Key events<\/p>\n
14 min: Sky flash up a stat: Spurs have made 20 successful passes in the opposition\u2019s final third to Liverpool\u2019s three. Slightly surprised Liverpool<\/a> have made that many, to be honest. They\u2019ve been taken aback by Tottenham\u2019s positive start.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13 min: A rare sortie for Liverpool<\/a> in Spurs territory, as Ngumoha probes down the right and crosses. The ball\u2019s deflected into the arms of Dubravka, who has otherwise had nothing to do.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11 min: Udogie burns down the left and fires a low cross into the Liverpool<\/a> box. Bergvall is free, eight yards out. He opens his body and sidefoots powerfully towards the bottom left. Mamardashvili, diving the other way, sticks up a leg and blocks. That\u2019s a spectacular reaction stop, and has cost Bergvall a certain goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10 min: Spurs are dominating these early exchanges. They\u2019re winning everything in the middle of the park. A third of the play so far has been in Liverpool\u2019s final third. Kudus cuts in from the right and shoots; Gomez blocks. Then shanks a clearance out for a throw, much to the Kop\u2019s chagrin. Liverpool<\/a> looking as nervous as Spurs are assured.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 8 min: It\u2019s suddenly raining reasonably heavily on Merseyside. Perfect conditions for some slick passing. So having said that, Gray throws long down the right touchline, forcing Gomez to poke behind for the first corner of the match. Frimpong and Nyoni combine to clear Kudus\u2019s far-post delivery.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6 min: A bit of space for Koumas down the right. He\u2019s got no real options in the box, but wouldn\u2019t have found them anyway, as he loops a harmless ball over to the opposite flank and away from danger.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5 min: Gakpo drives with purpose down the inside-left channel, but is stopped in his tracks by a fine sliding block from Bergvall. Spurs have started confidently at both ends of the park.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min: Kerkez was outside the box, but that\u2019s a reminder of there being no VAR tonight. No interminable check to make sure.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3 min: Gallagher scampers down the right and crosses. Kerkez slides along the ground, his arm well above his head, and deflects the ball to Mamardashvili \u2026 off his hand. A free kick just outside the box. Kudus crosses, but Araujo deals with it. He tries again and the keeper claims this time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min: There have been a few concerns about Mamardashvili\u2019s distribution with his feet \u2026 and he whistles his first pass, a simple one towards Kerkez on the left, out of play. He looks suitably sheepish. No real harm done, though.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n After a quick blast of You\u2019ll Never Walk Alone, Tottenham Hotspur<\/a> get the ball rolling. They\u2019re kicking towards the Kop in this first half. Meanwhile Ian Copestake replies to krishnamoorthy v: \u201cI could have crossed the road faster but I have to get my kicks somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The teams are out at Anfield. Liverpool<\/a> the red men, Spurs the lilywhites, exactly as it should be Spurs in dark navy with diagonal swirls of electric pink, bright orange, and neon purple. A fine atmosphere at Anfield; Andy Robertson seemed super-pleased to catch up with a few of his old pals. That was a sweet moment. Not long now for the rerun of the 1982 final!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pre-match postbag. \u201cGreat to see Joe Gomez back. However, I predict a muscle strain on 23 minutes sadly\u201d \u2013 Jesse Davies<\/p>\n \u201cIt (probably) won\u2019t happen but would anything be funnier than 0-0 after 90 minutes, then Tottenham missing their first three pens and Liverpool<\/a> going through?\u201d \u2013 Dave Estherby<\/p>\n \u201cI have seen a lot many optimists in my life but none so optimistic as you who equates fun with Spurs. Watching Tottenham play these days is equivalent to watching an arthritic old man cross the road at a signal when you are already running late\u201d \u2013 krishnamoorthy v<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Andoni Iraola speaks to Sky Sports. \u201cWe decided to change a lot of the team \u2026 we needed fresh legs \u2026 we have a lot of players willing to have a good performance \u2026 get us to the next round \u2026 also looking forward to seeing those players \u2026 I am sure they will take that chance \u2026 it\u2019s a great chance to see [the younger players] \u2026 if we put them in, it\u2019s because we think they are ready to help us and ready to perform \u2026 we will get a lot of information from this game \u2026 it is a matter of execution and keeping calm \u2026 I trust them \u2026 I hope they do well \u2026 we know we will face a strong team \u2026 but I trust my players.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n This is all a bit of a back-of-envelope scribble, so if I\u2019ve forgotten someone you\u2019ll have to sue me*, but it\u2019s just occurred to me that quite a lot of the players on the team-sheets tonight have already tasted League Cup glory. For Liverpool<\/a>, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Joe Gomez, Ryan Gravenberch, Waturo Endo, Kostas Tsimikas and James McConnell played in either the 2022 or 2024 final victories over Chelsea, with Alisson, Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas getting medals for being on the bench in 2024, also Dominik Szoboszlai despite being injured. In addition, Alexander Isak scored for Newcastle in their win over Liverpool in 2025. As for Spurs, Andy Robertson is the only one of tonight\u2019s squad to have played and won a final (for Liverpool) while Omar Marmoush and Savio were on the bench earlier this year for Manchester City\u2019s victory over Arsenal, just as Martin Dubravka watched on from the dugout while Newcastle won in 2025. Sandro Tonali isn\u2019t involved tonight, but he did play in that Newcastle victory, and can tell everyone about it when they get back.<\/p>\n * Please do not sue me.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Roberto De Zerbi speaks to Sky Sports. \u201cI am lucky I have a great squad \u2026 many very good players \u2026 changing the first XI, I hope we don\u2019t change the quality of the players, I am sure they are the same level \u2026 I would like to see the goals \u2026 the same attitude of the first 30 minutes against Everton \u2026 we have the qualities enough to score \u2026 it\u2019s a tough moment \u2026 no pressure, but we play to win the games \u2026 playing at Anfield against Liverpool<\/a> is always tough \u2026 but my focus is on my team \u2026 after one month of working together \u2026 keep our eyes on our goal \u2026 our organisation of the play and nothing else.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Both teams make a slew of changes from their Premier League selections at the weekend. The only survivor from the XI that started Liverpool\u2019s 0-0 draw with Fulham is Ronald Araujo. He\u2019ll move from right back to form a central defensive pairing with Joe Gomez, who returns from his latest injury lay-off.<\/p>\n Spurs retain three members of their starting XI for the goalless draw against Everton. Rodrigo Bentancur, Omar Marmoush and captain Archie Gray go again. A couple of LFC old boys are on the bench: Dominic Solanke and Andrew Robertson, the latter having made 378 appearances for the Reds. Expect emotion if Robertson gets minutes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The teams<\/p>\n Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Araujo, Gomez, Kerkez, Nyoni, Mac Allister, Ngumoha, McConnell, Gakpo, Koumas. Tottenham Hotspur: Dubravka, Gray, Tosin, Senesi, Udogie, Bentancur, Bergvall, Kudus, Gallagher, Tel, Marmoush. Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)<\/p>\n
Subs: Alisson, Endo, Jacquet, Szoboszlai, Isak, Munoz, Barcola, Gravenberch, Chambers.<\/p>\n
Subs: Kinsky, Robertson, van Hecke, Maddison, Savio, Fernandes, Solanke, Davies, van de Ven.<\/p>\n