Liverpool will face an intriguing battle at Anfield against Tottenham in the EFL Cup 4th Round after beating Championship side Derby 3-0. It was a thoroughly professional job well done from Jurgen Klopp’s men who never looked in any real difficulty as they controlled the contest from start to finish.
Ragnar Klavan opened the scoring with his first goal for the club since arriving in the summer from FC Augsburg, with in-form Brazilian star Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi finishing off the Rams who failed to handle Liverpool’s clinical attacking play and possession football.
Some would argue that Liverpool received a favourable draw on their passage through to the next round, but the players can only beat what is put in front of them. They are likely to face a much sterner test against a Tottenham side who have made a very strong start to their Premier League campaign, and although Coral believe that Liverpool are one of the contenders to win the EFL Cup this season, it will take a strong performance to get past Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Klopp may target both domestic cups as a way of making his mark at Liverpool through trophies; reaching two finals last season is testament to the significant changes the charismatic German has made since last October, and although not participating in Europe could be valued as a disappointment, it should enable Liverpool to have greater focus on the league and cup campaigns than their closest rivals.
History would suggest that Liverpool should fancy their chances on home soil, with the Reds losing just six of the previous seventy-four meetings between the two sides in all competitions at Anfield. You have to go as far back as November 2012 for the last time Tottenham prevailed, with an own goal from Gareth Bale not enough for Liverpool to overcome a two-goal deficit at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham also won the last time the two teams met in the League Cup, with Damien Plessis and Sami Hyypia on the scoresheet as Liverpool were knocked out after a 4-2 defeat all the way back in November 2008. Three straight draws in recent times would suggest that it could go all the way to extra time and penalties, although don’t worry if it does as Coral provide a bet in play market that allows fans to cash out before the final whistle if they back a winner in normal time.
There is every possibility that both teams will cancel each other out, even if Klopp and Pochettino decide to make changes in order to rest key players, but it promises to be another special night at Anfield.
Klopp may feel secretly confident of beating Tottenham, particularly after the recent Premier League meeting at White Hart Lane last month. The game may had ended in a 1-1 draw, but the scoreline does not reflect the level of dominance that Liverpool enjoyed as the team looked like scoring every time they went forward during the first 60 minutes.
Liverpool were ultimately made to rue a series of missed opportunities, and although the likes of Coutinho and Sadio Mane have made amends as the team have scored nine goals in their last three games, they will have to take their chances when Tottenham make the trip up to Anfield in the EFL Cup.
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