
Liverpool is set to face Tottenham Hotspur tonight in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Manager Arne Slot has made several notable changes to the starting lineup, opting to rest key players.
Liverpool’s Starting XI:
- Goalkeeper: Caoimhin Kelleher
- Defenders: Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Kostas Tsimikas
- Midfielders: Curtis Jones, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott
- Forwards: Darwin Núñez, Diogo Jota, Luis Díaz
Notably, regular starters such as Ryan Gravenberch and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been named on the bench, with Conor Bradley stepping in at right-back. This rotation strategy appears to be a response to recent criticisms and a desire to manage player fitness amid a congested fixture schedule.
Tottenham, under manager Ange Postecoglou, is dealing with several injuries and suspensions. New signing Antonin Kinsky may debut in goal due to the absence of first-choice keepers. Key players like James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr are unavailable, while Heung-min Son is expected to return to the starting lineup.
Tottenham’s Expected Starting XI:
- Goalkeeper: Antonin Kinsky
- Defenders: Pedro Porro, Radu Drăgușin, Archie Gray, Djed Spence
- Midfielders: Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski
- Forwards: Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, Heung-min Son
The match is scheduled to kick off at 21:00 local time and will be officiated by Stuart Attwell. Liverpool enters the game in strong form, leading the Premier League, while Tottenham aims to rebound from recent struggles and a 16-year trophy drought.

Liverpool Focus on Carabao Cup Defense in Semi-Final Showdown Against Tottenham Hotspur
The Reds shift their attention to securing a strong start in their Carabao Cup title defense tonight as they face Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of the semi-final.
With Newcastle United taking a commanding 2-0 victory over Arsenal in their semi-final opener, Liverpool aims to inflict more heartbreak on north London by capitalizing on a depleted Tottenham side grappling with injuries and suspensions.

Time will tell if Reds boss Arne Slot opts for full squad rotation tonight. With his team leading both the Premier League and Champions League, Liverpool enters as clear favorites to secure a second win over Tottenham in just 18 days. However, Spurs have shown this season that they’re capable of toppling elite opponents when at their best.

Paul Gorst
With two cup matches lined up this week, tonight’s clash undoubtedly takes priority. If Arne Slot plans to rest key players, it’s more likely to happen against Accrington Stanley at Anfield on Saturday.
Having reached the semi-finals without relying too heavily on his star players, Slot might be tempted to bring some of them back tonight. However, I’d give Ibrahima Konaté a rest after his demanding performance on Sunday following a five-week layoff. Jarell Quansah steps in at center-back, while Kostas Tsimikas gets the nod at left-back.
In midfield, I’d slot in Harvey Elliott if Dominik Szoboszlai isn’t fully fit. Curtis Jones gets a well-earned break, while Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch both take their places in the starting XI.
Leading the attack, Diogo Jota takes charge in the center, flanked by Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah to round out the front three. With a heavily rotated squad expected for Saturday’s clash against Accrington, the trio can recharge ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

Ian Doyle
The League Cup might not carry the same prestige as the FA Cup, but once you reach the semi-finals, it demands serious attention. That will undoubtedly be on Arne Slot’s mind as he deliberates over his lineup for tonight’s first-leg clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
So, what’s the plan for Liverpool’s boss?
We’re likely to see some adjustments, starting in goal, where Caoimhin Kelleher should take his place. In defense, with Ibrahima Konaté unavailable to start, Jarell Quansah steps in. Virgil van Dijk partners him at center-back, flanked by Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right and Andy Robertson on the left.
In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch, who hasn’t featured in this competition yet, is rested again. Wataru Endo slots in alongside Alexis Mac Allister, while Harvey Elliott takes on the number 10 role.
For the attack, it’s time to hand Diogo Jota a start through the middle. Cody Gakpo, a proven performer in this competition, operates on the left, with Mohamed Salah holding down the right flank. A weekend rotation should ensure everyone gets the rest they need.
My lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Elliott, Gakpo; Jota.
Theo Squires
Arne Slot kept his cards close to his chest when discussing Liverpool’s selection plans for tonight’s League Cup semi-final against Tottenham. With Joe Gomez and possibly an unwell Dominik Szoboszlai the only absentees, Slot has plenty of options.
Wholesale changes aren’t necessary with the FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley coming up, so Liverpool can field a mix of first-team stars and squad players as they aim to edge closer to another League Cup final.
Caoimhin Kelleher takes his place in goal, a role he has excelled in during Liverpool’s League Cup successes in 2022 and 2024. Virgil van Dijk captains the team, partnering Jarell Quansah in defense after Slot confirmed Ibrahima Konaté isn’t ready for two starts in one week post-injury.
In a notable switch, Trent Alexander-Arnold gets a break following a tough outing against Manchester United, with Conor Bradley stepping in at right-back and Kostas Tsimikas covering on the left.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister retains his spot and lines up alongside Wataru Endo, while Ryan Gravenberch gets a well-earned rest. Harvey Elliott slots into the number 10 role, offering creativity and energy further up the pitch.
In the attacking setup, Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez are both handed starts, joined by Mohamed Salah to complete a dynamic front three.
My predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Elliott, Jota; Núñez.