Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool will be looking to move a step closer to the EFL Cup final when they clash in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday evening.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou finds himself under pressure following Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle, a result that extended the team's winless run to four matches.
Liverpool's four-match winning streak in all competitions was halted by rivals Manchester United on Sunday, the duo playing out an enthralling 2-2 draw at Anfield, but the Reds have still tasted defeat just once this season.
With the return leg taking place on Merseyside on 6th February, both teams will be looking to give themselves an edge when they meet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Liverpool to win and both teams to score - 6/4
It was only four games ago when these two sides met at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League, with the pair putting on a nine-goal thriller that Liverpool won 6-3.
Attack was certainly the best form of defence in that encounter and that has proven to be the case in recent meetings between these two sides, with both teams scoring in the last nine clashes of which there have been a combined 41 goals.
Liverpool and Tottenham are the top two scorers in the league this term, netting 47 and 42 times respectively, while the Reds have notched 11 times in their last two away assignments.
Spurs have also been in fine scoring form, having found the back of the net in 15 of their 16 home games in all competitions, but they have been fragile at the back and have conceded at least twice in seven of their last eight matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham still have a number of defensive injuries to contend with and another backline thrown together will likely struggle to contain a Liverpool side that have scored twice or more in six consecutive outings.
But the Reds have also looked susceptible in defence, evidenced by just one clean sheet in their last six assignments, and they last recorded a shutout against Spurs in January 2020.
Expect the chances to flow in this high-octane affair and Liverpool to take an advantage into the second leg at Anfield.
Cody Gakpo to score at any time - 13/8
Arne Slot has rotated his squad for the earlier rounds of the EFL Cup, but given there is a trip to Wembley on offer for the winner of this two-legged semi-final, he should name a stronger XI for this clash.
One player that is expected to retain his starting spot from the draw against Manchester United is Netherlands international Cody Gakpo, who scored against the Red Devils to take his season's tally to 12.
It was the third successive game the 25-year-old has netted in and he has been particularly impressive for Liverpool in the 2024/25 EFL Cup, bagging four times in three appearances.
Gakpo has been showing confidence in front of goal and it would be no surprise to see him notch against Tottenham, something he has done in two of the last three meetings.
Alexis Mac Allister to commit over 1.5 fouls - 4/5
Liverpool won't have everything their own way in north London and they will have to deal with a number of Tottenham attacks, which increases the possibility of fouls being made.
Argentina international Alexis Mac Allister has not been one to shy away from a tackle this season, picking up five yellow cards in the league and three in the UEFA Champions League.
The 26-year-old has stayed out of the book in his last five appearances, but he has still been catching the referee's eye with his foul count for the last four matches reading two, three, five, two.
Mac Allister will need to get stuck in again on Wednesday and if he is left exposed in midfield in what promises to be an end-to-end spectacle, then he may have to take drastic action and he can record at least two fouls for the fifth successive fixture.
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Tottenham Hotspur - 3/1
Draw - 15/4
Liverpool - 7/10
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.