Tottenham vs Liverpool preview: Storylines, odds, prediction for Carabao Cup semi-final

There could be fireworks when Tottenham and Liverpool meet in a Carabao Cup semi-final.

Spurs are going through an abysmal run of form and an almighty injury crisis that leaves some supporters calling for the head of manager Ange Postecoglou. On the weekend, they took an early lead against Newcastle before succumbing to an almost inevitable 2-1 defeat. They have won just two of their last 11 games in all competitions, including a bizarre 4-3 victory over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final that was memorable for the sheer number of goalkeeping errors at both ends. The Tottenham manager is bullish about his side’s chances of winning a trophy this season, and this competition undoubtedly represents the best chance of that dream becoming a reality.

League-leaders Liverpool are having their first minor wobble of the campaign, with Trent Alexander-Arnold seemingly angling for a move to Real Madrid and drawing at home to struggling Manchester United on the weekend in a game most felt Arne Slot’s team would win comfortably. In truth, United looked more likely to take all three points.

Arsenal failed to capitalise on the Liverpool draw, so the league title still looks like Liverpool’s to lose but Slot will want a reaction from his players against a struggling Spurs team. Given how they’ve dominated all competitions since his arrival in the summer, Liverpool will surely believe they can win more than one trophy this season.

The Spurs injury crisis worsened with illness spreading through the camp recently and thus the hosts are likely to be without (deep breath) Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert, Micky van de Ven, Mikey Moore, Guglielmo Vicario and Richarlison. They have, however, brought in Antonin Kinsky and he is likely to start between the sticks.

Slot will need to decide if he wants to continue to field Alexander-Arnold while Joe Gomez is ruled out. Dominik Szoboszlai missed the United game as a result of illness but could well return for this semi-final first leg.

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Tottenham vs Liverpool odds

Odds from BetFair updated as of 9 p.m. GMT Tuesday.

Tottenham win: 16/5 (+320)
Draw: 17/5 (+340)
Liverpool win: 4/6 (-150)

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — London
Time: 8 p.m. GMT (3 p.m. ET), Wednesday

Form guide (all competitions)

Tottenham: L-D-L-L-W
Liverpool: D-W-W-W-W

Match prediction

Spurs 1-3 Liverpool

It’s hard to envision the Spurs next win. A trophy triumph for the first time since 2008 would almost certainly be enough to keep the manager in a job but it would require his team to beat the domestic and European league-leaders over two legs before a final against the winner of Arsenal versus Newcastle. Liverpool should have too much across 180 minutes for a side low on confidence and, more crucially, fit players.