Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday, with Andy Robertson returning to Anfield for the first time since leaving the club this summer, this time as a Spurs player.
Andoni Iraola’s side are unbeaten in five matches under their new head coach, while Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham arrive under mounting pressure after four Premier League games without a win or a goal. Liverpool are the competition’s most successful club with 10 titles and have lost only two of their last 20 meetings with Tottenham, who have not won at Anfield in any competition in 15 years.
De Zerbi, though, has said he wants a strong run in the cup competitions this season, and Robertson, who spent nine years on Merseyside before his free transfer in the summer, is expected to start against his former club.
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match preview and team news
Date: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Venue: Anfield
Referee: Andy Madley
Last meeting: Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League, 15 March 2026)
Team news
Liverpool
Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni remain sidelined for Liverpool, though Joe Gomez is back in training and available for selection. Iraola has confirmed Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal in place of Alisson, with widespread changes expected elsewhere after a lacklustre performance in Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham will be without Sandro Tonali (knock), Pedro Porro (muscle) and Dejan Kulusevski, while Richarlison remains frozen out of De Zerbi’s plans despite being eligible for cup selection. Destiny Udogie returns to contention after missing the draw with Everton, and De Zerbi has indicated he will not make wholesale changes given the pressure already on his side.
Form
Liverpool
Liverpool remain unbeaten under Iraola but have won only once in five matches, most recently held goalless at home by Fulham despite an encouraging Champions League win over Atletico Madrid in midweek. The head coach has been candid about a lack of control in midfield, with question marks growing over how his side manage games without their front players pressing effectively.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham’s start under De Zerbi has been alarming, with the club yet to score in four Premier League matches following a summer outlay of close to £350million. Back-to-back goalless draws against Nottingham Forest and Everton have left Spurs 17th in the table, and De Zerbi has openly discussed the physical toll of a disrupted pre-season on several key players.
Predicted lineups
Liverpool predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Araujo, Endo, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Koumas, Munoz; Gakpo
Tottenham Hotspur predicted XI (4-3-3): Dubravka; Gray, Tosin, Senesi, Robertson; Bentancur, Bergvall, Gallagher; Kudus, Solanke, Marmoush
How to watch Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur?
The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on ITV4 and Sky Sports Main Event.
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