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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
27: There's your warning. Liverpool break from that corner like a group of red arrows flying up the field.
Moments later Sarr switches off with Mohamed Salah picking up a short pass before seeing his curled effort deflected wide for a corner by Yves Bissouma.
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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
25: Liverpool just starting to turn things up a bit, and the crowd have responded. Ryan Gravenberch fires in a shot from distance but it's blocked by Kevin Danso.
Danso then helps launch an attack with Djed Spence winning a corner off the boot of Mohamed Salah.
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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
22: There's not been a lot to get excited about so far. That's good news for Tottenham fans.
Although I'm sure you've all heard that Liverpool have progressed to the final on two of the last three occasions they’ve lost the first leg of a League Cup semi-final.
Arne Slot looks onCredit: GETTY
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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
18: Nice from Richarlison. He breaks away and is virtually the only Tottenham player inside the Liverpool half before drawing the foul. Spurs will need him to do that all night.
The free-kick goes behind for a corner which is swiftly dealt with despite a lot of pushing and shoving inside the penalty area.
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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
15: Ooft. There's another delay in play. Richarlison, followed by Darwin Nunez and now Tottenham defender Ben Davies has blood pouring from his head after that mix-up with Kinsky.
The Spurs medical staff are on the field with a box of Cleanex.
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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
13: Couple of nervy moments for Tottenham here. Archie Gray gifts the ball to Cody Gakpo inside his own half before goalkeeper Kinsky nearly spills a very routine looping ball straight to Darwin Nunez. He collides with Ben Davies and it isn't too pretty.
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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
11: Darwin Nunez down getting treatment after colliding with Richarlison. He's back up and running again.
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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
Live updates from our man at Anfield, Tom Barclay
Liverpool are the record holders of this competition, having won it ten times.
But they are going to have to overturn a one-goal deficit if they are going to get through and give themselves a chance of an 11th League Cup title.
Arne Slot was expecting a "competitive" game and there has been some early needly involving Richarlison and Virgil van Dijk.
Tottenham's Brazilian striker did not seem impressed when Van Dijk caught him with a stray elbow - but VAR backed up the on-field decision to take no punishment.
Richarlison reacts after clashing with Virgil van DijkCredit: GETTY -
LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
9: Liverpool's first venture forward sees Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky called into action with Mohamed Salah's deflected effort gathered easily.
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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
7: Should be interesting to monitor that situation between Virgil van Dijk and the former Everton man.
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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
6: Now what's happened here then... Richarlison and Virgil Van Dijk are having a scuffle and it's the Brazilian who ends up on the deck.
On a closer inspection it does appear that VVD has swung his elbow in Richarlison's direction. It hits him in the chest rather than the face.
In any case, VAR clears it with nothing given. Referee Craig Pawson not interested in getting involved.
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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
3: Well, you would have to say that Tottenham have started in a confident fashion. They've seen a little bit more of the ball with no chances for either side in the early stages.
I'll also say that those 6,000 Tottenham fans are making one hell of a noise.
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LIVERPOOL 0-0 TOTTENHAM
1: And we're underway folks.
Keep an eye out for that battle between Tottenham full-back Djed Spence and Mohamed Salah. Spence has only been dribbled past three times this season!
“This is the first time we have played a home game in a knockout stage, I am very curios to experience this moment," Arne Slot said shortly before KO. He's about to find out.
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Good news
Kind of.
It's pretty fortunate that Tottenham don't need to win the match tonight.
They've won only once at Anfield since 1999 in 27 visits.
That sole victory came in a 2-0 win with Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric both scoring. Spurs actually finished above Liverpool that season (2010/11).
Pepe Reina dives in vain as the shot from Rafael Van der Vaart (2011)Credit: GETTY -
Tel
Will Tottenham fans get their first glimpse of Mathys Tel in competitive action tonight? They will if he's TELeported onto the pitch… I'll see myself out.
Mathys Tel warming upCredit: GETTY
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Mr Carabao
Cody Gakpo loves the Carabao Cup. It's just a fact.
The Dutchman, 25, has made a total of 10 appearances in the League Cup and he's netted eight goals and provided one assist - winning it last year of course.
He's already bagged four (two braces) in this campaign and is now just two goals shy of breaking Robbie Fowler's club record of six goals in a single Carabao Cup campaign, set in the 2000-01 season.
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"Listening to some mug like me" - Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham manager Postecoglou said: "Kevin Danso has come in and he's settled in really well. He is pretty calm, matured and an experienced guy. We're putting him in today.
"It's a semi-final of a competition where there's a big prize. Irrespective of who you're playing and where you're playing.
"So give the best of yourself and enjoy it because the alternative is sitting on the couch and listening to some mug like me instead of being involved. We're involved tonight and that's the main thing.
"Every game is big for us. The league game on Sunday was big for us, the last European game was big for us. It shows we're doing something right, because we're on the verge of doing something special."
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Options
This clash, of course, is being broadcast on Sky and ITV this evening.
So for those with access to both, you've got Sky's Jamie Carragher, Jamie Redknapp and Michel Dawson vs ITV's Robbie Fowler and Les Ferdinand….
Personally? I think you should just stick with us. Obviously.
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Building
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Surprised
Jamie Carragher was a bit surprised with Arne Slot's team selection this evening, especially with what should be a straightforward trip to Plymouth on Sunday.
"I didn't expect that team," Carragher told Sky Sports.
"We know what Liverpool's best team is right now. It would be Luis Diaz in the centre. It's a bit of a shock Darwin Nunez is in, maybe he was disappointed with Diaz at the weekend.
"But we know that Nunez brings something different to Diaz."
He does indeed, Jamie. Chaos.
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Key figure
I wonder who this could be?
Yep, it's Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian superstar, 32, has been involved in nine goals in his last six appearances against Tottenham in all competitions, scoring six and assisting three.
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Niche
Did you know... Lucas Bergvall could become the first Tottenham player to score in both legs of a League Cup semi-final since Roman Pavlyuchenko in 2008-09.
Pavlyuchenko is involved in several real property and restaurant businesses across Russia, Wikipedia tells me.
Roman PavlyuchenkoCredit: GETTY -
Winning machine
Lot of talk about Ange Postecoglou's second season… what about Arne Slot's first?!
Replacing Jurgen Klopp looked a very tall order indeed but it simply couldn't have gone much better for the former Feyenoord boss.
Liverpool are still in the running for all four trophies - and have only lost three times in this campaign!
The Reds are odds-on favourites for the title, two games away from winning the Carabao Cup, face Championship opponents in the FA Cup and finished top of the Champions League's inaugural league phase.
Woof.
Top marksCredit: GETTY -
That second year
I wonder whether Ange regrets saying "I always win things in my second year" at a club?
Don't get me wrong, the confidence is great but he must of heard that said back to him a million times since he said it in September.
Sort of like when I said I'd propose six years ago.
Anyway, if you weren't aware, Postecoglou won a trophy in his second year with South Melbourne, Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F Marinos, the Australia national team and Celtic.
The only times he failed to win a trophy were with teams he did not stay for two years at - Panachaiki, Whittlesea Zebras and Melbourne Victory.
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Tottenham - two changes
Tottenham - Ange Postecoglou makes two changes to the side that beat Brentford over the weekend.
Kevin Danso replaces Pedro Porro with seemingly the most versatile player in world football, Archie Gray, moving to right-back. Mikey Moore drops to the bench with Pape Sarr starting.
Yes, yes, Mathys Tel is on the bench.