Liverpool v Tottenham: Preview and Betting Tips | EFL Cup 2025

Match: Liverpool v Tottenham
When: Thursday,06 Feb 2025, 22:00 SAST
Where: Anfield

Spurs hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg but are winless in 14 matches at Anfield.

Liverpool Form

The Reds are having a great season although they have won just five of their last nine matches. After losing 1-0 to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, they beat Accrington Stanley 4-0 in the FA Cup. A 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest followed, before going to Brentford and winning 2-0.

A 2-1 home win vs Lille preceded a 4-1 thrashing of Ipswich at home with 70% possession and just three shots allowed. A 3-2 loss in the Champions League came with plenty of players rested and little to play for. On Saturday, they won 2-0 at Bournemouth but they allowed 14 shots and the Cherries hit the woodwork twice.

Liverpool Team News

Arne Slot is without set to be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for this match. Joe Gomez is nearing a return from a hamstring injury to boost options.

Conor Bradley is set to play at right back. We could see some rotation with Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones and Kosta Tsimikas the most likely to come into the starting XI.

Liverpool Motivation

Liverpool’s main focus is the league and Champions League. With a weekend FA Cup match vs Plymouth Argyle, they can go with close to their best XI here.

The Reds will attack and use the energy of their crowd to try to overturn the deficit and reach the final.

Tottenham Form

Spurs have won five of their last eight matches having tasted victory just twice in 11 matches before this improved run. A 1-0 home win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg was followed by a 3-0 win at Tamworth in the FA Cup. Successive league defeats followed, 2-1 at Arsenal and 3-2 at Everton having trailed 3-0 at half time.

A 3-2 Europa League win at Hoffenheim could only be followed by a dire collapse to lose 2-1 at struggling Leicester in the league. Two wins in a row have restored some confidence, as they beat Elfsborg 3-0 in Europe and won 2-0 at Brentford last time out for a first league clean sheet in eight matches.

Tottenham Team News

Spurs are without goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie. Kevin Danso could make his debut after signing on loan from Lens.

The attacking options are limited with Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner and Wilson Odobert all set to miss out. Richarlison and young winger Mikey Moore could start whilst Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel is available to make his debut.

Tottenham Motivation

Tottenham are desperate to end a trophy drought extending back to 2008. Full focus is on this match and reaching the final at Wembley.  

Ange Postecoglou will play his usual attacking style and try to win the match outright. That could leave his defence exposed.

Key Stats

Liverpool are unbeaten in 14 home matches vs Spurs (all competitions)

Liverpool have lost just 2 of their last 32 matches (25 wins, 5 draws)

Liverpool have scored 33 goals in their last 12 matches

Tottenham have won just 7 of their last 19 matches

Tottenham have lost 8 of their last 11 league matches

Verdict

It’s difficult to see past a Reds win at home to reach the final. Spurs’ defence is likely to concede more than two goals.

Best Bet: Liverpool win (-1 handicap) at 1.55
Alternate Value Bet: Liverpool to win both halves at 1.60