg and that may be Postecoglou’s preference given the amount of attacking injuries they have such as Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Kinsky; Porro, Gray, Van de Ven, Davies; Sarr, Bentancur, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Richarlison, Son
Unavailable: Vicario (Injured), Dragusin (Injured), Romero (Injured), Udogie (Injured), Maddison (Injured), Odobert (Injured), Johnson (Injured), Werner (Injured), Solanke (Injured)
Questionable:
Liverpool vs Tottenham Prediction
Liverpool’s impressive defeat of high-flying Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium at the weekend came via a Mohamed Salah brace. The Reds have a potentially decisive week for their season with this semi-final, another cup game against Plymouth and then the last ever Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park against a much-improved Everton to potentially go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League next week. Even with those distractions, they are expected to be fully focused and attempting to hit Spurs with a fast start at Anfield. Spurs’ entertaining form has been consistent throughout this campaign with their 37 matches across all competitions consisting of a combined total of 128 goals at an average of 3.46 goals per game. Liverpool have to remain favourites to win the tie, especially with second-leg home advantage, but Tottenham will fancy their chances of another entertaining affair and being efficient on the counter-attack.
Liverpool vs Tottenham Tip: Liverpool to win & over 2.5 goals
