Liverpool return to Anfield on Tuesday with the Carabao Cup offering a useful change of scenery, if not quite an escape from the questions raised by Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham.
Liverpool seek cup response against Spurs
Andoni Iraola’s side face Tottenham in the third round of the League Cup after both clubs drew 0-0 in the Premier League at the weekend. Liverpool could not find a way past Álvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham, while Spurs were held by Everton.
The league table gives the tie an extra edge. Liverpool are seventh, six points behind Arsenal and Manchester City, while Tottenham sit third from bottom and only a point clear of the relegation places.
For Iraola, the cup tie is not being treated as a sideshow. “We want to play well and win,” he said, with Anfield expecting a sharper performance after the frustration of Fulham.
In the dressing room
| Club | Premier League position | Weekend result | League context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 7th | 0-0 v Fulham | Six points behind Arsenal and Manchester City |
| Tottenham | 18th | 0-0 v Everton | One point above the relegation zone |
Giorgi Mamardashvili will take over in goal from Alisson Becker for the visit of Tottenham. Iraola revealed that he had tried to bring the goalkeeper to Bournemouth during his time on the south coast, and now has the chance to assess him in competitive action at Anfield.
Joe Gomez is ready to return, providing a welcome option for a manager still working out the demands of his squad. Iraola said the challenge is to establish which players can cope with matches every three days and which need recovery time to avoid a drop in performance or a greater injury risk.
There was less immediate encouragement on Conor Bradley, who is not yet available to train with the group. He is working on his own and has begun using the ball again, with Iraola keen to have him back as soon as possible. Giovanni Leoni, meanwhile, is closer to a return.
Patience after the Fulham stalemate
Iraola accepted the irritation around Anfield after Liverpool’s failure to beat Fulham. The manager said his players felt the disappointment themselves, particularly after encouraging displays against Ipswich and Atlético.
“We wanted to keep moving forward, but instead we took a step back,” Iraola said. “That is football. There will be good moments and bad ones during this process. The important thing is to become consistent.”
The manager also declined to discuss the details of conversations involving Virgil van Dijk and Xavi Hernández, the new Netherlands manager, amid uncertainty over whether the Liverpool and Oranje captain could end his international career.
Iraola confirmed that he knows Xavi well and had spoken with him when the Netherlands coach attended Liverpool’s match against Atlético. He also spoke with Van Dijk, but described the matter as private.
The week ahead
Tuesday night gives Liverpool a chance to replace the flatness of the Fulham draw with a cup win and a little momentum. Tottenham arrive with their own league worries, so neither side is likely to regard the Carabao Cup as a quiet evening under the lights.
SEO title: Liverpool v Tottenham: Iraola eyes Carabao Cup response at Anfield
SEO description: Liverpool host Tottenham in the Carabao Cup third round, with Giorgi Mamardashvili set to start and Andoni Iraola demanding consistency after the Fulham draw.
