. See the current injury list for all Premier League Teams
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats

Spurs' Cup Record against Liverpool

FA CUP

Season   Rd   H/A   Score
67-68    5    H      1-1  Greaves
67-68    5R   A      1-2  Jones
70-71    Q-F  A      0-0
70-71    Q-FR H      0-1
79-80    Q-F  H      0-1
84-85    4    A      0-1
94-95    Q-F  A      2-1  Sheringham, Klinsmann   

LEAGUE CUP

72-73    5    A      1-1  Peters
72-73    5    H      3-1  Chivers (2), Pratt
81-82    F  (Wem)    1-3  Archibald
                    (aet)
84-85    3    H      1-0  Allen
98-99    4    A      3-1  Iversen, Scales, Nielsen
04-05    5    H      1-1  Defoe 
                    (3-4 pens)
08-09    4    H      4-2  Pavlyuchenko (2), Campbell (2)
16-17    4    A      1-2  Janssen (pen)

Charity Shield

21.08.82        Wembley 0-1

Screen Sport Super Cup

03.12.85        Away    0-2
14.01.86        Home    0-2


UEFA CUP

72-73    S-F  A      0-1
72-73    S-F  H      2-1  Peters (2)
(Liverpool won on away goals)

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

18-19     F   N      0-2

Thoughts of a Spurs win seem forlorn

Lady luck (if she can be considered as such) has drawn us against Premier League leaders Liverpool in our 18th League Cup semi-final. Liverpool have made most appearances in both the semi-finals and finals of this competition (20 and 15 respectively), and also have the record number of wins (10). Indeed, Liverpool are the holders, beating Chelsea in extra-time last year. They also beat Chelsea in the 2022 final in an epic 11-10 penalty shoot-out success.

It would be nice to be going into this game with some realistic hope of victory, but such thoughts seem forlorn against such strong opponents, coupled with our ongoing injury and suspensions crisis.

Both teams have (on paper) easy FA Cup games at the weekend, so have no reason to play weakened sides in this game. Spurs have no choice, with all their injuries plus the aggravation of both Maddison and Sarr being suspended for this game following two bookings in the competition to date. Liverpool's only enforced absentee will be the injured Joey Gomez. Darwin Nunez was shown a fifth yellow card of the season in Sunday's 2-2 home draw against a re-vitalised Manchester United side, but will serve his suspension in Liverpool's next Premier League game.

Mikey Moore and Richarlison must be getting close to match fitness and were in training today (Tuesday), but Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario are our long term absentees.

Hopefully, the players who were affected by the bug which ran through the Spurs camp last week will be available. The Spurs side almost picks itself, and although Forster, Austin and new signing Antonin Kinsky compete for the goalkeeper's jersey, I would say Forster (if fit) should be the first choice tomorrow. In front of him (hopefully) will be Pedro Porro, Dragusin, Archie Gray, Djed Spence, Bissouma, Bentancur, Kulusevski, Johnson, Solanke and Son. Spurs announced today (Tuesday) that they had taken their option of extending "Sonny"'s contract by a year, taking him to June 2026.

Remarkably, considering the long history of both clubs (who first met in league competition in 1909), we did not meet in any cup competition until March 1968 when the legendary Jimmy Greaves scored in a 1-1 home draw. Another legendary name - Cliff Jones - scored our goal in the replay at Anfield, but we lost 2-1.

Liverpool first entered the league cup in the inaugural season of 1960/61 when they were in the second division. They lost to Southampton in the first round. They next entered the competition in 1967 and lost in the second round on aggregate to Bolton Wanderers. Bill Shankly's team also entered the Inter-City Fairs Cup that season, but lost in the third round on aggregate to Ferencvaros, who we have played this season. Incidentally, I note that Robbie Keane is apparently taking over as Ferencvaros's coach.

In 1968, Liverpool lost 2-1 to Arsenal, who went on to beat us in our first League Cup semi-final, the second leg of which was played at White Hart Lane in December. We had lost the away leg 1-0. I well remember being in the Park Lane End when the great Jimmy Greaves levelled the aggregate score after 67 minutes. My heart sank when John Radford scored the winning goal three minutes before full-time. We all laughed though when Arsenal lost the "Don Rogers" final at Wembley on a muddy pitch in March 1969. If I remember rightly, Wembley had hosted the "Horse of the Year Show" the day before that final! (Liverpool also lost a league cup match to Swindon in 1970!)

Spurs and Liverpool first met in this competition in December 1972. We played away first and drew 1-1. Emlyn Hughes scored for "The Reds". Martin Peters scored our goal. The second leg was played just two days later on a Wednesday night when we won 3-1. Martin Chivers scored twice, with John Pratt also scoring. Ian Callaghan scored Liverpool's goal. Callaghan (83 in April) is one of the few remaining living members of the 1966 England World Cup squad.

Spurs went on to win the 1973 League Cup. Liverpool's first League Cup success was in 1981 when they beat second division West Ham in a replayed final (at Villa Park). Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen scored goals in the 25th and 29th minute after Paul Goddard had opened the scoring after 10 minutes. Future Spur Ray Clemence was in the Liverpool goal, and ex-Spur Jimmy Neighbour was in the West Ham team. Both are sadly no longer with us.

Spurs and Liverpool also met in the 1972/3 UEFA Cup semi-final, won by Liverpool on away goals. They went on to succeed Spurs as UEFA Cup holders, beating Borussia Monchengladbach on aggregate.

Spurs were Liverpool's League Cup Final victims in 1982 (after extra-time) in a season when we were chasing three cup competitions, and succeeded in only one - the FA Cup against QPR. Liverpool were halfway towards winning the competition in four consecutive years. Spurs led after Steve Archibald's 11th minute goal until Ronnie Whelan equalised three minutes before time. He, and Ian Rush scored in extra-time. It was an agonising defeat.

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot (who apparently declined the chance to join Spurs in 2023) had a remarkable record in 2024 as manager of Feyenoord then Liverpool. His teams played 49 games, winning 39, drawing 9 and losing just one - Liverpool's home defeat by Nuno's Nottingham Forest. Their return match is next Tuesday.

Opta's Supercomputer gives Liverpool an 89.89 per cent chance of winning the Premier League. At the start of the season it was only 5.6 per cent.

Mo Salah's current figures are 21 goals and 17 assists in all competitions. He is also now seventh equal in the list of all-time Premier League goalscorers with 175 goals, 173 of which have been for Liverpool.

I'm not hopeful, but let's see a scoreline that keeps us in the game for the second leg which is not being played until Thursday February 6th.

Our match referee tomorrow (for the first time this season) is Stuart Attwell. Mr. Attwell refereed us only once last season, when we beat Everton at home just before Christmas 2023. It is nearly 15 years since Mr. Attwell first had charge of a Spurs game. That was a Premier League game away to Birmingham, which was drawn. Mr. Attwell does a lot of VAR work these days, but has officiated 11 Premier League games this season. VAR will be in operation for the remainder of this tournament.

Did you know? - Legendary goalkeeper Pat Jennings' last club appearance for Spurs was 14th January, 1986 in our home Screen Sports Super Cup game against Liverpool (which we lost). The competition was created because English teams were banned from Europe following events at The Heysel Stadium in May 1985. Liverpool lost that European Cup final 1-0 to Juventus.

Follow @spursodyssey