Liverpool vs Tottenham- EFL Cup R3

History of the fixture

The story of Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur spans well over a century, evolving from localized cup clashes into a modern Premier League blockbuster. While Liverpool has historically dominated the win-loss record, the rivalry has rarely lacked goals, dramatic storylines, or tactical subplots.

1. The Early Years (1909–1950s): Building the Foundations

The very first competitive meeting took place on 13 November 1909, with Tottenham securing a 1-0 victory in League Division One. The early era was defined by high-scoring anomalies:

• The 1914 Goal Fest: Liverpool thrashed Spurs 7-2 at Anfield in October 1914.
• Spurs Strike Back: Tottenham replicated that exact 7-2 scoreline at White Hart Lane in April 1963 during the transitional era.
• The Anfield Curse Begins: Tottenham managed a rare win at Anfield in 1912. Following that, they went on a historic 73-year drought, failing to secure a single league victory at Liverpool's stadium until 1985.

2. The Golden Era of Managers (1960s–1980s)

The fixture grew into a massive tactical showcase in the late 60s and 70s, famously pitting legendary managers Bill Shankly (Liverpool) against Bill Nicholson (Tottenham). 

• The 1982 League Cup Final: Liverpool defeated Tottenham 3-1 at Wembley to lift the Milk Cup (EFL Cup), cementing Bob Paisley’s dominance over London clubs.
• Breaking the Curse (1985): Managed by Peter Shreeves, Tottenham finally broke their Anfield hoodoo on a spring afternoon in 1985, winning 2-1 and shocking the reigning champions.

3. The Premier League Era (1992–2010s)

When the Premier League launched, the matches transformed into reliably chaotic, attacking encounters.

• The "Spice Boys" vs. Klinsmann: The 1990s featured breathtaking end-to-end games, including a classic 1995 FA Cup quarter-final where Jurgen Klinsmann scored a dramatic late winner for Spurs at Anfield.
• Gareth Bale's Masterclass (2012): The early 2010s saw Tottenham find brief success against Liverpool, spearheaded by Gareth Bale and Luka Modrić, culminating in heavy defeats for the Reds, including a 4-0 Spurs win at White Hart Lane in 2011. 

4. The Klopp vs. Pochettino Modern Rivalry (2015–Present)

The arrival of Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool and Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham turned this match into an elite European rivalry. Both teams deployed high-intensity, heavy-pressing styles that captivated global fans.

• The 2019 Champions League Final: The absolute peak of their historic rivalry took place in Madrid. Liverpool defeated Tottenham 2-0 to claim the European crown.
• The VAR Controversy (2023): The modern chapter added intense heat in September 2023. A 9-man Liverpool lost 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after a massive VAR human error incorrectly disallowed a legitimate Luis Díaz goal, sparking weeks of media debate. 

All time head to head record

Liverpool holds the clear upper hand in the all-time historic record against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool winning 93 games compared to Tottenham's 50 victories out of 189 competitive meetings. The two English giants have shared 46 draws. Their most recent fixture ended in a 1-1 draw at Anfield on 15 March 2026. 

5 past games which was played at anfield:

1. 15 March 2026 Premier League Liverpool 1–1 Tottenham, Dominik Szoboszlai put Liverpool ahead early, but a late strike from Richarlison rescued a point for Spurs.
2. 27 April 2025 Premier League Liverpool 5–1 Tottenham, A historic rout featuring goals from Díaz, Mac Allister, Gakpo, and Salah that officially clinched the Premier League title for Liverpool.
3. 6 February 2025 League Cup (Semi-Final) Liverpool 4–0 Tottenham, Cody Gakpo opened the scoring as Liverpool turned around a 1-0 first-leg deficit to punch their ticket to Wembley.
4. 5 May 2024 Premier League Liverpool 4–2 Tottenham, A classic attacking display in Jürgen Klopp's penultimate game at Anfield, with goals from Salah, Robertson, Gakpo, and Elliott.
5. 30 April 2023 Premier League Liverpool 4–3 Tottenham, Absolute chaos. Liverpool blew a 3-0 lead, allowing Spurs to equalise in the 93rd minute, before Diogo Jota scored an iconic winner 99 seconds later.

Anfield has been a true stronghold for the Reds, with high-scoring goal-fests and vital wins defining the fixture. Liverpool is unbeaten in its last five home matches against Tottenham, securing four victories and one draw. 

Match Stats from there last game: 

Liverpool 1 - 1 Tottenham 15/03/2026:

• Possession- Liverpool 64% Tottenham 36%
• Total Shots- Liverpool 16 Tottenham 12
• Shots on Target- Liverpool 3 Tottenham 7
• Passing Accuracy- Liverpool 86% Tottenham 73% 
• Accurate passes- Liverpool 465 Tottenham 218 
• Corners- Liverpool 3 Tottenham 4
• Fouls Committed- Liverpool 8 Tottenham 13
• Goal scorers- Liverpool (Dominik Szoboszlai) Tottenham (Richarlison)

Predicted Line-ups

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has already explicitly confirmed that Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal over Alisson, hinting that fans will also see "unseen players" make an appearance.

Tottenham's Roberto De Zerbi directly stated he plans to play "with all other players" to shake up his team following a recent multi-game goal drought in the league.

• Liverpool’s Youth & Rotation: A minimum of 5 or 6 changes are expected. Expect senior rests for stars like Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister, giving massive opportunities to academy prodigies like Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha, and Lewis Koumas.
• Tottenham’s Returnees: Former Liverpool favourite Andy Robertson is expected to return to Anfield as a Spurs player, likely starting from the bench. De Zerbi will likely start hungry bench options such as James Maddison, Conor Gallagher, Mathys Tel, and teenage talent Lucas Bergvall, who haven't been locked into the weekend XI.

Potential Line-ups: Both playing the 4-2-3-1 formation

Liverpool:

• Goalkeeper- Giorgi Mamardashvili
• Defence- Jeremie Frimpong, Ronald Araújo, Joe Gomez, Milos Kerkez
• Defensive Midfield- Trey Nyoni, Ryan Gravenberch
• Attacking Midfield- Rio Ngumoha, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo
• Forward- Lewis Koumas or Jayden Danns (Maybe Isak if he wants to start strong) 

Tottenham:

• Goalkeeper- Martin Dúbravka
• Defence- Archie Gray, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marcos Senesi, Destiny Udogie
• Defensive Midfield- Rodrigo Bentancur, Conor Gallagher
• Attacking Midfield- Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Omar Marmoush
• Forward- Dominic Solanke (or Richarlison)

Injury and Suspension news

Liverpool: 

Joe Gomez (Available):Gomez has finally returned to full first-team training after a muscle injury and is available for selection, though his minutes will likely be managed.

Conor Bradley (Out): He remains sidelined following knee surgery but has recently progressed to individual ball-work.

Federico Chiesa & Hugo Ekitike (Out): Both attacking options remain out and are still a while away from returning to the squad.

Giovanni Leoni (Out): The young defender remains out of action. 

No player is suspended ahead of the match. 

Tottenham's:

Sandro Tonali (Out): Tonali is the latest major blow for Spurs. Despite playing 90 minutes over the weekend, De Zerbi confirmed today that the midfielder has picked up a fresh injury and will miss the trip.

Pedro Porro (Out): The right-back has been officially ruled out of the fixture.

Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski, & Wilson Odobert (Out): All three attackers are currently sidelined with injuries and will not feature at Anfield.

No Player is suspended ahead of the match

Players to watch