Tottenham and Liverpool are set to face each other again later today in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie, just two weeks after the Lilywhites were handed a 6-3 drubbing by the Reds in the Premier League.
We are expecting the result to go the same way it did the last time. Liverpool with a busier calendar in the coming months will want to bury this one in the first leg itself, and given Spurs’ form and their own track record against them they will back themselves up to do that and some more.
We expect the two sides to make some changes from their respective last outings. Here are our predicted lineups for tonight’s game.
Tottenham
Ange Postecoglou may very well prefer fielding a completely new XI for this game given how poorly they have fared recently, but that is partly also due to how injury-ravaged they have been, which will also play a part here.
While Spurs have opened their account for the January transfer window with the signing of Czech goalkeeper Antonín Kinský, we believe Brandon Austin showed enough in his side’s defeat against Newcastle to warrant the starting spot for this game at the very least, allowing the Czechia U21 international some breathing room and prepare for the games ahead.
In the defence, Postecoglou’s hands are well and truly tied. Radu Drăgușin remains his only available centre-back, and he too was hooked off at half-time against Newcastle; not only has he been nursing an ankle knock, he’s also believed to be struggling with the illness currently plaguing the Spurs camp. Still, we expect him to start tonight alongside Archie Gray, who has taken to his baptism of North London fire as seamlessly as can be expected for an 18-year-old occupying a position that is not his first choice.
At right-back, Pedro Porro remains one of the handful first-choice operators Postecoglou has at his disposal, and barring any late health concerns he should remain on the pitch from start to finish.
The left-fullback position is an interesting one. With both Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies out of action, Postecoglou has had to rely on the players he had all but given up on otherwise, which is quite flexible by his own rigid standards. Djed Spence was welcomed back into the team at the start of the season after impressing in training, but he started getting playing minutes only when the injuries started knocking down Spurs’ door. We again expect him to start at left-back ahead of Sergio Reguilón. The Spaniard was shown the exit door before Spurs went off on their pre-season, yet remarkably he remains at Hotspur Way and has recently been asked to return to the pitch by his boss simply because the latter has run out of alternatives. We still expect him to leave, and he has been remarkably able when he has played for Spurs, given the circumstances, but we do not expect him to go beyond the bench at kick-off.
In the midfield, Tottenham need runners first and creators second, which does not bode well for James Maddison; he will be on the bench in favour of players who are more comfortable on the ball while on the move. Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma will be Spurs’ runners in charge in midfield, while Rodrigo Bentancur will be asked to start from deep and offer both runs and piercing balls.
Up front, fortunes favour Spurs a tad bit more. If there’s one thing we can say about them, it’s they will attack with intent and almost certainly score a goal or two. Dominic Solanke has been delivering even in defeats and will start front and centre again. On the right-hand side, Dejan Kulusevski is our overwhelming favourite. He’s the perfect blend or creativity and industry for Postecoglou and, in a side not as riddled with injuries as this one and in a better form, would have played in midfield. On the left, Postecoglou will ask Son Heung-min to lead again. The veteran South Korean’s numbers have been slightly better off late, and buoyed by a fresh contract extension he will be higher on confidence.
Liverpool
The Reds have more options than their counterparts, but we still expect them to make some changes based on how their players fared in the draw against Man United as well as in their League Cup quarters tie against Southampton.
In the goal, we expect Caoimhín Kelleher to start instead of Alisson Becker. The Irishman has been pushing for the starting spot by impressing in his Brazilian teammate’s stead, and to that end he has made the starting berth his own in the cup competitions. We do not expect that to change.
In defence, we are backing Conor Bradley to start ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back. The latter’s defensive issues were on full display at the weekend, and Bradley has proved more than keen and able to take his place whenever called upon; on form, he’s the better pick.
In the centre-back spots, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté should retain their starting berths from the weekend. While it was Jarell Quansah and Wataru Endō at centre-back in the League Cup last time out (the latter particularly impressing in this role), as stated above, we believe Liverpool will want to bury this tie tonight itself and take fewer chances at the back against a side that, despite not being in form, can score a goal or two. Quansah and Endō will be on the bench, however, and on the pitch later on if Liverpool manage to attain a lead they’d want to protect.
At left-back, we’re backing Kostas Tsimikas. Their glaring right-back problem at the weekend might have distracted the onlookers from the fact that Liverpool have been struggling on the other flank as well. Andy Robertson looks in decline as well as less capable of fitting Arne Slot’s setup than his Greek counterpart; it’s not too drastic, but the Dutchman will want to deprive his opposition of any and all marginal gains he can.
The remaining lineup can be considered business as usual for one of Europe’s most threatening sides this season. Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai should retain their starting berths, as should the forwards Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, and Luis Díaz.
