Tottenham Hotspur won't be able to rotate their options amidst their injury crisis as the hosts are likely to still be without Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven for this fixture once again. Liverpool have utilised their options as they have done consistently in this tournament. Tottenham have been poor defensively in recent weeks, with the home side failing to keep a clean sheet in their last five and winless in their previous four- following a 2-1 loss at home to Newcastle United, which has increased the pressure on Ange Postecoglu.
Liverpool have been excellent away from home, having won their last four games in all competitions on their travels, which includes scoring six past their opposition in the league meeting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - Tottenham 0-2 Liverpool
Tottenham host Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, with both teams looking to put one foot into the final.
Date: 08/01/25
Kick-off time: 20:00
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The home side are searching for their first piece of silverware since 2008, when they won the League Cup. Spurs are in dreadful form, however, and now face the best team in the country. Ange Postecoglou’s side are winless in their last four, and it has them stranded in the bottom half of the Premier League table. Their last win, in fact, was in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup, where they eliminated Manchester United with a thrilling 4-3 win.
It has been a fantastic campaign for Liverpool as they remain fighting on all four fronts. They are top of the Premier League by six points, and have a game in hand. They have lost just once in all competitions this season, and are unbeaten since mid-September. The Reds are also winners of four of their last five, including a 2-1 win at Southampton to set up this tie with Spurs.
Goals should be a feature in this game, given the involvement of Tottenham. The hosts are dangerous going forward, but are extremely vulnerable at the back. It does not get much tougher than coming up against Mohamed Salah, who has enjoyed a sensational league season which has seen him contribute 18 goals and 13 assists in 19 appearances. Spurs have not kept a clean sheet in their last five.
Despite Spurs’ threat going forward, they will face a defence which is back to full strength following the return of Ibrahima Konate. However, they have scored 15 in their last six, and are riding on the good form of striker Dominic Solanke, who is the club’s top scorer with 11 goals this season, the latest coming in their most recent game against Newcastle.
These two teams have met 13 times in all competitions since 2019. Liverpool have been the overwhelmingly dominant side in this fixture with 10 wins to Tottenham’s one, with one draw. This includes four wins in the last five for the Reds, who are hoping to extend their impressive record against their opponents. The reverse fixture just two weeks ago saw a thrilling 6-3 victory for Liverpool away from home. Salah and Luis Diaz both scored braces.
Tottenham:
In their last five games, Tottenham have won one, drawn one and lost three. It has been a poor stretch for Spurs, though it started with victory in the Carabao Cup as they hosted Man United in the quarter-final. They advanced with a 4-3 win, after taking a 3-0 lead. Goalkeeping errors got United back in the game, but an insurance goal from a corner by Heung-min Son secured the victory.
Another home game followed, and they were emphatically beaten 6-3 by Liverpool. The visitors took a 5-1 lead before Spurs threatened a comeback. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke were on the scoresheet. On Boxing Day, Spurs travelled to Nottingham Forest, where they were defeated 1-0. Anthony Elanga scored the winner half an hour into the game.
They then hosted Wolves at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. They turned around an early deficit with goals from Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson, but Jorgen Strand Larsen levelled the score late on. Last time out, they played against Newcastle, who beat them 2-1, overturning an early deficit given to them by Solanke.
Liverpool:
In their last five games, Liverpool have won four and drawn one. It has been a superb stretch for Liverpool as they continue their excellent season. This run started with a 2-1 win at Southampton which confirmed Liverpool’s place in the semis of the Carabao Cup. Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott scored in the first half before Cameron Archer pulled one back. The Reds were able to hang on to advance.
A trip to face Tottenham followed. They were 6-3 winners in a dramatic game, which saw them take a 5-1 lead in the second half. Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah both scored a brace. Their winning streak continued with a 3-1 home win over Leicester. Jordan Ayew gave the visitor a shock early lead, but Cody Gakpo levelled the score on the stroke of half-time. Further strikes from Curtis Jones and Salah secured the three points.
West Ham were Liverpool’s next opponents, who the Reds convincingly beat 5-0 on the road. Diaz, Gakpo, Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota were all on the scoresheet. At the weekend, they hosted fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield. They were held in an entertaining 2-2 draw, which saw them take the lead after falling behind. Amad Diallo scored a late equaliser for United.