Tottenham vs. Liverpool lineups, expected starting 11, confirmed team news, injuries: Spurs in crisis for EFL Cup

While more prestigious trophies like the Premier League and Champions League require more lengthy journeys, Liverpool have found themselves three matches from a first potential title of the season as they meet Tottenham in the first leg of their EFL Cup semifinal tie.

The Reds, currently sitting atop both the English top flight standings and the European league phase table, are hoping to bounce back from their disappointing league result against Man United on the weekend. The Reds still hold a somewhat comfortable lead atop the Premier League table, but things are far from solidified just yet.

They meet a Tottenham side desperate for silverware of any kind. Spurs have famously not won a trophy since 2008 when they triumphed in this very same competition under Avram Grant.

Spurs are in a deep rut thanks to a lengthy injury list. They have failed to win any of their last five Premier League games, with their only victory in that span coming in the EFL Cup quarterfinals against a flailing Man United side, the result which brought them to this stage.

Both sides have reason to deploy their starters while also could have reason to rotate the side heavily, so it’ll be tough to predict how much rotation each manager will employ.

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Tottenham vs. Liverpool lineups, predicted starting 11, team news

As much as Ange Postecoglou might dream of having the chance to rotate his squad, a number of reasons exist as to why he can’t and likely won’t.

First and foremost are that injuries have already sapped the squad of its depth, meaning few options exist outside of those already on the field.

He’s without defenders Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, and Micky van de Ven all of whom are dealing with various muscle injuries. 

Radu Dragusin was also withdrawn at halftime from the weekend defeat to Newcastle due to illness, and Archie Gray played the full match despite himself dealing with an illness. If all of them remain absent, Spurs may be forced to deploy youth players along the back line, or move a midfielder like Yves Bissouma back.

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Viacrio is out another few months with a bad ankle injury, and the club is also without Richarlison, Wilson Odobert, and Mikey Moore, while Rodrigo Bentancur is serving his seven-match suspension handed down by the FA.

Tottenham predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Forster (GK) — Porro, Reguilon, Hardy, Spence — Bissouma, Sarr — Kulusevski, Maddison, Son — Solanke.

Injured: Vicario (ankle), Udogie (hamstring), van de Ven (hamstring), Davies (knock), Richarlison (hamstring), Odobert (hamstring), Moore (ill), Dragusin (ill), Gray (ill).
Suspended: Bentancur (disciplinary).

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With Mohamed Salah such an integral part of Liverpool’s success this season, and a glutton of attackers at Arne Slot’s disposal, the Dutch boss could use this opportunity to rotate the Egyptian out and give him some rest, with Federico Chiesa the man to come in.

Diogo Jota could also be pressing for a start as he returns to full fitness from injury, leaving a choice between Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz on the left.

The only injury for Liverpool to contend with is the absence of Joe Gomez due to a hamstring issue, leaving Slot with a thinner back line with which to rotate out the regular starters.

Liverpool predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Kelleher (GK) — Bradley, Quansah, van Dijk, Tsimikas — Endo, Elliott, Mac Allister — Chiesa, Jota, Gakpo.

Injured: Gomez (hamstring).
Suspended: None.

Tottenham vs. Liverpool live stream, TV channel

Here’s how to watch this EFL Cup semifinal match across selected areas of the world’s major regions: