Liverpool vs Tottenham: Carabao Cup Match Preview, Team News & Prediction

Liverpool welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield in a high-profile Carabao Cup third-round tie. With both clubs looking for a positive result, this should be an entertaining cup contest despite both managers being expected to rotate their squads.

Liverpool remain unbeaten under new manager Andoni Iraola, but their Premier League start has been less convincing than expected, with three draws from four matches. They did, however, begin their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid. Iraola is expected to make changes at Anfield, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili set to start and several younger players likely to receive an opportunity. Joe Gomez has returned to training, while Conor Bradley remains unavailable.

Tottenham are under greater pressure. Roberto De Zerbi's side have failed to score in their opening four Premier League matches and have collected just two points. Spurs did beat Charlton 5-1 in the previous Carabao Cup round, but their league struggles have put extra importance on this fixture. Dominic Solanke is expected to feature, while Mohammed Kudus is available. Sandro Tonali, Pedro Porro and James Maddison are among those unavailable, while Richarlison is also out.

Match Details

Match	Liverpool vs Tottenham
Competition	Carabao Cup – Third Round
Date	Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Venue	Anfield
Kick-off	8:00 PM BST / 12:30 AM IST
Managers	Andoni Iraola vs Roberto De Zerbi

Key Players

Liverpool – Alexis Mac Allister: His control and passing could be important if Liverpool rotate heavily in midfield.

Liverpool – Mohamed Salah: Even if he starts from the bench, Salah's presence gives Liverpool a major attacking advantage.

Tottenham – Dominic Solanke: The former Liverpool striker will be eager to rediscover his scoring touch against his old club. De Zerbi has publicly backed him to return to form.

Tottenham – Mohammed Kudus: His pace and ability to carry the ball could provide Spurs with one of their biggest attacking outlets.

Team News

Liverpool are expected to rotate, with Mamardashvili replacing Alisson in goal. Joe Gomez is back in contention, while Conor Bradley remains out. Youngsters including Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas could also feature.

Tottenham have several injury concerns, with Tonali, Pedro Porro and Kulusevski among the notable absentees. Richarlison is unavailable, while Udogie and Maddison could provide some experience if selected.

What to Watch

The key battle will be Liverpool's squad depth against Tottenham's need for confidence. Liverpool can afford to rotate while still fielding a strong team, whereas Spurs need an attacking breakthrough after their poor Premier League start.

Liverpool's home advantage is another major factor. Tottenham have not won at Anfield in 17 matches, making this a particularly difficult assignment for De Zerbi's side.

Who Has the Chance?

Tottenham have enough quality to make the match competitive, especially if their attacking players find some confidence. However, Liverpool's depth, home advantage and stronger recent results make them the favourites to progress.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham

Liverpool should have enough attacking quality to overcome Tottenham and book their place in the fourth round, although Spurs could make the game difficult before Liverpool pull away.