Tottenham hope a successful scalp in the Carabao Cup semifinals could springboard them to a push up the Premier League table as Spurs host league leaders Liverpool in the first leg.
Five consecutive without victory in league play has seen Ange Postecoglou’s side slump to 12th in the table, but they find themselves in contention for their first trophy since 2008 thanks to the Carabao Cup.
Spurs have a mammoth task in that regard, however, as they are matched up against the team not only sitting atop the Premier League table, but also pacing the Champions League standings as well.
The Reds were held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester United last time out in a disappointing blip, but on the whole they’ve been truly sensational as they appear to be running away with the league title while remaining in the hunt across other fronts as well.
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Tottenham vs. Liverpool prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Liverpool (-160 on BetMGM)
- Score prediction: Tottenham 1-3 Liverpool
The last time these two teams met about a month ago, they produced one of the wackiest, silliest matches of the season as Liverpool won 6-3 behind four different scorers.
While that match exists in its own little world, there’s plenty of lessons to be learned from it. First and foremost, it’s that Ange Postecoglou simply refuses to play any other way than “his” style, which is to create intentional chaos. Unfortunately for him, Spurs do not have the right players healthy in midfield or defence to make this approach work.
Instead, it allows the opponent numerous opportunities on the break, and Liverpool are one of the best in the world at capitalising on such moments. Even if Mohamed Salah is rested, they should have the talent to make Spurs pay early in this two-legged tie.
| BetMGM (USA) |
|
| Tottenham win | +360 |
| Draw | +360 |
| Liverpool win | -160 |
| Both teams to score |
Y: -275 N: +195 |
| Over / Under 3.5 goals |
O: -145 U: +100 |
| Liverpool -0.5 goals |
-185 |
| Tottenham +0.5 goals |
+125 |
Tottenham vs. Liverpool match facts
- Date: Wednesday, January 8, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 8 p.m. local (3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT)
- Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, England)
- Referee: John Brooks
- Last meeting: Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool (Dec. 22, 2024 | Premier League)
MORE: Latest team news and injury updates ahead of Tottenham vs. Liverpool
Tottenham vs. Liverpool best bet
- Pick: Liverpool over 2.5 total goals
- Odds: +105 (BetMGM)
If Arne Slot rests 32-year-old Mohamed Salah, Liverpool will be without a player who has put himself not only in position to win Premier League MVP awards, but the Ballon d’Or. Yet looking at how these teams match up, it shouldn’t matter whether or not he sees the field.
Tottenham have conceded the fifth-most big chances of any Premier League team this season, and opponents are converting those at a 41% clip, also fifth-highest in the league. If you narrow the focus to matches since the start of November, Spurs have conceded 46 big chances, second-most behind only relegation-threatened Southampton.
Even if Salah rests, it’s tough to envision a world where the Spurs back, ravaged by injuries, can change that against the ruthless Premier League leaders. Even as the betting market has completely neutered the odds for this selection, it’s still worth a play at around even money.
Tottenham vs. Liverpool prop bet
With Mohamed Salah on the pitch, Liverpool racked up an outlandish 5.63 xG on 24 shots against Spurs last time they matched up. Salah was responsible for seven of those shots, while creating three more for teammates.
Yet even in his absence, the glutton of attacking talent available to Liverpool shouldn’t see these levels drop. Tottenham conceded 20 shots to Manchester United not long ago in a chaotic match, Nottingham Forest got 10 shots on just 30% possession, and Newcastle put up 14 efforts despite just 43% possession.
Spurs are missing Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario due to injury. Add in that Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray are both suffering from illness, and it’s entirely possible that one or both starting Spurs center-backs in this match could be either youth players or repurposed midfielders.
While a big early Liverpool lead might normally see the Reds shut up shop before they can reach this threshold, the fact that this is a two-legged matchup means they would be motivated to keep scoring hoping to render the second leg a mere formality.
