Liverpool Echo

Liverpool switch their attention to the defence of the Carabao Cup tonight when they head to Tottenham Hotspur for a semi-final first-leg showdown

Liverpool will put their pursuit of a second Premier League title on the backburner this evening when they switch attention to their defence of the Carabao Cup. Standing in the way of the Reds' third final in four years is top-flight rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Liverpool, who beat Chelsea in the 2024 and the 2022 Wembley showpieces, will be hot favourites. The Reds ran out 6-3 winners when the teams met in the league last month and, while their 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United on Sunday was viewed as a slight disappointment in some quarters, their form in contrast to Tottenham is stark.

While Spurs will go into tonight's semi-final first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the back of a four-game winless run, and five defeats in their last nine outings, Arne Slot's men have lost just once in 28 matches in all competitions so far this season.

And even though the Premier League and the Champions League will take bigger priority at Anfield, the Carabao Cup has always provided an opportunity of early silverware for Liverpool, who have lifted the trophy a record 10 times.

The good news for Reds boss Slot is that he has almost a fully fit squad to choose from. The only player certain to be missing this evening is versatile defender Joe Gomez, who according to his manager will remain sidelined for a 'few weeks' after picking up an injury in the 5-0 win at West Ham United on December 29.

Gomez's absence has been tempered by the return of Ibrahima Konate, who was back in the starting line-up for the big clash with bitter-rivals Man United.

But given it was the France international centre-back's first appearance in nearly seven weeks, Slot admitted afterwards he is unlikely to feature against Tottenham. The Liverpool head coach said: "If you’ve been out for such a long time, it is difficult to immediately play two games a week. So it will not come as a surprise if he does not play on Wednesday.

"He played today for 90 minutes and I think he showed in that 90 minutes he was ready to play."

If Konate is absent from the XI Slot names, Jarell Quansah is expected to start alongside Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the Dutchman's defence. They are the Reds' only two fit and available senior centre-backs.

There are more options in midfield for Slot. However, he admitted in his press conference on Tuesday that Dominik Szoboszlai is a doubt.

The Tottenham Hotspur news gets no better for Ange Postecoglou ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie at home to Liverpool

Four games without a win, five defeats in nine, two victories in 12 - whatever way you dress it up, Tottenham Hotspur's form going into tonight's Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie at home to Liverpool does not make for pretty reading. But there is context behind it.

While head coach Ange Postecoglou's managerial philosophy has been questioned during his side's struggles, in defence of the under-fire Spurs head coach, he is without a number of his strongest players, particularly in defence.

But the bad news for Tottenham - and good news for Liverpool - is that the situation has not got any better since their 2-1 Premier League loss at home to Newcastle United on Saturday. In fact, it's got worse.

So much so that Spurs could be without 11 players for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium showdown against a Reds side who are looking to reach a third League Cup final in four years.

Postecoglou's first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is definitely out with the fractured ankle he sustained in the 4-0 win at Manchester City on November 23. Veteran Fraser Forster has been deputising between the posts but he missed out against Newcastle with a bug that hit also hit Radu Dragusin and his stand-in centre-back partner Archie Gray.

Dragusin - Spurs' only fit and available senior centre-back - had to come off at half-time but Postecoglou said yesterday that the Romanian was feeling better along with Gray and winger Dejan Kulusevski, who had also been under the weather.

Dragusin and Gray are likely to start in the heart of the defence as first-choice centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero as well as Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie remain sidelined.

And the makeshift pair could be lining up in front of a new goalkeeper. After 17 years at Tottenham, Brandon Austin made his first-team debut at the weekend. While the 25-year-old American was named man of the match, he could lose his place to new signing Antonin Kinsky, who completed a £12.5m move from Slavia Prague at the weekend.

On whether the 21-year-old Czech Republic youth international would start against Liverpool, Postecoglou said: " We'll see. He arrived Sunday and he's had a couple of days' of training. He's obviously registered to play."

Another player Spurs will welcome into the squad is midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur after he served a one-match Premier League suspension after incurring five yellow cards. However, Postecoglou will certainly be without two more midfielders in James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr.

They are banned for this evening's first leg after picking up their second cautions of this season's competition in the thrilling quarter-final victory at home to Manchester United.

Arne Slot gives Dominik Szoboszlai update as Liverpool line-up for Tottenham explained

Dominik Szoboszlai missed Liverpool's draw with Manchester United due to illness

Dominik Szoboszlai remains a doubt for Liverpool’s League Cup semi-final first leg clash with Tottenham Hotspur. The Hungarian missed the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Manchester United through illness.

The midfielder is yet to return to training at the AXA Training Centre. And Arne Slot confirmed that the 24-year-old is unlikely to be fit enough to start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium even if he was declared available for the game as a result.

“Yesterday he wasn’t in yet but if he is in today, I would doubt he is available to start the game,” the Dutchman admitted. “But hopefully he is in today, but yesterday he wasn’t.”

Slot was giving little else away about his Reds line up ahead of facing Tottenham, avoiding the opportunity to confirm whether Caoimhin Kelleher would return in goal despite the League Cup being ‘his competition’ under predecessor Jurgen Klopp.

While the Dutchman hinted he could make changes in the capital, confirming he has an idea of the side he intends to select, he suggested that his line up would at least be stronger than the much-changed side that faced Southampton in the quarter-finals.

“I think if you look at all the fixtures we have had this season, there are so many things going into a line-up,” he said. “Short term, long term, qualities of the opponents, where are my players, so it will always be a decision made about, in our opinion, the best line-up for tomorrow.

“In some situations, for Southampton away or other games, in my opinion the best line up was the ones that didn’t start a lot. Let’s see what that is tomorrow for the game we play against Tottenham.

“I didn’t say that for tomorrow the players will play that haven't played much. I said there are many considerations before you make a line up but there are many other things going into a line up as well.

“So we might play a few players that haven’t played all the games and we might play a few players that have played all the games.

“I can tell you now it is the first time we train again after Sunday. Yesterday the players were not off but they did recovery so let’s see how they came out of the game and then we will make the line up for tomorrow.”

He continued: "I think I have decided the whole line up already. In many ways people have tried to get to know what the line up is. There are many things going into a line up and that is the same for tomorrow again.

“You will find out tomorrow what arguments there are. If they ask me before the game and after the game, I am always more than happy to answer those questions.

“But first of all I think the players should know how we’re going to play. And if all of them are available, that is something we also have to find out.”

Arne Slot was speaking after Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Anfield

Arne Slot has admitted that Ibrahima Konate is unlikely to start against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday after making his injury return for Liverpool against Manchester United. The Frenchman had been sidelined for the Reds since suffering a knee injury against Real Madrid at the end of November.

However, after losing Joe Gomez to a hamstring injury in their last outing against West Ham United, the centre-back made a timely return to partner Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool fought out a 2-2 draw with the Red Devils.

Konate had only returned to training on Friday, but impressed as he completed the full 90 minutes at Anfield.

And explaining his decision to throw the defender straight back into his starting XI, Slot insisted that Konate is fit enough to play for 90 minutes - but not to play two games in a week after a lengthy lay-off.

“Because he was fit. If he wouldn’t (feel okay), we wouldn’t have started him,” he said. “Then he doesn’t train with us. The moment he starts to train with the team, he is fit again.

“And it’s not to say he can immediately play two games in a week, but he can definitely play 90 minutes like he showed today.

“And like you saw, except the first game when I chose Quansah, all the other games, when Ibou was fit, he started. The moment he is fit, he can start.

“But if you’ve been out for such a long time, it is difficult to immediately play two games a week. So it will not come as a surprise if he does not play on Wednesday.

“He played today for 90 minutes and I think he showed in that 90 minutes he was ready to play.”

Liverpool's upcoming Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham will be screened live on ITV - as well as the competition's usual broadcaster Sky Sports.

The second leg of Liverpool's Carabao Cup semi-final tie against Tottenham will be shown free-to-air on ITV next month. Arne Slot's side, who beat West Ham, Brighton and Southampton on their way to the last-four, face Spurs for a place in this season's showpiece at Wembley Stadium in March.

Liverpool won the competition last season - after beating Chelsea - and they've lifted the trophy ten times in their history, with the first coming in the 1980/81 season under Bob Paisley. They will be keen to make it 11 with Slot's first piece of silverware since arriving from Feyenoord last summer.

And supporters that cannot attend the home game against Tottenham are going to be able to watch, via ITV. In a statement after details of the two semi-final matches were released, the EFL confirmed that - although all ties will be broadcast on Sky Sports - two of the four games will also live feature on ITV channels.

The EFL statement read: "All ties will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The first leg of Arsenal v Newcastle and the second leg of Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur will also be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX as part of a collaboration to give all UK football fans the chance to watch free-to-air coverage of select Carabao Cup and EFL fixtures."

Liverpool travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first leg on Wednesday, January 8 with a 8pm kick-off (UK time), while the second leg takes place at Anfield on Thursday, February 6 at 8pm. In the other semi-final, Arsenal host Newcastle in the first leg on Tuesday, January 7 at 8pm, before the second leg is at St. James' Park on Wednesday, February 5 at 8pm.

Goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott ensured Liverpool progressed to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win over Southampton last month. The Reds made wholesale changes for the trip to St. Mary's, but still managed to get the job done and got through to the last-four.

Liverpool face Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup semi-final as they look to defend their League Cup crown

In-stadium Video Assistant Referee (VAR) announcements will be trialled during Liverpool's Carabao Cup semi-finals against Tottenham Hotspur. The Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) has confirmed the groundbreaking change for the two-legged matches.

Arsenal take on Newcastle United in the other semi-final as Arne Slot's side look to defend their League Cup crown. Throughout the competition, VAR has been out-of-action and was initially scheduled to be introduced for the last-four.

However, the PGMOL have announced that referees will now announce decision after visiting the pitchside monitor or after reaching a decision on matters such as handball, among others.

At Anfield, and many Premier League stadiums across the country, the initial checks have been shown on LED screens in the stadium - with a recent introduction seeing explanations, from the Premier League's Match Centre, displayed.

The PGMOL tweeted: "In-stadium VAR announcements will be trialled in the Carabao Cup semi-finals which start next week.

"A first in English football, referees will announce the final decision following a visit to the VAR pitchside monitor or upon the conclusion of factual matters such as accidental handball by a goalscorer or offside offences where the attacker touches the ball.

"The trial, which forms part of the PGMOL's broader commitment to transparency including providing greater clarity and understanding around key decisions, will run over both legs of the Arsenal v Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool ties."

The English Football League (EFL) wrote in a statement: "VAR will be in place for this season’s Carabao Cup Semi-Finals, along with the first use of in-stadium VAR announcements in English football.

"As part of the trial, referees will announce (over the stadium public address system) the final decision following a visit to the VAR pitchside monitor, or upon the conclusion of factual matters such as accidental handball by a goalscorer or offside judgements. Only the final decision will be announced in the stadium.

"In-stadium VAR announcements have already been successfully introduced in several FIFA events, including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and aim to provide greater clarity and understanding around key decisions to supporters in the stadiums and those watching from home.

"The new pilot forms part of PGMOL’s broader commitment to transparency and embracing technological advancements for the benefit of Match Officials and fans. This latest pilot has the support of the EFL and follows earlier collaboration with PGMOL in 2018 to trial VAR in EFL competitions ahead of its introduction in the Premier League.

"The trial will run over both legs of the Arsenal v Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool Semi-Final ties, with the first legs taking place at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday 7 January and at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday 8 January."

Alisson's reason for waiting in tunnel for Tottenham star after Liverpool's 6-3 win

Tensions could have been high in the tunnel after Liverpool thumped Tottenham 6-3, but Alisson took some time to speak with one Spurs ace the Brazilian keeper has close ties to

Alisson Becker enjoyed a post-match embrace with Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison after Liverpool's festive thumping of Spurs, as they thrashed the north Londoners 6-3.

Arne Slot's side managed to open up a four-point lead over second-placed Chelsea on Sunday – and the Reds still have a game in hand on their nearest challengers due to the away trip to Everton being postponed earlier in the month. While there was plenty to smile about for Liverpool, Tottenham were left to digest their 8th Premier League defeat of the campaign.

Despite the result and the many tetchy moments between the two teams during the game, Alisson had a pleasant embrace with former Toffee, Richarlison, in the tunnel.

Despite the outcome of the game, Richarlison was pleased to catch up with the goalkeeper, as captured on Liverpool's tunnel cam and shared on YouTube. Ex-Everton forward Richarlison was spotted standing in the corridor between the changing rooms in the tunnel, wearing a large Tottenham winter coat with his hood up. As Alisson passed by, the keeper paused, smiled and embraced his fellow countryman.

While they were hugging, James Maddison, who netted an impressive goal against him in the first-half, also shook hands with Alisson. After a short while, Richarlison and Alisson returned to their respective changing rooms.

The pair have been friends for many years, having played alongside each other for the Brazilian national team. Richarlison and Alisson were regular starters for Brazil in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the Tottenham forward scoring one of the best goals in the tournament.

At the moment, there is not much to cheer for Richarlison or any of his Tottenham team-mates, though, as Spurs will be down in 11th in the Premier League table when the Christmas puddings are dished out.

However, despite pumping six goals past one of the most established clubs in the Premier League, Arne Slot was not completely satisfied by the performance.

The Dutchman said: "For 60 minutes we did everything we had to do, we were comfortable and good with the ball. The main thing is we worked very, very hard.

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"But then the same players with the same quality thought that 10 or 15 minutes of not working as hard was good enough. Tottenham have enough quality to score goals if you give them chances. You have to be on top of your game for the whole game and we didn’t do that."

Slot added: "The first 50-55 minutes is what you want, apart from the goal we conceded. 3-1 up and then it ended up being 5-1. We thought it was enough but Tottenham have far too much quality and they're able to create and score.

"Against every team, there's an opportunity. If they go for man for man which they did for the first goal, then it needs one player to outplay the other and then you have an extra man. They have a very good idea about football."

Liverpool have a number of players walking a disciplinary tightrope in the Premier League

Liverpool may be four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand but a number of their players will have to tread carefully during the festive programme. Five Reds are within one booking of having to serve a one-match suspension for accruing five cautions during the first half of the top-flight campaign.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo both picked up their fourth yellow cards of the Premier League season during the 6-3 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

Darwin Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate have previously reached four bookings, while Alexis Mac Allister has already served a one-match ban for picking up five yellows in the top-flight term.

Players who accrue five bookings inside the opening 19 Premier League games are handed a one-match ban. The amnesty then changes to a two-match suspension for reaching 10 bookings after 32 games, and a three-game ban for totalling 15 at any point in the campaign.

Liverpool have played 16 Premier League matches so far this season, meaning the quintet have to negotiate another three matches, starting with the home clash against Leicester City on Boxing Day evening. The Reds are then at West Ham United on December 29 before entertaining bitter North West rivals Manchester United the following Sunday.

Konate in any case is unlikely to be available for at least the next two games as he continues to recover from the knee injury that has sidelined him since the Champions League win over Real Madrid a month ago.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is the next Reds player in danger of a Premier League ban having accrued three bookings so far this campaign.

Arne Slot could again make a number of changes to his side when Liverpool host Leicester City on Boxing Day

Liverpool put in a remarkable team performance as they thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 6-3 on Sunday. Mohamed Salah was in electric form for the Reds, returning two goals and two assists to help his side extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points.

Luis Diaz also registered a brace, while Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were also both on the scoresheet as Arne Slot lauded his team’s performance as one of their very best attacking displays since he took over as head coach.

Now in the thick of the Premier League festive period, Liverpool will be back in action on Boxing Day as they host Leicester City.

Having made seven changes to his side against Spurs, Slot is expected to make use of his squad once more. And with so many of his offensive players shining in the capital, the ECHO takes a look at the changes the Dutchman could consider against the Foxes…

Robertson rested?

Liverpool are still a little light defensively because of injury, but following Kostas Tsimikas’ return from an ankle injury against Southampton in the League Cup, the Greek at least offers Arne Slot the option to rotate at left-back if required and could be in line for a first start since his return.

If not, Andy Robertson will continue at left-back after impressing against Spurs on his return from suspension.

Jarell Quansah is an alternative at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk, if Slot wishes to rest either Trent Alexander-Arnold or Joe Gomez. Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley both remain sidelined.

Jones pushing for a recall

It would be incredibly harsh to bench Szoboszlai against Leicester, after arguably his most impressive showing in a Liverpool shirt at Spurs. But Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are the alternatives if Slot does wish to rotate at number 10.

Alternatively, Jones could also come in for Mac Allister in a deeper midfield position as Slot continues to manage his squad carefully. Ryan Gravenberch is likely to keep his place, with Wataru Endo and Tyler Morton both on standby at number six if required.

Jota makes first start after injury

Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez will both be vying to start if Slot opts to rotate his attack against Leicester, with the Portuguese perhaps well-placed to make his first start since his return from injury.

With Luis Diaz catching the eye against Spurs, he could keep his starting place but move to his preferred left-wing position, with Cody Gakpo instead making way for either centre-forward.

Mohamed Salah will likely start on the right, with Elliott and Federico Chiesa - who missed the trip to Spurs - the main alternatives if the in-form Egyptian is rotated during a frenetic festive period.

When Tottenham Hotspur overcame nine-man Liverpool at home last season, courtesy of a last-minute Joel Matip own goal, the celebrations that followed were wild. It was only September 30 but with 'Angeball' all the rage, Spurs were understandably excited.

Admittedly, they were second in the table and still unbeaten after seven games following the win, but their reaction prompted raised eyebrows from onlookers.

They had faced 10 men for 64 minutes and nine men for 21 minutes, after Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were both controversially sent off, before Matip put into his own net in the 96th minute. But they also benefited greatly from a Luis Diaz strike infamously being incorrectly chalked off for offside by VAR, with the mistake was put down to ‘significant human error’.

Evidently, that took nothing away from the celebrations of Ange Postecoglou’s side as they did a lap of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as victory music continued to play, and even brought their children onto the pitch to take it all in.

Their Premier League unbeaten start would stretch to 10 games, by which point they sat top of the table. But then three successive defeats and a five-game winless run derailed them. And so by the end of November they had dropped to fifth in the table.

They would spend the rest of the campaign flirting with a top four finish only to fall short come May. Never has the idiom, ‘Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,’ been more apt.

It perhaps went without saying that Tottenham are a club who have not won a league title since 1961, and have lifted only two trophies since 1991. It is understandable why they allowed themselves to get carried away. But the reaction, both over the top and premature, is also why they fail.

Now 15 months later and those celebrations were chalk and cheese to Liverpool’s own reaction after inflicting an absolute massacre on Spurs on their first return to the scene of that ‘significant’ crime.

A 6-3 victory did not flatter the Reds as Diaz in particular inflicted personal revenge with a brace. In truth, they should have scored more and it was only their own complacency that granted Tottenham a slightly more respectable final scoreline.

During proceedings, with Liverpool even leading 5-1 at one point, supporters inevitably sang how their side were top of the league and would not be moved. They would offer Christmas carols too, already safe in the knowledge that they would stay top going into the festive period, with the Reds’ version of ‘O come all ye faithful’ a particular favourite in the capital.

But beyond that, in truth, celebrations were rather muted - especially when you consider the emphatic nature of their win over one of the Premier League’s bigger names.

This was, after all, a test that even Jamie Carragher labelled a "really big moment" on Sky Sports in the build-up.. The significance was not lost on anyone of a Red persuasion.

Perhaps things would have been different if Liverpool had won 6-1 rather than 6-3. Or maybe this is just the Arne Slot impact in full effect.

Gone is Jurgen Klopp’s emotional rock and roll football. Gone are the German-led wild celebrations and trademark fist pumps. Under his Dutch successor, the Reds have instead become ruthless, cold-hearted killers.

Their travelling supporters enjoyed their victory in North London, but as soon as the final whistle went, it was onto the next one. Rather than singing long and loud into the night, they returned their players’ and manager’s subtle applause and then went on their way, making the whole spectacle seem rather routine and underwhelming as opposed to this incredible show of attacking might.

Admittedly, the Liverpool dressing room made no secret of their displeasure with their defensive display following the final whistle, such are the high standards they continue to set for themselves.

But they also know they still have much bigger fish to fry. This is a side and fanbase that have both won every major honour and fallen agonisingly short in recent years. They know this marathon isn’t even yet half-run.

A 6-3 victory away at Tottenham, no matter how memorable, means nothing if you aren’t champions come May.