Key Points
- Both clubs looking to bounce back from poor weekend results
- Spurs biggest opportunity for silverware this season
- Excitement guaranteed
Ange Postecoglou and Arne Slot face off once again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night just 3 weeks on from Liverpool’s 6-3 victory in the league.
Spurs in particular will be looking to this game as the most important of their season to date, the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. This is certainly the best opportunity they have to not end the season empty-handed.
Spurs have secured just 2 wins from 11 in all competitions and have lost 3 out of the last 4 matches, conceding 11 times in the previous 4 games. However, as poor as they have been defensively, Postecoglou’s men don’t have any issues in front of goal. They have 8 goals in 3 matches in the League Cup this term, including putting 4 past United in the quarter-finals.
Liverpool really are having a season to remember, 6 points clear at the top of the Premier League, 6 wins and out of 6 in the Champions League, and now potentially 2 games away from the Carabao Cup final. Slot has been the perfect fit for The Reds.
With just 1 defeat all season and protecting a 24-game unbeaten run, it would take a huge effort from Tottenham to stop the men from Merseyside marching to Wembley for next month’s final.
Crazy Carabao Cup chaos
The fact these two teams are the two highest scorers in the PL this campaign does naturally make me think we will be in for a feast of goals again in this one.
There is seemingly too much attacking quality on both sides, but in particular from Slot’s Liverpool, to not expect a few goals again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
I’m not saying a repeat of the 9 goals these sides shared in Liverpool’s 6-3 win back in December is necessarily on the cards again. However, an open and attacking game is what I expect once the whistle blows on Wednesday night.
Free-scoring Spurs vs rampant Reds
Tottenham fans have seen a staggering 103 goals across their teams’ fixtures in all competitions, witnessing 75 of these on home soil. Meanwhile, The Reds have netted 70 times in all competitions and have averaged 3 goals per game away from Anfield in the PL.
Additionally, Slot’s men have scored in all but 1 of their 29 matches this season, so it’s all set up for a flurry of goals to enjoy. The oddsmakers clearly have factored this in though and bets pertaining to plenty of goals being scored are mighty short.
Men on fire
Given the forward talent on display from Liverpool, it’s surely enough to warm things up on a cold Wednesday night in January. With the likes of Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo in sublime form, it’s difficult to see the depleted Tottenham backline from stopping them striking again.
Gakpo has scored in each of the last 3 games and has 4 goals in this competition from the 3 fixtures played. Meanwhile, Salah’s statistics are off the chart with the Egyptian netting 21 times in all competitions, 12 of these coming on the road for the rampant Reds.
Tottenham’s injury woes continue
They’ll be licking their lips against a Spurs team with as many as 11 first-team regulars out injured including defenders Mickey van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, and Ben Davies. That’s on top of first and second-choice goalkeepers Guglielmo Vicario and Fraser Forster.
It really does look like an even more daunting task to prevent Slot’s outfit from finding their groove once again, and I expect Tottenham’s third keeper Brandon Austin to be a very busy boy between the sticks.
Shots fired to ignite the semi-final
Given the aforementioned forward players, and the attacking style of football each head coach likes their sides to play, it could resemble a shooting gallery down on the pitch during this match. When considering the available markets for the clash in North London, I have looked at bets involving either chances or goals in the game, and a fair few of them.
Over 3.5 goals at 8/11 is too short
Firstly, for the match to have over 3.5 goals in does interest me, but at best odds of 8/11 with
Betfair Sportsbook
I’m going to pass it up in terms of a bet.
The fact Spurs have scored in all but 1 of their 16 home matches in all competitions and Liverpool have scored in every single one of their 14 away games, both teams to score Yes looks pretty nailed for those looking for the start of a bet-builder.
Place a min £10 bet on Sportsbook on odds of min EVS (2.0), get £50 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.
Liverpool to repeat their recent victory at Tottenham and BTTS is available at 7/5
bet365
and that is sure to be popular amongst bettors.
I’m slightly put off by Spurs’ improved performance against Man City in this competition and Liverpool’s worrying display against United on the weekend.
Open Account Offer Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
Squad rotation is a concern for Gakpo shot markets
Instead, my attention for this first leg showdown is turned to how many shots and players’ shots there will be in the game.
Given Dutch forward Cody Gakpo’s recent form and eye for goal and that he has averaged 3 shots per game in the Carabao Cup this term I am tempted by the best priced 4/5 odds with
Unibet
on Gakpo having over 2.5 shots in the match.
Rotation is a concern though and I’d expect Jota and Nunes to have minutes in this game almost certainly preventing Gakpo from completing the 90.
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
18+. BeGambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet on sportsbook at min odds 2/5 (1.4) each leg. Receive 2 x £10 free bets within 24 hours of bet settlement, and further 2 x £10 casino bonus the next day.T&C’s apply.
Top tip: Over 28.5 Shots at 4/5 with bet365
To avoid getting caught out by substitutions, I am tipping this one to have over 29.5 shots and it doesn’t matter who has them. This is available at best odds of 4/5 with
bet365.
When the sides met just a few weeks ago there were 33 shots during the game, 24 of these coming from the relentless Reds. With the injuries Spurs have in their defensive backline, it makes me believe this game will follow a similar pattern once again, with Liverpool having more chances at goal.
Spurs have averaged 14.7 shots per game in all competitions and Slot’s outfit have an even higher average of 16.6 attempts at goal across their fixtures this term. This gives me confidence this bet will pay dividends in what I expect to be a highly entertaining encounter once again.
We’ll have both teams trying until the final whistle given the nature of a two-legged affair.
bet365 sign up bonus:
Bet £10 & Get £50.
Tottenham vs Liverpool Best Bet
- Market:
Match Total Shots
- Selection:
Over 28.5
- Odds:
4/5
- Stake:
1pt
- Bookie:
bet365
🌎 Follow TheFund elsewhere!
Instagram:
thefund.bet
Telegram:
thefundbet
