Liverpool host Spurs tonight at Anfield in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. The Reds will have to overturn a 1 goal deficit after losing the first leg 1-0 over a month ago.

Make or Break ?

That’s exactly what it is for Ange Postecoglou at Anfield tonight. He’s lumped the pressure on his own side by doubling down in September saying;

“I’ll correct myself – I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing’s changed.”

Ange’s side do arrive at Anfield with a 1 goal lead to defend, but he could be staring down the barrel of a loaded gun. Elimination tonight and a tough tie away to Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Sunday could see Spurs eliminated from both domestic cup and sitting 14th in the Premier League by the end of the week.

Spurs arrive at Anfield having won 3 of their last 5 in all competitions. They ended a rotten run of 4 losses in the Premier League on Sunday with a 0-2 victory away at Brentford.

First Leg

Lucas Bergvall scored a late winner for Spurs in the first leg, a match that was ultimately surrounded by controversy. Moments before scoring Bergvall was lucky not to be shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Kostas Tsimikas, who had to leave the pitch due to receiving treatment. Bergvall would then score the winner whilst Liverpool were reduced to 10 men.

However, Liverpool and Arne Slot would also acknowledge that their performance throughout the night was sub-par.

Cody Gakpo The First Since Fowler

Cody Gakpo is joint top top scorer in the Carabao Cup after scoring braces against Brighton and West Ham. The last player to net more than 4 in a single League Cup campaign was Robbie Fowler with 6 in 2000-01. A goal and progression tonight will see him chasing the legend.

Fortune Favours the Reds

Spurs haven’t won at Anfield since since May 2011, but they’ll only need a draw to progress to the final, something they’ve only managed once in their last 5 visits to Anfield.

Since a two-legged defeat to Southampton in 2016, Liverpool have advanced from each of their last six semi-finals in major cup competitions. The Reds have advanced from two of their last three League Cup encounters with Spurs, most recently in the 2016-17 season at the fourth-round stage.

Team News

Arne Slot confirmed yesterday that Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss this one with a thigh injury. However, Liverpool fans can expect to see him back sooner rather than later as he’s already completing on-pitch rehab separate from the team.

Aside from this Arne will have the full squad at his disposal meaning we could see Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez.

Centre back partner ship Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been ruled out of this one by Ange saying;

“Micky got through the [Elfsborg] game all right but I don’t think he feels he’s ready for that sort of step up to [the] Premier League, the intensity of it – same with Romero.”

If available both would have a massive impact on the game, this could be some early mind games from the Spurs manager.

Spurs will also be without Dominic Solanke, Wilson Odobert, James Maddison, Destiny Udogie, Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson, Radu Dragusin and Guglielmo Vicario.

Enjoy this preview ? Sign up to our emailing list in the bottom right to hear about them first! Follow anything Liverpool on X and Bluesky for the latest LFC news. Not going the match? Watch along with Jamie Storey on X and YouTube.