The 2025 Carabao Cup is heating up as Tottenham Hotspur hosts Liverpool in the semi-final first leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday, January 8th. Both teams come into this tie with varying levels of squad availability, and this match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the Premier League’s heavyweights.
Liverpool’s Team News and Key Absences
Liverpool travels to North London with a few key injury concerns and uncertainties. One of the biggest talking points is the availability of Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian midfielder missed Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United due to illness, and while manager Arne Slot remains hopeful that Szoboszlai will return to training, he has cast doubt on whether he will start the match.
The Reds will also be without Joe Gomez, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Although Caoimhin Kelleher has been a regular choice for the Carabao Cup, Slot has yet to confirm whether he will start. Liverpool's depth will be tested, but they will still be fielding a strong side with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Darwin Núñez expected to feature.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Challenges and Squad Updates
Tottenham Hotspur, under Ange Postecoglou, is also dealing with several absences ahead of this critical Carabao Cup semi-final. Rodrigo Bentancur is set to return to the squad, which is a significant boost for Spurs, but James Maddison and Pape Sarr are both suspended, leaving gaps in Tottenham’s midfield. Moreover, Dejan Kulusevski was recently under the weather but is expected to be available for the match.
There are further injury concerns for Tottenham, with Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert, Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, and Guglielmo Vicario all remaining sidelined. Despite these setbacks, Antonin Kinsky, Spurs' 21-year-old goalkeeper, has been registered and could make his debut after joining the club recently.
Key Battle: Tottenham’s Attack vs. Liverpool’s Defense
Tottenham’s attack will rely heavily on players like Son Heung-min and Harry Kane to breach Liverpool's solid defense, led by Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker. However, with both teams having varying levels of fitness and available talent, the contest will be a battle of strategies.
Liverpool’s counter-attacking threat and the speed of players like Salah and Núñez will be a major concern for Tottenham's backline, which has been shaky at times this season. Tottenham, on the other hand, will aim to exploit any defensive gaps and will be looking to make the most of the home advantage before the second leg at Anfield in February.
Match Preview and Prediction
This Carabao Cup semi-final first leg will be crucial for both teams as they try to gain the upper hand heading into the return fixture at Anfield. Tottenham will be keen to use their home advantage, while Liverpool, with their depth and experience, will want to start strong despite their injury concerns.
Prediction: Given their recent form, Liverpool might have the edge in this encounter, but with Tottenham’s attacking firepower, the match could be closer than expected. 2-1 Liverpool in a thrilling encounter is the prediction, but Tottenham’s attacking threats cannot be ignored.
How to Watch:
- Date/Time: Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 8:00 PM CET (Spain), 7:00 PM GMT (UK), 2:00 PM ET (USA)
- TV: ESPN 2 (USA), Canal+ (UK), others
- Online: ESPN+ (USA), FanCode (India), Movistar+ (Spain)
