A mouthwatering battle awaits on Thursday evening at Anfield when Liverpool lock horns with Tottenham Hotspur in the return leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
The Reds were beaten 1-0 by Spurs in January thanks to a late strike from midfielder Lucas Bergvall, who was fortunate to stay on the pitch after avoiding a second bookable offence just minutes before his strike. However, with just a slender advantage to overcome, Arne Slot’s side will feel confident of doing that in front of the home fans.
As for the Lilywhites, they will have to be at their very best to overcome an in-form Liverpool and qualify for the competition’s final. Without further ado, let us check out the key battles.
#1 Mohamed Salah vs Djed Spence
Undoubtedly the most in-form player in the Premier League, Mohamed Salah has been enjoying a stellar season—potentially his last in a Liverpool shirt. He took his tally to 25 goals across all competitions with a brace in the 2-0 win over Bournemouth last weekend. The Egyptian also boasts 17 assists, which makes him among the most feared forwards across Europe.
Mo Salah this season. 🇪🇬👑 pic.twitter.com/x0XqzpNJvN
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 4, 2025
Needless to say, the Spurs left-back will have a task cut out on Thursday. With Destiny Udogie out, Djed Spence is likely to start in that position. Primarily a right-back/wing-back, Spence has been used on the left many times this season due to injury problems. It is worth noting that he did a great job to contain Salah in the first leg of the semi-final, and the Englishman will be aiming to replicate something similar in midweek.
An attacking full-back, Spence likes to bomb forward and create an added outlet for his side. This may open up space for Salah to exploit, but the Egyptian superstar might be asked to contribute to the defensive duties as well by Slot. All in all, it will be an intriguing battle.
#2 Ryan Gravenberch vs Pape Matar Sarr
Ryan Gravenberch has been Liverpool’s best midfielder this season, quickly fitting into Slot’s system like a duck to water. He is the one responsible for dictating the tempo of play for the Reds, thanks to his languid style of passing, gliding past players with the ball, and work ethic out of possession.
The Dutchman will be pitted against a young, hardworking talent in Pape Matar Sarr. The Spurs midfielder has played a lot more than last season, perhaps due to a lot of injuries and constant chopping and changing of personnel. Nonetheless, the Senegalese has done no harm to his reputation and performed well for Postecoglou’s side.
Sarr seals it 🪡
🎬 @MonsterEnergy pic.twitter.com/114M9GyiiC
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 3, 2025
Gravenberch and Sarr may not come in each other’s way too often, but their positioning on the pitch and how this couple plays the 90 minutes at Anfield could well decide the outcome of who is going to the Wembley Stadium at the final whistle.
#3 Richarlison vs Virgil van Dijk
In Dominic Solanke’s injury absence, Richarlison is expected to lead the Tottenham attack. Having just returned from injury, the Brazilian is yet to hit his peak fitness levels but scored a diving header in the 2-1 defeat to Leicester City at home last month.
With his physical approach, tenacity and directness, Richarlison could be a real handful for the Liverpool defence. In between him and his team’s quest to reach the Carabao Cup final stands arguably the Premier League’s best defender this season, Virgil van Dijk.
A leader at the back, Van Dijk’s form and availability have been among the prime reasons why Slot’s side are running away in the Premier League. The Dutchman has barely got a rest this season, yet continues to deliver consistently colossal displays. So, he will be confident of containing Richarlison in midweek.
