Liverpool cannot rely on huge weapon for Tottenham clash after two clear warnings

Liverpool are the favourites to progress to Wembley from their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at home to Tottenham Hotspur. But the Reds will need to overturn a 1-0 deficit with Spurs leading from the first leg after Lucas Bergvall scored in the 86th minute.

And the last two times they have needed to do so, they have been unable to.

In 2020, Liverpool lost their Champions League round-of-16 first leg 1-0 against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano where they won the final the previous term.

In his post-match interview with BT Sport, Jurgen Klopp said: “Our people will be ready. I know that. Welcome to Anfield… it’s not over yet.”

Liverpool had the 2-0 scoreline they needed before Adrian made an error, with Atletico eventually winning 3-2 on the night, ending the European champions’ reign.

Three years earlier, it happened in the EFL Cup, one of their two hopes of a trophy in 2016-17 after failing to qualify for Europe.

After losing their semi-final first leg 1-0 at Southampton, Liverpool spent the second chasing an equaliser before Shane Long added a second on late on.

The campaign before, however, the Reds overturned a 1-0 Europa League semi-final first-leg deficit, winning 3-0 at home to Villareal to advance to the final.

Liverpool must do similar tonight to be in with a shot of defending the Carabao Cup in the final against Newcastle United on March 16. But it will not be a formality and fans will need to treat it like one of those famous Anfield European nights under the lights.

Spurs, meanwhile, have not won a trophy in 17 years - the League Cup in 2008 against Chelsea - so this represents a significant opportunity for them. The first-leg victory was a rare good night for the visitors, languishing in 14th, with eight wins, three draws and 13 defeats from 24 games.

Under-fire manager Ange Postecoglou proclaimed he “always wins things in his second year” after their 1-0 home North London derby defeat to Arsenal in September.

While defeat tonight would not be terminal after a 2-0 victory at Brentford lifted the pressure on him on Sunday, it would weaken his position.