Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool: Carabao Cup semi-final preview

Spurs face a daunting test as they host Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs find themselves in a crunch Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Liverpool. Should we be excited or just concerned? As a Spurs fan, I’d love to feel excitement, but honestly, concern seems more appropriate right now. Let’s face it, 2025 hasn’t been kind to us so far, and this season has been a rollercoaster—without the highs.

Tottenham vs Liverpool in the Carabao Cup

It’s been a depressing campaign. Earlier, it was just the dreadful away form, but now home fixtures have joined the party. Spurs are back from a 1-2 defeat against Newcastle, and honestly, I’m just happy to catch a break from the Premier League.

Still, here we are, in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup! Believe it or not, Spurs have managed to scrape their way through. But the positives don’t feel all that positive when you consider the opponent—Liverpool.

Spurs’ record against Liverpool? One win in 15 matches, and even that was shrouded in controversy. Playing Liverpool doesn’t exactly fill Spurs fans with hope; in fact, fans are already dreading the second leg at Anfield. The last time Spurs won there? More than a decade ago. And let’s not forget two weeks ago when Liverpool thumped Spurs 6-3. Defensive organisation? Non-existent. But hey, at least they scored three against the European giants. Not everyone does that!

What time does Tottenham vs Liverpool Carabao Cup semi-final kick-off?

• Location: London, England
• Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
• Date: Wednesday 8th January
• Kick-off time: 8 pm BST
• Referee: Stuart Atwell
• VAR: John Brooks

How both teams go into Tottenham v Liverpool

Spurs come into this match on the back of a heart-wrenching loss to Newcastle. A fair referee might have seen Spurs up a goal and the visitors down to 10 men, but here we are. Passion and desperation were aplenty, but they don’t win games—converting chances does. And the squad, fatigued and riddled with injuries, hasn’t been up to the task.

Liverpool, meanwhile, drew 2-2 with Manchester United. That result isn’t exactly impressive—who hasn’t beaten United this season? (Sorry, had to throw that one in.) But Arne Slot’s Liverpool have been unbeaten in their last 24 matches since the loss to Nottingham Forest. Who’s going to ruin their run? COYS (it’s a tough ask).

Tottenham team news

No surprises here—Spurs’ injury list is still depressingly long. Vicario, Odobert, Richarlison, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, and Davies remain sidelined. I’ve typed their names so often that my keyboard now suggests them automatically when I type “injury.”

There’s still no update on Moore’s recovery or Dragusin’s availability. If Moore is fit, I’d prefer him to start on the left over Son—he’s incredibly talented. However, it’s unlikely Ange will bench Son again, especially since that was a significant decision against Newcastle. As for Dragusin, he had a poor outing in that match, so if he doesn’t feature, Reguilon should step in. Reguilon has been solid for Spurs so far, so there’s nothing to criticise there.

Pape Sarr and James Maddison will be unavailable due to suspensions, likely paving the way for a midfield trio of Bentancur, Kulusevski, and Bissouma. I’d love to see Bergvall get a start after his standout display against Newcastle, but that seems unlikely.

New signing Antonin Kinsky has been impressive with his previous team, with an 83.9% passing success rate in the Europa League, but he’s more likely to debut in the FA Cup than in this fixture. For now, Austin looks set to start in goal after his commendable debut.

Liverpool team news

Liverpool have far fewer concerns. Joe Gomez is out with a hamstring injury, and Ibrahima Konaté is doubtful, as Slot admitted he isn’t ready for back-to-back starts after his return. Still, Slot has a solid B team to lean on (jealous much? Spurs don’t even have an A-team right now), meaning we could see some big names rested.

An obvious threat for Liverpool would be the Egyptian king, Mo Salah, but Arne Slot won’t be starting him (hopefully, he’s generous enough to do so), so I’ll give you another name; Federico Chiesa, I couldn’t find any stats of his I could display this season but he’s a wonderful player who’s missed out a lot already, so he’ll be a threat to Spurs.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Austin; Porro, Gray, Spence, Reguilon; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Bissouma; Johnson, Solanke, Son

Player to watch: Dominic Solanke. He’s scored twice in two EFL Cup starts and has been a workhorse, playing full 90 minutes in Spurs’ last four matches.

Tottenham vs Liverpool Carabao Cup insights

When you look at Liverpool’s game against Manchester United, it’s clear how United managed to hold the European giants. United knew Liverpool thrive on counter-attacks, so they sat back and ensured their defenders stayed disciplined. Whenever any of Liverpool’s front three received the ball, the nearest defender pounced to intercept, while the others held their positions.

This aggressive approach worked well, though it’s worth noting it comes with the risk of yellow cards. The key will be stopping Liverpool’s progressive passes—when they can’t advance, they struggle. Bissouma, over to you (but maybe hold off on getting a red card).

Another area to watch is Liverpool’s lethal use of long balls. Spurs know a bit too well about this. They must focus on narrowing spaces and limiting Liverpool’s ability to play those long balls. Winning aerial duels will be crucial too.

On the attacking front, Spurs should exploit Liverpool’s right side. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who plays more as a midfielder, leaves gaps in the backline. United’s two goals against Liverpool came from this side, and it makes perfect sense for Spurs to follow suit. In short, sit back, intercept, and look to progress through tight spaces on the right.

I mean, if United can do it, I’m sure Spurs have a fair chance as well. However, the problem is that United’s performance can’t be replicated. As Russell Martins said, Ange is a man of conviction, and in football, strong conviction isn’t always a good thing. Sometimes it feels more like Spurs don’t have a plan B rather than calling it “conviction,” and that has cost them some crucial points this season.

Ange won’t make his team sit back and wait—they’ll still play a high line and build from the back with that defence against Europe’s best attack, which just doesn’t make any sense to me. His conviction is admirable, but sometimes it feels more like stubbornness.

Our prediction

One can dream, right? This is Spurs’ best chance at silverware, and Ange knows it. He “always wins things” in his second season, so let’s hope Arne Slot’s wish for Ange to lift a trophy comes true!

Predicted score: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool (I ignored my keyboard’s laughing emoji suggestion).

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