Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 71/100
Bookmaker: ZetBet
Before facing off in the Carabao Cup semifinals, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool will meet in a highly anticipated Premier League clash in North London on Sunday afternoon.
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs secured a thrilling 4-3 victory over Manchester United in midweek, while the league-leading Reds continued their impressive form with a 2-1 win at Southampton, keeping their quadruple ambitions intact.
Tottenham Hotspur
As Postecoglou embraced Ruben Amorim on the touchline at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, his knowing smile spoke volumes. He had just seen his team overcome several major scares to edge closer to Wembley, now only two games away.
Two errors from Fraser Forster handed Manchester United a lifeline in Thursday’s semi-final after Tottenham surged to a 3-0 lead. However, United’s goalkeeper Altay Bayindir also struggled, with Son Heung-min’s corner flying directly into the net to secure Spurs’ place in the next round.
Postecoglou, displaying his trademark humor in the post-match interview, has Spurs dreaming of ending their 17-year trophy drought if his second-season silverware prophecy comes true. This gripping win followed a Premier League thrashing of Southampton, where Spurs netted five first-half goals for the first time in their history, sealing Russell Martin’s fate at St Mary’s.
Despite their recent revival, Tottenham sit mid-table, five points off the Champions League spots. Having ended a four-game home winless streak, they now aim to avoid a four-match home drought in the Premier League, a feat unseen since their White Hart Lane days in 2013.
Team News
Tottenham’s defensive issues persist during the festive period, with Ben Davies (hamstring), Cristian Romero (thigh), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), and Guglielmo Vicario (ankle) all unavailable for this clash. Additionally, Mikey Moore (illness), Wilson Odobert (hamstring), Richarlison (hamstring), and the suspended Rodrigo Bentancur remain sidelined.
Timo Werner might return following a viral infection, while Destiny Udogie, who exited early against Southampton, missed the Carabao Cup game only due to minor soreness and is expected to face Mohamed Salah on Sunday.
Udogie replacing the in-form Djed Spence should be the sole change Postecoglou makes for this crucial encounter. Meanwhile, captain Son Heung-min is just one away from setting a new club record for Premier League assists, having equaled Darren Anderton’s tally of 68 last weekend.
Liverpool
While Sunday’s hosts, Tottenham, dismantled Southampton within the first half of last weekend’s Premier League clash, Arne Slot’s Liverpool faced a tougher challenge in midweek cup action.
Goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott in the first half proved decisive, rendering Cameron Archer’s impressive strike irrelevant as Liverpool edged past the league’s bottom side. The victory brings the Reds within 270 minutes of retaining the trophy, one of four they remain in contention for this season.
Unbeaten in an impressive 20 matches across all competitions, Liverpool remain atop the Premier League table heading into the weekend. However, their lead has narrowed to just two points, with Chelsea capitalizing on Liverpool’s recent draws against Newcastle United and Fulham.
Earning a 2-2 draw against Fulham after Andy Robertson’s first-half red card was a commendable effort, and Slot’s Liverpool remain the only Premier League side unbeaten on the road this season.
Historically, Liverpool have dominated this fixture, losing just twice in their last 23 league meetings with Tottenham. Yet one of those defeats came last season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where “significant human error” from the officials and a late Joel Matip own-goal sealed their fate.
Team News
Liverpool’s selection issues for Sunday’s clash are minimal and primarily in defense, with Conor Bradley (hamstring) and Ibrahima Konate (knee) expected to be the only absentees.
Andy Robertson is available again after serving his suspension in the EFL Cup, but given his struggles this season and Kostas Tsimikas’s return from an ankle injury, the Greek left-back could be favored to start.
Rested entirely in midweek, Mohamed Salah stands on the brink of Premier League history. With 13 goals and nine assists in the 2024/25 campaign, the Egyptian could become the first player to record double figures in both categories before Christmas in a single season.
Conclusion
Each of Tottenham’s last seven matches at home has featured both teams finding the net, and that pattern seems likely to continue in Sunday’s highly anticipated showdown. Liverpool have shown defensive vulnerabilities away from home, adding to the potential for goals.
However, with an extra day of rest, several key players spared midweek action, and Spurs still grappling with significant defensive absences, Liverpool hold the edge. As a result, Slot’s men are tipped to keep their momentum, ensuring the Reds remain atop the Premier League table on Christmas Day, and getting at least some revenge for what happened last season.
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 71/100
Bookmaker: ZetBet
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