FotMob

Silverware symbolism

Ange Postecoglou’s assertion that he always wins silverware in his second season at a club will be tested as Tottenham come up against the best team in the country in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Spurs are struggling badly for league form having won just one of their last eight games. However, glory in the Carabao Cup would prove the North London outfit are still heading in the right direction.

There won’t be so much pressure on Liverpool such is their strong standing at the top of the Premier League table right now, but winning the first domestic trophy of the season would be symbolic for Arne Slot as the Reds’ new manager.

With both teams known for their attacking football, Tottenham and Liverpool could put on a spectacle. Indeed, there has been over 2.5 goals in eight of the last nine meetings between the two rivals.

Key players

While Tottenham have struggled for form in recent matches, Dominic Solanke has still impressed in the centre forward position, finding the back of the net in his most recent outing against Newcastle United on Saturday.

Dejan Kulusevski has also been a shining light for Spurs as a creative force in the final third. The Swede, along with Solanke, will be the biggest threat to the Liverpool defence on Wednesday night.

Son Heung-min could come into the lineup after starting on the bench against Newcastle with Brennan Johnson on the right side Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma in the central midfield unit.

Slot could rest some key players after a gruelling winter period, but Liverpool’s squad depth will see them still field a strong side that might include Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez in attack.

Conor Bradley is in line to start at right back and could steady Liverpool’s defence after a shaky performance by Trent Alexander-Arnold against Manchester United. Caoimhin Kelleher could start in goal.

Team news

Tottenham are still suffering something of an injury crisis with seven first team figures expected to be sidelined for the visit of Liverpool with a further two doubtful.

Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven’s absence in central defence has been keenly felt in recent weeks with Destiny Udogie also sidelined through injury. Radu Drăgușin could similarly miss out after coming off at half time of Saturday’s match against Newcastle due to illness.

Fraser Forster could return to the lineup after missing Tottenham’s last match through that same sickness bug, although Brandon Austin’s impressive display against Newcastle may see him keep his place in goal.

James Maddison and Pape Sarr are both suspended and while Richarlison is back in training, Tuesday’s match will surely come too early for the Brazilian forward.

Joe Gomez is still out injured for Liverpool with Dominik Szoboszlai a doubt after missing the 2-2 draw against Manchester United on Sunday.

Prediction

With the importance of balancing this first leg tie with ongoing Premier League commitments, we’re expecting a score draw that’ll leave everything to play for in next month’s second leg at Anfield: Tottenham 2-2 Liverpool

(Cover image from IMAGO)

Tottenham Hotspur is playing home against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sun, Dec 29, 2024, 15:00 UTC. This is Round 19 of the Premier League.

Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match.

The current head to head record for the teams are Tottenham Hotspur 7 win(s), Wolverhampton Wanderers 6 win(s), and 4 draw(s).

Have scored 13 goals in their last 5 matches

Heung-Min Son is ranked 3 in big chances created in the competition (12)

Have scored 7 goals in their last 5 matches

Have conceded the most penalties this season (5)

Tottenham Hotspur is playing home against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sun, Dec 29, 2024, 15:00 UTC. This is Round 19 of the Premier League.

Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match.

The current head to head record for the teams are Tottenham Hotspur 7 win(s), Wolverhampton Wanderers 6 win(s), and 4 draw(s).

Nottingham Forest is playing home against Tottenham Hotspur at The City Ground on Thu, Dec 26, 2024, 15:00 UTC. This is Round 18 of the Premier League.

Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match.

The current head to head record for the teams are Nottingham Forest 1 win(s), Tottenham Hotspur 5 win(s), and 0 draw(s).

Have scored 8 goals in their last 5 matches

Ranked 3 away from home this season

Elliot Anderson has created the most big chances for Nottingham Forest (6)

Have scored 16 goals in their last 5 matches

Heung-Min Son is ranked 3 in big chances created in the competition (12)

Nottingham Forest is playing home against Tottenham Hotspur at The City Ground on Thu, Dec 26, 2024, 15:00 UTC. This is Round 18 of the Premier League.

Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match.

The current head to head record for the teams are Nottingham Forest 1 win(s), Tottenham Hotspur 5 win(s), and 0 draw(s).

Have scored 8 goals in their last 5 matches

Tottenham Hotspur is playing home against Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 20:00 UTC. This is Quarter-Finals of the EFL Cup.

Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match.

The current head to head record for the teams are Tottenham Hotspur 9 win(s), Manchester United 15 win(s), and 7 draw(s).

Tottenham Hotspur is playing home against Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 20:00 UTC. This is Quarter-Finals of the EFL Cup.

Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match.

Tamworth is playing home against Tottenham Hotspur at The Lamb Ground on Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 UTC. This is Round 3 of the FA Cup.

Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match.

Haven't scored in their last 2 matches

Tamworth is playing home against Tottenham Hotspur at The Lamb Ground on Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 UTC. This is Round 3 of the FA Cup.

Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario admitted his side lacked fight following their 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The north London side conceded the eventual winner in the 31st minute as Jean-Philippe Mateta fired past Vicario at the back post.

It was a lacklustre showing upfront from the visitors, too, as they managed only three shots on target throughout the match, resulting in an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.72.

Vicario was candid about the lack of hunger from his side, as their total of 11 shots in the game marked their lowest total in a single match in the Premier League this season.

"They fight and I think we lacked that today. We are disappointed because we have to fight. We play good football but maybe sometimes we lack the desire to fight. They show a real desire to fight for something,” he told Sky Sports.

"I just want to focus on us and what we didn't do as a team. I think we lacked a bit of energy and to be better than them. We have to take this personally and it has to hurt us a lot. Football gives us an opportunity again and we have to be ready for the cup."

Tottenham were without captain Son Heung-Min, who is also their joint-top scorer this season (three) with a total of five goal contributions.

"He is the captain but we have a big squad and we have to deal with that. We have to be able to win games without Son. We lacked in something, not in football, but attitude and fight," added Vicario on his captain’s absence.

The result represented only the second win for Palace across their last 19 Premier League games against Tottenham (D2 L15), though both victories in that time have come at Selhurst Park while keeping a clean sheet.

Yet Ange Postecoglou’s side now have two defeats in their last three games and have failed to win any of their four away London derby matches in the Premier League in 2024 (D1 L3).

"It was one of those games with a lot of stoppages and battles and they ended up winning a lot of them and coming out on top. There was a lot of disruption and it was hard to get any fluency. They did better than us,” Postecoglou told BBC Match of the Day.

"It turned into a game they were thriving on and we should have dealt with it better. It was a poor goal to concede, it had nothing to do with playing out from the back. That can happen.

"I'd be very surprised if they were happy right now. Why would I be happy? If I'm unhappy then they'll be unhappy. If you're suggesting that our fans weren't happy with today then that's a fair assessment."

The season has been full of some inconsistencies for Spurs, who lost to Brighton despite a brilliant performance in the first half before succumbing to an unlikely comeback. They also lost 1-0 to Arsenal in a game where they had a lot of possession and this came before they trounced Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Ange Postecoglou‘s side did have to come back from a goal down against West Ham, last time out, but they blew the Hammers away in the second half and put in a trademark attacking show. The win over AZ in the Europa League during midweek was only a 1-0 triumph but it gave them more momentum, keeping them in second in the league phase table.

While their defensive lapses during defensive transitions are obvious, Spurs are arguably one of the most threatening attacking sides in England right now.

Only Manchester City have a higher xG in the Premier League this season, and that obviously takes in to account City playing a game more, earlier this weekend. They attack constantly during the game, dominating possession by keeping over 60 percent on average and it is an identity that they have carved out for themselves.

Despite the limitations in defence, they create impressively in attack and that is what struggling Palace will have to contend with on Sunday.

Oliver Glasner‘s side have proved to be a half-season-wonder, having failed to recreate their wonders from last season and that is why they find themselves 18th in the table.

They also lie at the opposite end of the attacking spectrum – so far. No team in the Premier League has scored less goals per game than the Eagles, who have seen their return fade since last season, when Jean-Philippe Mateta was on fire.

While last season saw them over perform on their Expected Goals metric by about +7, they have underperformed on it by a solid -4, showcasing that in a lot of cases, finishing the chances they get has also become a huge issue.

Spurs too are problematic when it comes to the finishing as they have missed the most number of big chances in the league, the amount of chances they create is massive, especially as compared to Glasner’s side.

Postecoglou’s team will most definitely dominate possession, as they always do, but at the same time, their tendency to give away chances at the other end will give Palace hope. Even West Ham were struggling going into their game against Tottenham but they led for a good portion of the game, and Palace will take inspiration from that.

Eberechi Eze‘s presence will be vital in that regard but Palace will also be encouraged by the fact that Son Heung-min is likely to miss the trip. Mikey Moore, who impressed against AZ, could feature in the Premier League this time around and it could be another game where Dejan Kulusevski runs the show for the Lilywhites.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

Spurs have shown plenty of inconsistency so far this campaign, producing some exceptional performances and results while also unnecessarily throwing away comfortable leads and dropping points. Sitting in ninth with three wins, three losses, and a draw, Ange Postecoglou’s side haven’t quite kicked into gear just yet.

Despite their disappointing performances, Spurs might consider themselves unfortunate not to have picked up more points. The north London outfit have created 15 expected goals, more than any other Premier League side.

Dejan Kulusevski has been tasked with a central, deeper role in midfield of late, and he’s beginning to flourish under Postecoglou. Although providing just two goals and assists combined, the Swedish star has been a creative threat in the middle of the park, given the freedom to drift into wide areas from a central position.

After throwing away a two-goal lead against Brighton, losing the game 3-2, Postecoglou’s men will be desperate to bounce back in a London derby against the Hammers.

It’s been an inconsistent start to the campaign for Julen Lopetegui’s side who currently find themselves sitting in 12th position in the table. An emphatic 4-1 victory against Ipswich last time out has allowed them to create a bit of breathing room from the relegation zone.

Disappointingly, West Ham have conceded 11 goals this term, but Lopetegui has taken some time to bring in the likes of Jean-Clair Todibo after joining in the summer. Niclas Füllkrug, who also joined in the transfer window, is yet to get going after picking up regular injuries.

Jarrod Bowen has undoubtedly been a standout for the Hammers this year. The England international is a consistent performer and provider in the final third, producing four goals and assists combined this season. Despite West Ham bringing in a host of new midfielders in the summer, Tomáš Souček is continuing to prove his worth, scoring twice in just five games.

In this fixture last season, West Ham came away with a 2-1 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, so Lopetegui’s side will be hoping for a repeat performance as they make the short trip to north London.

(Cover image from IMAGO)