The Mirror

Arsenal, Newcastle United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have seen their Carabao Cup semi-final schedules confirmed.

The Gunners take on Newcastle and Premier League-leaders Liverpool take on Spurs for a place in the final. Ties take place over two legs for the only time in the competition.

The first leg of the tie between Arsenal and Newcastle and the second leg of Liverpool versus Tottenham Hotspur will be broadcast live on ITV1, in addition to all fixtures being shown on Sky Sports. Fixtures take place over January 7/8 and February 5/6 before the final takes place on March 16 2025.

Liverpool will have hopes of winning a first trophy under Arne Slot by retaining the final title they earned under Jurgen Klopp. They will have been buoyed by their 6-3 victory over Spurs at the weekend.

Cup success for Ange Postecoglou would go some way to alleviating the pressure he is currently under. The Carabao Cup is the last trophy Spurs lifted in 2008 and this season the Lilywhites have seen greater progress than when they were knocked out in the second round last term.

Newcastle were beaten finalists in 2023 and reached the quarter-finals 12 months ago and will also hope to break their trophy duck under Eddie Howe. The Gunners have won just two of their last six outings against the Magpies.

Mikel Arteta is hoping that success in the cup can drive his Arsenal side onto greater success. Speaking last week he explained how it could provide a galvanising effect.

“I think so,” he said. “I fully believe in that: the fact that you are winning and you get into the next round and it creates something different around the team, and that is why these kind of games are so important.

“ It is really helpful. It brings belief, trust, positive energy, touching the cup, and being in the semi-final and beating somebody in the final; it is that energy and it creates the right path to go and do something else, particularly because of the timing and when the competition is played in this country, it gets that momentum going.”

Carabao Cup semi-final fixtures

Arsenal v Newcastle United Tuesday 7 January, 20:00hrs

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool Wednesday 8 January, 20:00hrs

Newcastle United v Arsenal Wednesday 5 February, 20:00hrs

Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur Thursday 6 February, 20:00hrs

Liverpool handed boss Arne Slot an early Christmas present with a dominant win over Tottenham on Sunday.

Goals from Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai saw the Reds take control in the first-half. Mohamed Salah added two strikes of his own in the second-half to ensure it was a perfect evening for the visitors.

It means they will be top of the Premier League on Christmas Day and are in full control of the title race. James Maddison had pulled a goal back in the first-half but even at that point, the hosts appeared resigned to defeat.

They did gain hope of a stunning comeback in the second-half when Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke scored in the final 20 minutes, but Diaz's second goal with six minutes to go put the game to bed. Here, Mirror Football looks at the biggest talking points as Liverpool marched on.

Liverpool march on

If it wasn't obvious before, it is now abundantly clear that this is Liverpool's title to lose. Tottenham has been a tricky place for the Reds to visit in past years, but Arne Slot passed his first Spurs test with flying colours.

Slot's side were utterly dominant on Sunday night, with Spurs never having more than a slight glimmer of a result. Their pressing made it difficult for Spurs to break out of their own half and much of the first period was attack versus defence.

Alisson was barely troubled in the Liverpool goal, while Spurs' defence was kept busy throughtout the game. Liverpool are now four points clear of second-place Chelsea, six ahead of third-place Arsenal and a whopping 12 clear of champions Manchester City, with a game in hand against all of those sides.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Who was man of the match as Liverpool hammered Tottenham? Comment below.

Trent sends a message

Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of three Reds stars to be out of contract in the summer. He sent a clear message to Liverpool chiefs that they have to prioritise his future with another starring performance in this win.

Up against Son Heung-Min, the Englishman successfully stifled the Spurs captain to prove his defensive credentials deserve more praise. But it was going forward where Alexander-Arnold unsurprisingly caught the eye.

He delivered an inch-perfect cross for Luis Diaz to open the scoring with a header 23 minutes in. With Real Madrid sniffing around, Liverpool need to act quickly if they are to keep hold of a player who is undoubtedly among the best right-backs in the world.

More questions for Postecoglou

Tottenham appeared to have little answer to Liverpool's powerful performance. The hosts had just two shots on target in the first-half, one of which was virtually gifted to them by Alexis Mac Allister's slip.

They were overwhelmed by Liverpool in the first-half and struggled to break out of their own third. The performance will only add to the questions being aimed at Ange Postecoglou for his stubborness over his side's style of play.

To cap that all off, it was the first time Spurs have conceded five goals at home for 10 years. The defeat means Spurs head into Christmas in the bottom half, nine points adrift of the top four, with the pressure on Postecoglou increasing.

Szoboszlai's standout day

There were a number of impressive performers among Liverpool's squad but Dominik Szoboszlai was a standout. The midfielder was at the heart of everything the visitors did to subdue their opponents.

He played a key role in Mac Allister's goal, beating the challenges of Archie Gray and Djed Spence to head the ball into the path of the Argentine to nod home. He was again at the heart of things for his own strike.

After Alexander-Arnold's long ball forward, Szoboszlai again won the aerial challenge, this time against Radu Dragusin. He then continued his run forward before slotting in past Fraser Forster, to put the game to bed. He added another assist in the second-half for Salah to strike to round off his day.

Record-breaking Salah

At this point, it seems like Mohamed Salah sets a new record every week. His assist for Szoboszlai's goal ensured he became the first player to reach double figures for both goals and assists before Christmas in a Premier League season in the history of the competition.

He then added two more goals in the second-half to claim sole occupancy of fourth place in the list of Liverpool's all-time scorers and first place in this year's Golden Boot race. It has been a remarkable season for Salah and it is a sign of his talent that he played such a key role given his otherwise quiet performance.

Spurs left-back Djed Spence had the better of their one-on-one battles, but Salah still found a way to make an impact. The Egyptian has surely proven beyond all doubt that he is deserving of a new contract.

Tottenham Hotspur welcome Liverpool to their home ground for a Premier League fixture that promises plenty of action and goals. Both teams come into this match on the back of eventful EFL Cup outings, with Liverpool easing past Southampton and Spurs securing a dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester United.

Tottenham's recent performances have been a rollercoaster, marked by both brilliance and vulnerability. In their midweek clash against Manchester United, goalkeeper Fraser Forster had a mixed outing, making two costly errors that allowed United back into the game after Spurs had taken a commanding 3-0 lead. Despite these setbacks, Spurs emerged victorious thanks to Son Heung-Min's extraordinary goal directly from a corner kick, sealing the win.

Spurs’ season has been one of ups and downs, with inconsistent results such as a surprising 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich followed by an emphatic 4-0 triumph over Manchester City. Their attacking prowess was again on display in a 5-0 rout of Southampton, though defensive frailties were evident in a chaotic 4-3 loss to Chelsea. At home, Tottenham have struggled for defensive solidity, managing just one clean sheet in eight matches but scoring in seven of those games.

Liverpool arrive at this fixture in outstanding form, having recorded an impressive record including just one defeat across all competitions this season. Their recent away games have been particularly entertaining, featuring a total of 15 goals in three matches, with both teams scoring at least twice each time. This attacking flair will be something Tottenham will need to be wary of as they seek to contain Liverpool’s potent forward line.

With both sides known for their attacking capabilities and occasional defensive lapses, fans can expect a high-scoring affair. Tottenham will look to leverage their offensive talents, with players like Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane aiming to exploit any weaknesses in Liverpool’s defence. Meanwhile, Liverpool will rely on their relentless attacking style to break down Spurs' backline.

For Tottenham, this match is an opportunity to demonstrate consistency and resilience against top-tier opposition. For Liverpool, it’s about maintaining their superb form and continuing their pursuit of silverware. Both teams have much to play for, making this encounter one that promises excitement from start to finish.

Tottenham vs Liverpool Odds

Spurs- 16/5 (CopyBet)

Draw - 16/5 (CopyBet)

Liverpool - 8/11 (CopyBet)

Tottenham vs Liverpool Betting Tips

Liverpool to win and both teams to score - 7/5 (CopyBet)

Mo Salah to score anytime - 87/100 (CopyBet)

Over 2.5 goals - 3/10 (CopyBet)

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Robbie Keane blames former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez for his unsuccessful spell at Liverpool, as the coach played him 'out of position'.

The Irishman, who retired in 2018, joined the Reds in 2008 for £19million from Tottenham Hotspur – but he headed back to north London after just six months at Anfield. Keane made 28 appearances for Liverpool, scoring just seven goals and assisting five times.

During this fateful season, Benetiz's side were challenging for the Premier League title and Keane was brought in to help the team. However, they were beaten to the trophy by Manchester United by just four points.

At the time, Keane opened up about the real reason his career never took off on Merseyside – and it was down to Benitez playing the striker out of position. Speaking to Graham Hunter of Pundit Arena in 2017, the former Premier League star believes the Liverpool manager was at fault for experimenting with his line-up.

Keane said: "He wanted to change me to a left winger. I am clearly not a left winger, and that is obviously clear for everyone to see. The first 20 minutes he wanted me to play left wing, and obviously I had never played it before, so it was new to me.

"When I did play up front I scored goals. But when I did play, I wasn't going to play the next day, which for a striker is very difficult. He tried to turn me into something I'm not, and that was always going to be a recipe for disaster as someone used to scoring goals."

The 44-year-old did say that he had "respect" for Benitez despite his decisions, and even claimed his tactics were the best he'd ever experienced. Keane said: "I respect every manager I've worked with.

"They all have their ideas, different ideas, and whether I agree with them it doesn't matter. I'm not a left-winger, as we've established from 20 years of playing football, but tactically he was probably one of the best I've worked with. He knows the game inside out."

Following his retirement, Keane also admitted that Tottenham is the club he will hold closest to his heart. He said: "I had the great privilege to represent and captain Tottenham over 238 games. I had many wonderful times there and I will look back on my days at White Hart Lane with great fondness. The club will always hold a special place in my heart."

He added: "To all those who believed in me, supported me and picked me up when I needed a hand, you can never know how much that has all meant. It was an honour to represent you."

Christmas has come early for the fun-loving neutral as Liverpool head to Tottenham (4.30pm).

It’s got all the makings for superb entertainment.

Mind you, they said the same about Strictly Come Xmas Pointless On Ice, which was a mirthless marathon and hard to follow, though I might have dreamt that one.

Last season Spurs got their skates on with a last-gasp own-goal to pip the nine-man Reds 2-1, before Liverpool bossed a six-goal tear-up at Anfield.

Goals all round looks a fair shout today, and two prices spring out from the long list of possibles.

Punt Mo Salah ‘anytime scorer’ at 20/21 (Bet365, Boylesport), which is so tasty on his data this season, and Dejan Kulusevski at 15/8 (Paddy) ‘score or assist’, ditto.

Manchester United welcome Bournemouth (2pm) after the Ruben Amorim era hit a Carabao Cup bump on Thursday.

No midweek exertions for the Cherries, but injuries are starting to bite them.

There’s just a whiff of Fergie spirit on the breeze at United – and old spice Bruno Fernandes ‘score or assist’ smells right at 10/11 (Paddy).

No Armando Broja for Everton against his parent club Chelsea (2pm), taking Sean Dyche’s attacking possibilities from vanishingly small to vanishingly smaller.

The Toffees have scored zero goals in five of their past six games, making the four that Wolves conceded look like a sackable offence on their own.

Veteran Ashley Young will get a brutal workout against Chelsea’s fizzy wing options – and the 9/4 (Paddy) he’s ‘shown a card’ is worth a go.

Idrissa Gueye is another ripe Toffee candidate for a booking – get on at 11/4 (Bet365).

It’s a bit early for buoyant Fulham to be dreaming of playing PSG and Milan, but they can probably stop worrying about Preston and Millwall.

Not so Southampton (2pm) and their interim boss. Expect baby steps from Simon Rusk.

Take 11/2 (Betway) for Fulham’s Antonee Robinson (left) ‘OVER 0.5 assists’ and Alex Iwobi ‘score or assist’ at 13/10 (Paddy).

Leicester-Wolves (2pm) is ripe for Jamie Vardy ‘score or assist’ at 13/10 (Paddy).

Tottenham should get Thomas Frank to replace Ange Postecoglou because the Spurs boss is tactically naive, according to Jamie O’Hara.

The Aussie manager is under increasing pressure after winning only one game in seven before Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Rangers.

And Postecoglou also went to confront his own travelling fans after the Premier League defeat at Bournemouth. The former Celtic boss is proud of his record of winning a trophy in every second season with his clubs and Tottenham are still competing in the Carabao Cup and Europa League with the FA Cup to come.

But the 4-3 home defeat to Chelsea on Sunday left them down in 11th place in the Premier League.

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And former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara says: “If Ange Postecoglou keeps playing in the same way, then I’m afraid he’ll have to go, I’m sorry but Daniel Levy will have to get rid of him. You can’t go on with that football and style of defending any longer.”

“I love Thomas Frank and I’d have him at Spurs every day of the week if Ange left. I think he’d be a great fit as Tottenham’s manager if we could get him out of Brentford. He’s been brilliant there and if Ange does leave – he’d be someone I’d look at.”

Dane Frank joined Brentford as an assistant head coach in 2016 and took over the main job two years later. Taking the Bees into the Premier League for the first time - and keeping him there - saw him named as a contender to take the Manchester United job before Ruben Amorin was appointed.

Postecoglou is Tottenham’s fourth full-time manager since Mauricio Pochettino left in November 2019 with Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte all getting sacked by Tottenham owner Daniel Levy.

Cristiano Romero has now apologised for comments he made criticising the club’s owners following Sunday’s defeat at Chelsea. But O’Hara has claimed Ange Postecoglou’s lack of game management against Chelsea on Sunday was in contrast to Espírito Santo’s tactics in Nottingham Forest's weekend win over Manchester United.

“Look, Spurs went to the extreme with Jose Mourinho,” he said, speaking to Grosvenor Sport. “His football was tough to watch—defensive and rigid—but they did win games. Then Antonio Conte came in, similar story: some good stuff but still all about defence. Now they’ve swung completely the other way with Ange Postecoglou, and it’s all attack, no cohesion in the defensive structure. You need a balance—good football but also the ability to keep clean sheets.

“Nuno Espírito Santo, who Spurs binned off because his football wasn’t great, but he showed over the weekend why he’s still top-notch. Look at Forest against Man United—they played some great stuff bopping it about. But when it got to 3-2, he made changes. Straight away, subbed on defenders, switched to a 5-4-1, and said: ‘Try and break us!’ United couldn’t. That’s in-game management. Result? Three points for Forest.

“It’s not always pretty, but that’s the difference between a manager and one who knows how to adapt mid-game. Take Spurs against Chelsea—2-0 up, game should’ve been dead and buried. Instead of being horrible to watch and shutting it down, they fell apart and lost 4-3. That’s the gap between top managers. Nuno knows how to see a game out, understands his team’s strengths, and gets the job done.”

Daniel Levy has decided that Ange Postecoglou is still the right manager for Tottenham - not long after Cristian Romero hit out at the Spurs board.

Romero limped off in the 16th minute during the North Londoners' 4-3 home loss to Chelsea. Tottenham's latest setback saw them squander an early 2-0 lead against their London rivals before losing, leaving them in a disappointing 11th place in the Premier League.

The loss highlighted the inconsistent performances that have plagued Postecoglou's tenure since his move from Celtic in the summer of 2023. After the game, Romero used his post-match media duties to lash out at those above the Australian.

Nevertheless, Spurs chairman Levy is understood to retain belief in Postecoglou. While the 62-year-old's verdict will relieve Romero, the Argentine is less than pleased with his manager's superiors.

Speaking to Telemundo, Romero said: "Manchester City fight every year for the tournament, Liverpool too, Chelsea is strengthening all the time despite the results... these are things to imitate. You have to realize that they are failing at something.

"It has always been the same in recent years. Every year, players come and go, and even the coaching staff changes, but everything remains the same.

"I hope they realise who is truly responsible for this so they can move forward because this is a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, can easily fight for the title every year."

The World Cup winner added: "Hopefully, they will realise who is truly responsible for this so we can move forward, because this is a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, can easily fight for the title every year."

During the loss, television cameras repeatedly panned to a pained-looking Levy, who did not enjoy what he was watching. Postecoglou has been under added pressure this season after suffering seven defeats from Spurs' opening 15 Premier League matches.

Despite Levy's huge role in Tottenham's new training ground and their breath-taking stadium, their barren 16-year spell without a major trophy continues to trouble fans. Despite the work Levy has done from a business point of view, Sky Sports pundit and ex-Liverpool star Jamie Carragher thinks somebody else should oversee the footballing operation.

Carragher said: "It's probably time for somebody else to come in because to not win a trophy in that period of time with the managers they have had, they've never really gone out of their way in the transfer market.

"They've spent decent money without blowing other teams out of the water, their wage bill is always one of the smallest and you're never going to get the best players.

"Therefore, perhaps now is the moment for Daniel Levy whom I've generally admired due to the impressive work he's accomplished but since that work is finished concerning a stadium and a training ground, it may be time for someone new to run the football side of the things."

Golden Boot contender Cole Palmer surprises even himself when it comes to delivering some of the coolest finishes in the Premier League.

The England sensation scored twice as Chelsea came from two goals down to beat London rivals Tottenham 4-3 on Sunday. His input was once again critical as he converted twice from the penalty spot to bag the Blues all three points and keep the club just four points off Liverpool's pace.

His second spot-kick proved particularly impressive as Palmer's Panenka caught Fraser Forster off guard. 'Cold' is as cold does, after all, though not even the player himself knew he was going to go for such an audacious move until seconds before.

"The second one, I didn't know I was gonna do it [the Panenka]," Palmer told Sky Sports while watching his goals back in a post-game interview. "But when I put the ball down, I looked at the clock and thought, 'It's a bit mad. The game's a bit mad so far. He's gonna dive.' And he dived."

When asked to clarify that he didn't plan the manoeuvre in advance, Palmer told the reporter: "No, I didn't plan it, but when I put the ball down, I knew."

Even more impressive is Palmer's admission that he doesn't practice Panenkas, wary that doing so would only increase the pressure on his shoulders. Whatever the former Manchester City prospect is doing to date appears to be working for him, to say the least.

It's feats such as these that have earned the 22-year-old a reputation as one of the calmest customers in England's top flight. Palmer is only excelling as Chelsea's talisman in his second season at Stamford Bridge, with the west Londoners all of a sudden looking like Liverpool's biggest competition for the crown under Enzo Maresca.

As for Palmer himself, the youngster is already up to 11 goals and six assists in 15 Premier League games this season. To put those figures into context, Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland are the joint-top scorers in the division on 13 goals apiece as things stand.

Palmer was named Young Player of the Season after racking up 22 goals and 12 assists in the league last term but could well top those numbers this campaign. And he's guaranteed to remain his usual frosty self all the while.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has found himself under pressure after a run of one win in seven matches, but centre-back Cristian Romero has suggested the blame might lie elsewhere.

Romero returned to the starting line-up against Chelsea on Sunday, but lasted just 15 minutes before injury struck again. Postecoglou's team led 2-0 at the time, but ended up losing 4-3.

Spurs' manager has retained the backing of his players despite the result. Former Celtic boss Postecoglou secured a fifth place finish last season, but has seen his team fall into the bottom half of the table during an injury-hit second season.

Rather than targeting Postecloglou, though, Romero appeared to point the finger at chairman Daniel Levy and the club's higher-ups. He has compared the North London team with rival clubs, appearing to suggest better decision-making could have left them in better shape.

"The truth is, I would say no comment, but..." Romero began in an interview with Telemundo Deportes. "Manchester City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn't do well, strengthens again, and now they're seeing results. Those are the things to imitate.

"You have to realise that something is going wrong, hopefully, they realise it. The last few years, it's always the same: first, the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it's always the same people responsible.

"Hopefully, they realise who the true responsible ones are, and we move forward because it's a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year," the former Atalanta star added. He called Postecoglou a "great coach," saying he and his fellow players were very happy with the Australian.

Who's to blame for Tottenham's struggles? Have your say in the comments section

Early goals from Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski gave Spurs the early upper hand against Chelsea, only for two Cole Palmer penalties and a goal apiece from Jadon Sancho and Enzo Fernandez to consign them to defeat before a late Son Heung-min consolation. Postecoglou addressed the injury situation after the loss, with question marks over Brennan Johnson and Micky van de Ven as well as Romero, but rejected suggestions he took too big a risk at the back.

"No, Romero didn't injure the same thing. It's a totally different injury, but also people I'm sure are aware of our situation," the manager said. "It's not like I've got a multitude of options there, so, you know, you've got to make these decisions.

"Both players [Romero and Van de Ven] trained and tried well, and they both wanted to help. So, you make these decisions with all the best information. Like I said, it's not like Romero re-injured his toe, it's a totally different injury, which could happen at any time."

Jamie Carragher has urged Tottenham not to sack Ange Postecoglou, but admits "certain things" need to change.

Tottenham have picked up just one win in their last seven games across all competitions, a brilliant 4-0 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City, but Postecoglou has come under fire after Spurs' latest defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.

However, Carragher has defended the Tottenham boss, despite claiming they will never "go on and win something" if Postecoglou does not make some changes. "I love Ange Postecoglou since he's come into the Premier League, in terms of the football they play," Carragher said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football.

"It's exciting. They are the most entertaining team in the last 18 months that I've seen. I know a lot of supporters wanted their Tottenham back and in a way, he has given them their Tottenham back.

"They're exciting to watch. They're almost everyone's second team. But you don't ever think they'll go on and win something. Now, is that a little unfair of me to say because do Tottenham ever win anything? That's the point.

"Is this a team set up to win big things? I said yesterday, if certain things don't change then he'll be out of a job. I don't want him to be. I enjoy watching them play, a lot more than previous managers.

"It has to be better than that for Spurs. No one's expecting Spurs to win the title but if he doesn't bow to certain things we're talking about, then eventually... That's what happens. You go to Man City and you win a game 4-0.

"But then you'll get battered by another team. You don't ever get that consistency you need to be a Champions League club. That's what Tottenham want." Despite Tottenham's recent poor form, Carragher believes Spurs' biggest problem lies in the transfer market and has suggested that chairman Daniel Levy should step down.

"It's probably time for somebody else to come in because to not win a trophy in that period of time with the managers they have had, they've never really gone out of their way in the transfer market,' Carragher added.

"They've spent decent money without blowing other teams out of the water, their wage bill is always one of the smallest and you're never going to get the best players. So it might be time for Daniel Levy - who I've been a supporter of because you look at the actual work that he's done - but now that works done in terms of a stadium and a training ground, someone else needs to be in charge of this football club."