Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur: Preview and Prediction

Liverpool will host Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, eager to overturn the deficit from the first leg.

Liverpool were beaten by Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the first leg, and it remains to be seen whether they can turn things around vs the North London club on Thursday. The Reds have been in impressive form this season, and they are coming into this game on the back of four wins from the last five matches in all competitions.

In addition, the hosts have lost only three games thus far this season. The Reds will certainly be confident of grinding out a good result here, and it remains to be seen whether they can get the job done.

Meanwhile, the visitors have picked up two consecutive victories, and they will be full of confidence, heading into this game. Spurs brought in a couple of quality signs ahead of the winter transfer deadline, and that will have boosted their confidence. Tottenham will look to get the job done here and book their place in the final of the League Cup.

Liverpool have a formidable record vs Tottenham at home, and it will be interesting to see if they can extend that run here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the upcoming meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to miss out here with a hamstring injury. Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Tottenham Hotspur, with Alisson Becker in goal.

Conor Bradley and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will add defensive cover and control to the side from the deep, while Dominik Szoboszlai will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates from the attacking midfield role.

Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will add creativity and goals from the wide areas, with Darwin Nunez leading the line for Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg on Thursday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez

Tottenham Hotspur

Cristian Romero is lacking in match fitness. Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert are sidelined with hamstring injuries. Guglielmo Vicario is still recovering from his ankle surgery.

Dominic Solanke has a knee injury, Radu Dragusin has a knee injury, Rodrigo Bentancur has a head injury, James Maddison has a calf injury, Timo Werner has a thigh injury and Brennan Johnson has a calf injury. Micky van de Ven has suffered another setback and he will miss out with a hamstring problem.

Tottenham Hotspur will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Liverpool, with Antonin Kinsky in goal. Pedro Porro and Djed Spence will start as the full-backs, and they will look to keep things compact at the back. They will look to hit Liverpool on the break as well. Archie Gray will start alongside winter arrival Kevin Danso in the central defensive pairing.

As for the midfield unit, Pape Matar Sarr will start alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma in the middle of the park. They will look to add defensive cover and control to the side. Dejan Kulusevski will start on the right wing, and he will look to create goalscoring chances for his teammates. Son Heung-min will lead the line for Tottenham, with Mathys Tel on the left wing.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kinsky; Porro, Gray, Danso, Spence; Bentancur, Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Son, Tel

Key Stats

  • Liverpool have scored at least two goals in eight of their last nine home matches vs Tottenham Hotspur in all competitions.
  • Liverpool have seen over 2.5 goals in six of their last seven home matches vs Tottenham in all competitions.
  • Liverpool are undefeated in their last 14 home matches vs Tottenham Hotspur in all competitions.
  • Tottenham have lost three of their last six matches in all competitions.
  • Liverpool are unbeaten in five of their last six matches in all competitions.

Player to Watch

Mohamed Salah

Embed from Getty Images

The Egyptian international has been in phenomenal form this season, and he will look to continue his impressive goalscoring run here as well. Tottenham have looked quite vulnerable defensively, and Salah has the quality to punish them.

He will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates and get on the score sheet as well. The talismanic attacker managed to score a brace in his last outing for Liverpool, and he will be full of confidence and momentum heading into this game.

Prediction

Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham (Liverpool win on penalties)

Both teams will be desperate for a victory here, and they will look to book their place in the final of the League Cup. This is likely to be a closed contest. Tottenham are a much-improved side from the first leg. Spurs have key players returning from injuries, and they will be able to field their new signings as well. They will look to make life difficult for the home team.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are a force to be reckoned with at home, and they will fancy their chances of winning here. The home side have the quality to grind out a narrow victory here. The two teams are likely to cancel each other out over the two legs, but Liverpool have a world-class goalkeeperm and they could emerge victorious after penalties.

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