Tottenham Hotspur, commonly known as Spurs, face a challenging task as they prepare to go head-to-head with Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final. However, renowned pundit Gary Lineker believes that the underdogs may have a fighting chance.
The upcoming Carabao Cup final holds immense significance for Tottenham. By the time it arrives, it will mark 17 years since their last major trophy win. Despite finishing second in the Premier League and competing in three League Cup finals and a Champions League final since then, they have consistently fallen short of their ultimate goal. Adding to this is Spurs' current dismal season performance. They are experiencing their worst points tally at this stage of the season since 2008/09 and currently sit closer to the relegation zone than they do to the top four - occupying 11th place on the Premier League table.
While initially viewed as Tottenham’s best chance at securing a trophy this season, their Europa League journey has been overshadowed by an impressive run in the League Cup where they overcame Coventry City before defeating Manchester giants City and United.
Daunting task or an opportunity?
Now comes arguably their toughest test yet - facing Liverpool who have lost only one match all season. However, Lineker sees potential for an upset due to Liverpool's priorities elsewhere.
Liverpool currently sits atop both Premier League and Champions League tables which is no small feat. This success could potentially work in favour of Spurs according to Lineker who suggests that Liverpool might prioritise these competitions over the Carabao Cup thereby giving Tottenham an unexpected advantage. Lineker shared his thoughts on The Rest Is Football podcast stating:
Gary Lineker, Tottenham Hotspur legend, said:
“I know it sounds mad in a semi-final, but there are Champions League games coming up, although they’re in pretty good shape there. But with them being so far ahead in the league, that would take absolute priority for Liverpool.
“So I’d be surprised if they didn’t mix it up a little bit, which might help the chances of Spurs.”
Squad strength concerns for both teams
However, it's not just Liverpool who might be fielding a less than full-strength team. Tottenham's manager, Arne Slot, may also decide to rest some of his key players due to ongoing injuries within the first-team squad.
With just over a week until the first leg of the semi-final, Spurs are expected to be without several defenders. Additionally, James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr are both suspended for the first leg.
Despite these challenges, Lineker's prediction offers hope for Spurs fans and adds an intriguing layer of suspense as we approach this highly anticipated Carabao Cup semi-final showdown between Tottenham and Liverpool.
