Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool Prediction: Sloppy Spurs set for more capital punishment

Tottenham have been on the slide in the Premier League but they have the chance to change the narrative of their season when hosting Liverpool in the opening leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday (20:00, Sky Sports Main Event). Ange Postecoglou’s side kicked off 2025 with a 2-1 home loss to Newcastle which has left them closer to the bottom three (eight points clear) than the top four (12 points adrift). 

They have taken only one point from their last four league games and haven’t won since a 4-3 triumph at home to Manchester United in the EFL Cup quarter-finals. Liverpool advanced to the final four with a 2-1 victory at Southampton and are continuing to impress on all fronts. They were held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester United on Sunday but are still six points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League with a game in hand. 

Football Odds

Team News

Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Richarlison, Mikey Moore, Wilson Odobert and Ben Davies make up a lengthy injury list for Spurs, who are also without suspended pair Pape Sarr and James Maddison.  

Fraser Forster (illness) is a doubt but new signing Antonin Kinsky could make his debut in between the sticks. 

Joe Gomez (hamstring) is ruled out and Dominik Szoboszlai (illness) is a doubt. Arne Slot is set to make a few changes with Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Conor Bradley among the players pushing for a start. 

Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool Odds

Tottenham are 100/30 to secure a first leg advantage, while the draw is available at 18/5. Liverpool are 7/10 to take a lead back to Anfield. 

An open, high-scoring game is expected with over 3.5 goals quoted at 8/11 and under 2.5 goals is priced at 1/1. 

Liverpool to win and both teams to score @ 7/5

Liverpool were 6-3 winners at Tottenham in last month's bizarre Premier League clash and they can register another high-scoring success in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final. 

Reds boss Arne Slot may choose to make a few changes but he has a healthy squad with a lot of talented players waiting for the opportunity. 

A refreshed Liverpool side should be far too strong for Spurs, who are hampered by injuries, suspensions and a severe lack of confidence. 

Defiant Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou will continue with his attacking approach but it may lead to disaster against the Premier League leaders, who can take a big step towards a Wembley final. 

Rodrigo Bentancur to be carded @ 2/1

Bentancur's availability after suspension is one of the few bits of good news for the home side but the combative Uruguayan may soon find himself on the wrong side of referee Stuart Attwell. 

The 27-year-old has played only three matches since the start of December and his recent shortage of football could count against him in what promises to be a high tempo encounter. 

Mistimed challenges have been a regular feature of Bentancur's play and they explain why he is worth backing at 2/1 to add another card to his collection. 

Offers

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