- Head-to-head: Liverpool have won three of the last five head-to-head games, Tottenham one (one draw).
- Recent form: Liverpool have won four, drawn three, and lost three of their last ten matches in all competitions.
Sparky cup tie expected as Liverpool take on Tottenham
Liverpool form
Liverpool have drawn their two most recent matches, 2-2 at Newcastle and 2-2 at home to Nottingham Forest, before beating Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road in the Premier League 2026/2027. That run of results, W1, D2, L0, was a mixed bag, but also a solid one, and a 1-1 draw in the reverse Premier League 2025/2026 fixture at Anfield should be the minimum expectation in this cup game.
Liverpool style
Liverpool are averaging 2.00 goals per 90 minutes at Anfield this season, scoring 14 goals in 7 games (W3, D2, L2) and they have a real forward momentum about them in all of their matches this season. Andoni Iraola's side play compact, aggressive football that is based around a suffocating counter-pressing style, that will press the ball at high tempo, and are geared towards verticality and exploiting turnovers.
Tottenham style
Tottenham, by contrast, are a possession-heavy team that play with lots of positional structure under Roberto De Zerbi and will look to bait Liverpool's pressing. They are a side that are just as likely to overload the half-spaces between the lines as they are to play through the middle, and there is some real bite to their play, as Charlton Athletic found out in their 5-1 demolition in the EFL Cup last time out.
Tottenham form
Spurs followed that up with a 0-2 defeat at home to Newcastle in the PL 2026/2027, before grinding out a 0-0 draw away to Nottingham Forest at the weekend. That run of W1, D1, L1, suggests that Tottenham are an improving side, but they have an unbeaten rate of 80%.
Under pressure at Anfield
Tottenham have failed to win any of their last three away games against Liverpool across all competitions, so Anfield won't be an easy place to go this week.
The two clubs seem to be on opposite sides of the tactical spectrum and the clash between their pressing and press-baiting tactics should be a fiery matchup, so expect a chess match on Tuesday with some quick transitions.
Betting markets
- The Reds are the odds-on favourites at 1.74, but that looks a little short, with Spurs a touch over even odds at 4.1 and the draw at 4.0, suggesting that Liverpool will edge it.
- We'll be sticking with the favourites, but there is a touch of value on Tottenham to make this a close contest.
- A lively cup match looks likely, so Over 2.5 goals is the alternative market to get involved in at a pretty short price of 1.5, while Both Teams To Score — Yes, at 1.48, will also attract.
