Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur will meet again for the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at Anfield this Thursday night, with Spurs holding a 1-0 advantage on aggregate.
Both teams head into this match full of confidence after important 2-0 away victories over the weekend, results that have major implications at both ends of the Premier League table.
It’s been almost a month since Lucas Bergvall's dramatic late goal handed Spurs a crucial 1-0 win in the first leg of this semi-final. That game was full of controversy, with Bergvall escaping a second yellow card after a late tackle on Kostas Tsimikas just moments before his decisive strike. However, Liverpool and their manager, Arne Slot, would readily admit they were far from their best that night in North London.
Despite that setback, most will expect Liverpool to turn the tie around in the second leg at Anfield and add to their record number of EFL Cup final appearances—currently standing at 14.
Jurgen Klopp's last major honor at Liverpool was winning the EFL Cup last season, securing the club's 10th victory in the competition. Despite trailing from the first leg and with Newcastle United potentially edging closer to a final, Liverpool are still the bookmakers' favorites to retain their title.
For the Reds, a two-goal victory is required to advance, but they’ll be encouraged by their impressive home form. Since a loss to Nottingham Forest in September, Liverpool have remained unbeaten in 15 home games, scoring at least twice in each, and winning 13 of those matches.
Liverpool’s crucial 2-0 win at Bournemouth on the weekend—thanks to a brace from Mohamed Salah—helped maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League, just days after topping the inaugural Champions League group stage.
With vital fixtures coming up, including an FA Cup trip to Plymouth Argyle and a Merseyside derby at Everton, Liverpool’s hopes of completing an unprecedented quadruple hinge on their next few games.
For Tottenham, this could be their best chance to end their long trophy drought. With a 1-0 lead heading into the second leg and the possibility of facing Newcastle in the final, Spurs' manager, Ange Postecoglou, is eager to keep his promise of winning a trophy by his second season at the club.
However, Spurs have a mixed history in two-legged EFL Cup semi-finals. They’ve lost the last two, including in 2019 when they had a 1-0 lead over Chelsea before the second leg, and haven’t won at Anfield since 2011, recording just three draws in 14 matches there since. But even a draw could be enough for Spurs to reach a fourth final since their 2008 victory in the competition.
It’s been a positive week for Postecoglou, who saw his team beat Brentford 2-0 in the league, lifting them from 16th to 14th in the standings. They also secured a place in the last 16 of the Europa League after a straightforward win over Elfsborg, with three young players getting on the scoresheet.
Spurs’ defensive record has improved, with four clean sheets in their last eight games, despite ongoing criticism of Postecoglou's tactics and the club’s injury woes. The two clean sheets against Elfsborg and Tamworth may not be as impressive, but keeping Liverpool and Brentford, two of the league's strongest attacking sides, at bay cannot be overlooked.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
After suffering a thigh injury during Liverpool's match at Bournemouth on Saturday, Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to miss the upcoming game. However, initial concerns were eased after a scan revealed that the injury isn't as severe as first feared.
With both Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones making their returns recently, Joe Gomez is currently the only injury absentee for the hosts, meaning Liverpool will almost be at full strength for this match.
Positions still up for grabs include left-back, where Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas will compete for a starting spot, and in midfield, where Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai will vie for the opportunity to partner Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.
While Liverpool's squad continues to strengthen with returning players, Tottenham has been dealt another significant blow. Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury against Elfsborg last week.
Micky van de Ven made his return in the Europa League but was rested over the weekend in preparation for this match. However, Spurs' manager, Ange Postecoglou, confirmed that the Dutch defender will not be ready to play, so Ben Davies is expected to partner Archie Gray in defense.
Postecoglou has expressed confidence that Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, and Timo Werner will all return within the next week or so. However, Cristian Romero and Dominic Solanke are still further from making their comebacks.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Kinsky; Pedro Porro, Davies, Gray, Spence; Bergvall, Bissouma, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Richarlison, Son
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham
The first leg marked the first time this season that either side played an EFL Cup match with fewer than three goals. With Postecoglou's reluctance to change his approach and Liverpool's urgent need to score, another high-scoring game could be on the cards—though this time, it might not go Spurs' way.
While Spurs may have finally ended their lengthy winless league run over the weekend, they continue to concede goals against stronger teams. If Liverpool performs at their best, we could see a repeat of the dominant display they put on in their league meeting in December, which ended 6-3 in their favor.
