Liverpool Face Tottenham in a High-Stakes Clash: Bold Predictions, Key Battles, and Expected Lineups Revealed

The marquee Carabao Cup third round clash takes place at Anfield on Tuesday night, as Liverpool welcome a Tottenham Hotspur side desperately seeking a confidence boost.

Both clubs endured disappointing Premier League draws on Saturday, with the Reds — fresh off a 2–1 Champions League opening win over Atlético Madrid — delivering a worryingly subdued display against the porous Cottagers.

Spurs then took on Liverpool's Merseyside neighbors Everton and squandered an encouraging start. The Toffees dug in and secured a share of the spoils, leaving the Lilywhites without a top-flight goal after four matches.

Roberto De Zerbi's squad were prolific in their second round win over Charlton Athletic, dispatching the Championship outfit 5–1. Liverpool's European commitments mean their domestic cup campaign begins on Tuesday, with the club targeting a record-breaking 11th title in this competition.

Liverpool vs. Tottenham Score Prediction

Reds Compound Spurs' Misery

It won't be long before Spurs fans begin to lose patience with the manager they rallied behind following last season's survival, and many are already unhappy with the Italian's comments ahead of this cup fixture.

Without European football to fall back on, the Carabao Cup is a competition Spurs simply cannot afford to overlook. Losing at Anfield is nothing new for the Lilywhites, but a defeat would be poorly received in North London if the manager opts for sweeping changes to his lineup.

De Zerbi's first full campaign needs a spark, and an unlikely win on Liverpool's home turf would do wonders for the atmosphere in N17. The Reds have shown only flashes of their potential under Iraola, with the Spaniard still finding his feet in the most challenging managerial role of his distinguished career.

Prediction: Liverpool 2–1 Tottenham

Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham

Iraola cited a "lack of freshness" following Saturday's draw with Fulham, and the Liverpool manager has little option but to hand key players a rest here.

There is optimism that Joe Gomez will be ready to start at the center of Iraola's backline after returning to training last week. Virgil van Dijk may be deployed as a steadying presence alongside the younger players in the Liverpool squad, which could feature Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas.

Rio Ngumoha looks set to start on the left flank, while Jeremie Frimpong could be pushed further forward. The limited attacking options suggest Alexander Isak may retain his starting berth.

Cody Gakpo was able to come off the bench for 30 minutes against Fulham after suffering a groin problem in the win over Atlético Madrid. He is unlikely to be risked against the side that pursued his signing during the summer window.

Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitiké, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are all unavailable.

Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Araújo, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Nyoni; Frimpong, Koumas, Ngumoha; Isak.

Tottenham Predicted Lineup vs. Liverpool

De Zerbi has hinted at significant changes to his starting eleven at Anfield, but can the Italian really afford to give the away side anything less than their strongest possible chance of advancing?

A middle ground may be found between keeping key players involved and handing opportunities to squad members on the periphery.

Spurs remain without Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons due to long-term knee problems, while Mykailo Mudryk is out with an ankle injury. James Maddison has been restricted to two substitute appearances this season but could earn his first start since May 2025.

Fullbacks Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie are both being managed carefully, meaning long-serving Liverpool fan favorite Andy Robertson could be handed a start on his former home ground.

Tottenham Predicted Lineup vs. Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Gray, Tosin, Senesi, Robertson; Bentancur, Bergvall; Kudus, Maddison, Tel; Marmoush.

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