Tottenham vs Liverpool LIVE: Spurs desperate to take big step towards ending silverware drought in Carabao Cup semi-final
Live Blog
Updated: 18:55, 8 Jan 2025Follow all the action as Tottenham host reigning Carabao Cup champions Liverpool in the first leg of their semi-final tie.
Spurs beat Manchester United in a seven-goal thriller to progress to this round and they’re moving ever closer to a first trophy in 16 years.
But Ange Postecoglou’s side has been ripped apart by injuries in recent weeks and that has majorly impacted their form.
It leaves them struggling for confidence and winless in four heading into this crucial tie against one of the most in-form teams in Europe.
Arne Slot has the Reds clear at the top of the league table and into this semi-final, with a win over Southampton setting this clash up.
Carabao Cup semi-final to kick-off at 8pm. Team news to follow…Live commentary: talkSPORT website stream HERE, app HERE.You can follow live updates of all the action in our live blog below…
‘Trent didn’t play his best game’Will Trent Alexander-Arnold start for Liverpool tonight?
The right-back faced a lot of criticism for his performance against Man United at the weekend, amid Real Madrid interest.
Manager Arne Slot admitted Alexander-Arnold was off his usual standards in the 2-2 draw at Anfield.
But he has defended him and put the attention onto his entire team rather than just his star defender.
Slot said: “I think we were all disappointed – not only Trent, we were all disappointed – by the way we played.
“First of all, about the result. Parts of the game we could be quite satisfied with, other parts of our game we weren’t completely happy with.
“That was not only Trent, there were more things in the game that we could have done better.
“Trent didn’t play his best game, I’ve said it already, but that’s not for the first time in his life he didn’t play the best game of his career.
“He has played so, so, so many games well for this club. Now it wasn’t his best – like for some others, it wasn’t the best game for some others as well.”
Credit: GettyTrophy pending?Tottenham last won a trophy in 2008.
It means they’re currently on a 16-year silverware drought heading into their semi-final meeting with Liverpool tonight.
A win in this first leg would give their chances of progressing to Wembley a major boost, and it may even provide a good omen.
Spurs have lost their last two league cup games against the current holders.
But the last time they did beat the holders was in 2008 against Chelsea and, of course, that was when they last won a major trophy.
So Ange Postecoglou will be desperate for history to repeat itself against Liverpool.
His side’s form doesn’t put them in the best position to go all the way, but there’s no doubt over how bad they will want to.
Credit: GettyTeam newsTottenham could hand a debut to new goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after he joined the club from Slavia Prague over the weekend.
Kinsky is likely to replace Brandon Austin who made his debut last time out, with Fraser Forster ill and Guglielmo Vicario injured.
Spurs will still be without Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies as their defence remains obliterated.
That means Archie Gray is set to continue at centre-back next to Radu Dragusin if he’s recovered from illness.
Rodrigo Bentancur was banned for the last game but now he’s back and should feature, while James Maddison and Pape Sarr are suspended in the cup.
As for Liverpool, Conor Bradley may replace Trent Alexander-Arnold who faced criticism for his poor performance against Man United.
Darwin Nunez is likely to start as he’s now suspended for the next league game, while Dominik Szoboszlai could sit out ill again.
Joe Gomez is out injured but otherwise, Slot has a fully fit squad and he may bring in Diogo Jota to rotate his forward line.
Credit: GettyTottenham vs Liverpool Hello and welcome to talkSPORT.com’s live blog of Tottenham vs Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-finals!
Last night, we saw Newcastle beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates.
It means the Magpies have a major advantage heading into the second leg of their tie.
Tonight, we’ve got struggling Spurs and one of Europe’s most in-form teams in Liverpool going head-to-head.
There’s no doubt this will be a thriller after their recent Premier League meeting ended 6-3.
So stick with us for regular updates on all the action!
