EFL Cup: Can Cup Magic help Spurs at Anfield?

Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is not a man to set up a team on the defensive, so when his side heads to Anfield to meet Arne Slot’s Liverpool on Thursday we can expect goals in this EFL Cup semi-final second leg. But, at a time when his Spurs side is struggling the Aussie coach really needs a big performance from his players against the best team in the country.

While Arsenal are still fighting hard to push Liverpool all the way in the league, whacking Manchester City at the weekend, Tottenham are trying to get in the right half of the Premier table. So the EFL Cup is a welcome relief and, for a club which has a dust filled trophy cabinet it’s also a chance for some success. But although they have a first leg lead it’s a relatively slim chance. The latest EFL Cup 2025 betting odds make Liverpool the tournament favourites at a SBOTOP price of 2.13 with Newcastle United next in line at 2.80. Tottenham are priced at 6.00 and Arsenal at 8.00 but, in fairness both ties are still up for grabs.

Spurs won the first leg 1-0 as 18 year old midfielder Lucas Bergvall scored a late winner, though Reds fans will argue he was lucky to be still on the pitch; but a win’s a win and that one goal advantage sets this second leg up beautifully. Both Liverpool and Tottenham come into the game on the back of impressive 2-0 away wins against Bournemouth and Brentford and this cup clash is brewing up nicely.    

Talking Points

Trent doubtful for Liverpool

Arne Slot’s Reds continued their title push with another superb win, this time 2-0 away to an in-form Bournemouth as the irrepressible Mo Salah scored twice to make it 21 goals for the season. But the victory came at a cost as wing-back Trent Alexander-Arnold was replaced midway through the second half at his own request. The England man has had a difficult campaign but has been back to his best in recent weeks so this is a blow for both player and club. Trent felt tightness in his thigh and, after the game Slot said he was unlikely to be fit for Thursday. 

At the other end of the pitch there may be an opportunity for Diogo Jota who has been struggling for game time since his return from long term injury. The Portuguese forward could make a start alongside Salah and Cody Gakpo, who has four goals in the competition, with winger Luis Diaz taking a break.  

Spurs show their scrappy side

Tottenham’s trip to Brentford was not so much a potential banana skin. It was more of a daunting prospect for a team which had lost its last for league games and was looking over its shoulder at the relegation battle. The Bees have been brilliant at home too; but the Whites came through the test thanks to a scrappy own goal and then a breakaway finished by Pape Sarr as Tottenham survived a siege of attacks from their hosts. The EFL Cup 2025 highlights at Anfield are likely to see Spurs on the back foot for much of the game and so the boss decided to rest his recently returned centre back Micky Van De Ven; so he will be ready to face Liverpool. That decision shows just how important this cup is to Spurs, and how well they did to keep a clean sheet against Brentford, also without Radu Dragusin who was injured in recent Europa Cup win over Elfsborg.

There may be a new face in Tottenham’s attack on Thursday as, in a late move on an otherwise uneventful deadline day, Spurs swooped to sign Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel on loan, and he may be available to face the Reds.  

History

Liverpool are the most successful club in EFL Cup history with ten wins, making it double figures in 2024 while Spurs’ last piece of silverware was a EFL Cup win in 2008. 

With 35 wins to 16 Liverpool have had much the better of the head to head meetings and Spurs have failed to win at Anfield on their last 14 visits.

Recent form is starting to look a little brighter for the Whites with three wins from six, in  fact three from the last four, while Liverpool have won four in six and are unbeaten in 15 games on home soil. 

Betting Tip

At odds of 1.20 the Reds are hot, hot favourites to win this tie with the draw at 5.61 and a Tottenham win at 7.43.

Can Postecoglou’s men escape Anfield with a result, the Double Chance: Win or Draw is priced at 3.48? That will be tough, but the three games Spurs have lost in the last six they have lost by the odd goal; I think they will fight for every ball on Thursday and the Whites always have a goal threat. 

 

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