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Spurs v Liverpool - Carabao Cup semi-final preview
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It's Wildcard Wednesday across GSPN and we are previewing the Carabao Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction & Match Preview
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. It's Wild Card Wednesday across GSPN and today we are previewing tonight's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Spurs. It's at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and it's an 8pm kickoff UK time that's 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Spurs' Pressure & Managerial Challenges
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Both teams were in action over the weekend, Spurs losing at home again, this time against Informed Newcastle, and the pressure is maybe beginning to show on Ange Postercoglou, the Spurs manager. Some of his recent press interviews, the post-match interview in particular at the weekend,
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think shows a manager really starting to feel that pressure building, and which is not a good sign.
Liverpool's Steady Leadership & Recent Match Review
00:01:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're a Spurs supporter, um Liverpool on the other hand, no such pressure ever shown by their manager Arnie Slott. Although to be fair, things have gone so well that he's not really faced any ah pressure as yet. You don't get the impression that he's ever going to lose his call, even if things don't go according to plan.
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Reds are still six points clear at the top of the table after that eventful 2-2 draw at Anfield against Manchester United on Sunday. um Two points dropped, one point gained. What are your thoughts? I mean, I think you'd have to say it's two dropped against this Manchester United team I mean, I'm not saying that we had to beat them, you know, seven nil like we did in 2023, as some were suggesting pre-match, but we should be beating this team. And, you know, this Manchester United team, they played well and they, you know, they, they were worthy of that draw, but I think it shows that Manchester United team, those players in a really bad light, funnily enough, they played well, but it shows them to be really bad professionals because
00:02:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
They have been absolutely shocking this season. Some terrible so results, terrible performances, week in, week out. And then they arrive at Anfield, the best team in the land. And you know they get themselves up for one big game. um So i I think that's a real lack of professionalism. And I won't be surprised if in their next Premier League game, which is against Southampton or rock bottom of the Premier League,
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
that they slip up, that they draw or they lose. So we should have beat them and you know really extended our lead at the top after both Arsenal and Chelsea drop points. And I you know i suppose we so need to start looking at Nottingham Forest a little more carefully after they beat Wolves comfortably 3-0 on Monday night to go third in the table, level on points with Arsenal, six points behind us, albeit we have that game in hand.
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the next Premier League game is Liverpool going to the city ground to play Forest in what will be a real throwback contest. Liverpool and Nottingham Forest fighting it out at the top of the table, just like they did in the 70s, early 80s.
Player Performance & Contract Implications
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, there's been quite a bit of fallout after Sunday's game against Manchester United, much of it centring around the performance of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
00:03:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and his contract situation situation and whether that had anything to do with his frankly wretched performance on Sunday and this was always going to happen at some point if he was going to have a bad game and let's face it he had a very bad game the spotlight would inevitably be on him and all those questions about whether he's staying or going were going to surface But of all the games to drop a stinker of a performance, you know, why did he have to do that against United? That's the big big question that Liverpool fans have got.
00:04:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And on I honestly think that this is the danger for Liverpool. This is probably Liverpool's biggest threat um or obstacle to them winning one of the big prizes this season, whether that's the Premier League or the Champions League. And that is the distraction, the inevitable distraction that the contract situation surrounding our three best players would cause.
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So talking of
Cup Game Dynamics & Managerial Strategies
00:04:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
distractions, I suppose a cup game, a semi-final is a nice distraction from the but the kind of hurly-burly intensity of the Premier League. We're top of the league, but it's you know it's it's so draining, physically and emotionally draining, I'm sure, for the players, because you're constantly watching the results of other teams involved in the title race. You're always making calculations in terms of the points gap,
00:05:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Games in hand and all that kind of nonsense. So it's nice to be able to watch a game where it's just winner a takes all. And I think both managers here will want to win this and win the league cup for their own reasons. I think Arnie's slot coming in and taking over from someone like Jurgen Klopp who won everything with Liverpool. I think he'll want to kick off his Liverpool reign in the best possible way and that is to win silverware.
00:05:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it the club's priority, you know, the league cup or even the f FA Cup? No, the Premier League and the Champions League are clearly more important in the grand scheme of things, but the importance of a ah a fixture can change ah throughout a season. Right now, it feels important, this game, and one that we want to win. You know, we want to get to Wembley and really build some momentum going into this crucial part of the season.
00:06:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Spurs manager Anj Poster Koglu on the other hand will most certainly want to get to the final of this competition. He's famously gone on record this season saying that he always wins a trophy in his second season. Now that was great for the press, great content, great social media content. Clip that up.
00:06:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But right now, it feels like he's put massive pressure on himself, you know, probably unnecessarily to deliver on that and be the first Spurs manager to win some silverware since Juan Ramos' league Cup win in 2008.
00:06:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, time for a quick break. And when we come back, we'll go through some team news ahead of the Spurs game.
00:07:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arnie slot in his pre
Team Health & Injury Updates
00:07:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
-match press conference. It's given quite a positive update on the on the squad, on the health of the squad. With only Joe Gomez out injured, he picked up a hamstring injury in that 5-0 win away at West Ham in the Premier League. Dominic Suboslai is still not available due to illness.
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Both Connor Bradley and Ibrahima Canate returned from long-term injury against Manchester United at the weekend. Canate played a full 90 minutes, probably not what Arnie Slott wanted, but the way the game panned out, he you know really couldn't bring him off. And Connor Bradley got about 10 minutes against United. And I guess it was the opposite with Bradley. ah yeah I would have preferred if Slott had brought Bradley on.
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
for Trent as soon as we went 2-1 up because it was clear that Trent was just having one of those days. um In any case, it's great that Connor Bradley is now fully back in contention for that right back spot because whether he plays or not, having that competition, and I mean serious competition because he does represent serious competition ah to Trent Alexander-Arnold, it just makes them both play at the top of their game.
00:08:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
and you know that's what we're going to need as we approach the business end of the season. We need both players firing on all cylinders and if both of our right backs are flying then that can only help us to win the prizes that we want this season.
00:09:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So in terms of player availability, I think we're in really good shape um to the extent I would almost say that this is unusually good for us at this stage of the season where we're normally struggling with injuries.
00:09:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And maybe this is going to be the biggest factor in our favour as we hunt for ah silverware for trophies this season. The fact that this is a more measured approach ah to our game, a more measured approach to our intensity.
00:09:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah being just as intense, but not all the time, choosing moments in the game to rest on the ball. And I've seen a lot of this ah this season where we have possession. And look, and nine times out of 10, we will be the dominant team in possession.
00:10:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um you know But we're sometimes slowing down the game, making the opposition do the running, making them burn out by 60, 70 minutes, and not us playing at full intensity ah for the full 90 minutes. And maybe it's the it's in the players that are available to us at this stage of the season that will be our biggest asset. We see Arsenal now picking up injuries, ah most notably Bikai Osaka,
00:10:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
out for at least two months. ah Spurs, albeit not title rivals, but a team we're playing tonight for a place in the final of a cup competition, have huge injury concerns. And maybe some of that is because of the full-throttle, hugely entertaining style that Foster Cogloo is insistent on sticking with.
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of Spurs team news, ah they still have an injury list. as long as my arm. um And my arm is pretty long just for context. Destady Udoghi, Mick Van Den Ven, Christian Romero, Ben Davies are all injured. um Radu Dragison and Archie Gray have been struggling with illness. Even backup keeper, Frasier Foster is out with illness. So I don't know, it might be a big engine goal.
00:11:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, obviously, Spurs are having a nightmare with injury. So, you know, maybe this pasta coglio, you know, pile on is a bit harsh. um Although I suppose the counter to that is that if you have so many of your first choice players out, then surely you have to adapt your playing style a bit. I don't know. What do you think? I don't know. It's Spurs. I i don't really care.
00:12:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Another point of note, because we have now reached the semi-final stage of the Carabao Cup, we welcome back our good friend, VAR. Yes, VAR is back
VAR's Role & Match Predictions
00:12:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
and we have yet another tweet to the process. This time referees will be making in-stadium announcements on the outcome of VAR reviews. This will include decisions reviewed by the referee using pitch side monitors.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do you think of that then? I suppose more communication is a good thing, but you know if you're communicating rubbish decisions, you know what's the difference? Okay, time for another short break. We'll do a predicted lineup and a score prediction right after this message.
00:13:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, let's get into some ah predictions for both the lineup and ah the score. It looks like the natural order of things has resumed with Alison in goal for the Premier League and Champions League. So I'd expect Keleher to be in goal for ah tonight's game ah for both domestic cups.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
um In terms of the back line, there is an argument to throw ah Trent Alexander Arnold straight back in and get some form back. But I think on balance, it's probably better to get Conor Bradley back up to speed and give Trent some rest. um But not in Spain. No resting in Spain.
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of the centre backs, I think you have to rest Van Dyke. He's played virtually every game. So I think this and Saturday's game in the FA Cup is the ah ideal opportunity to rest the skipper.
00:14:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although I know Slott does like to maintain that rhythm in his best players. Maybe Van Dijk played tonight and sits out the FA Cup game on on Saturday. The next Premier League game is next Tuesday. So even if Van Dijk plays against Spurs, he then gets a week off before the Forest game.
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, personally, I'd rest him for both. um'm I'm more concerned about an injury to van Dyck than him losing much sharpness in a week, which which I don't think he would. I think ah ah an injury to van Dyck could be catastrophic for our season.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think even if we lose Muhammad Salah, I honestly think that we could get through ah that period without him. Even though he's been sensational, he's putting up insane numbers. But I think between Jota, Diaz, Gackpo, I think these guys will score goals. um But if we lose Van Dyck, I really think that we'd struggle.
00:15:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So Kwanzaa or Kanate in terms of that back line, ideally it would be Kwanzaa and Gomez but Joe Gomez as as I mentioned is injured. So Kanate plays probably I mean, so soon after a full 90 minutes on Sunday, which was his first game back after six weeks out. So it is something for slot to think about. It's not ideal to, ah to stick Kanate back in again, ah so quickly after that Sunday game. um But ah there's also the case that you don't want to put too, too, too inexperienced ah players in that back line. Maybe put Endo in there.
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
On the left back position, I think Simicas gets the nod um ahead of Andrew Robertson, ah purely for rotation purposes. I know Robertson's had a lot of flack in recent weeks in terms of his performance. um But I think with both left backs back um fit now, I think rotation is the key. So I'd i'd go for Simicas.
00:16:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
In midfield, i I think it's a tricky one because you want to rest Gravenberg and McAllister. Gravenberg in particular because he literally gets no rest time. McAllister has been suspended a couple of times, so he's had a couple of breaks.
00:17:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But they play most games, ah those two. But do you rest them both at the same time? Or rest one at a time for these Cup games? I think if you play both, then maybe Endo comes in at centre back. But I think Slott will play Gravenberg um in tonight's game and rest McAllister. And do vice versa for the weekend.
00:17:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then you've got ah Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott. Tyler Morton could be in with a shout as well, but maybe not starting. I think he would probably come on as a sub. And if we move to the forward line, the question mark is over Chiesa, as it has been since he arrived. um There have been a lot of media reports about about the Italian maybe wanting out of Anfield or going out on loan, ah Napoli, Roma, reportedly interested. But his agent yesterday was pretty strong in denying those rumours, insisting ah that Kiesa is committed to Liverpool and is focused on getting into the starting 11. And maybe this is the game where Slott gives him a run-out.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
um or certainly against Akrit and Stanley in the FA Cup on Saturday. I would like Keita to start but I know Salah will be desperate to play because it spurs and if there's one team that is going to give up goals it spurs and if there's one player who will gobble up those chances it's Mohammed Salah.
00:18:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm hoping he doesn't play, but I'm expecting him to play. ah Maybe Slot gives Kiesa 20-30 minutes as a sub. And then I would i would play Jota and I would play Nunez. Nunez is um surprise, surprise, suspended for the next Premier League game against Nottingham Forest for his ridiculous yellow card um against Manchester United on Sunday. I think both Gackpo and Diaz as could do with the rest because they've played a lot of games recently.
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah normally they're competing for the same position and so they get rotated but with Diaz playing a lot of games um centrally recently they are playing a lot of games together so could both do with sitting this one out and letting Jota build up his his sharpness and Nunez to maybe do you know something crazy like you know I don't know score a goal um Okay, let's do a score prediction. um I mean, I don't think too many predicted a 6-3 the last time these two met. um I can't see anything but goals in this game, ah given the playing styles, the changes that Liverpool expected to make and the forced changes that Spurs will make, I don't know, 7-2, 6-4.
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to settle for a 3-1 win for the Reds which looks quite boring given the other score lines I suggested but you know I'll take that with the second leg at Anfield. Even a draw wouldn't be a bad result.
00:20:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And a couple of interesting sets before we
Engagement & Contact Information
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
end this podcast, Liverpool and Spurs have the most semi-final appearances in this competition, 20 for Liverpool, 18 for Spurs. um Cody Gackpo has eight goals and one assist from his last nine Carabao Cup appearances. um And I said he should be on the bench.
00:20:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is why I'm on this podcast and not in the Anfield dugout to bring you that cutting edge analysis. And and get this, Spurs have never lost when playing the first leg of a League Cup semi-final at home, winning five and drawing twice.
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you go. We'll see if any of those stats meant anything and we'll be back tomorrow to bring you the post-match review. Give us a follow so that you get the very latest content. When it drops, ah follow us on social media at GSP and Liverpool. You can email us at GSP and daily Liverpool at Gmail until tomorrow. Thank you for listening.