Liverpool and Tottenham’s Anfield Test Comes With Everything at Stake

LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur meet at Anfield on Tuesday night in the third round of the EFL Cup, with both clubs treating the tie as a potential turning point after inconsistent starts. The match offers two managers a tactical reset as they pursue silverware.

Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi arrives under immense pressure. Spurs made substantial summer investments to build a highly competitive squad, yet they have failed to win or score in any of their opening four Premier League matches. De Zerbi is renowned for a fluid, possession-based style, but he has struggled to find a formula capable of unlocking opposing defenses.

The lack of attacking production has left Tottenham desperate for offensive inspiration, while the club’s recent away record provides another concern. Spurs have scored more than once in only one of their last nine away fixtures, failed to score in four of those matches, and managed just six goals across the stretch.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola also wants a response. The Reds drew 0-0 at Anfield over the weekend against a winless Fulham side, and although squad rotation is anticipated for Tuesday, Iraola has made clear that he expects a significantly sharper performance.

Iraola inherited a club with a rich EFL Cup legacy. Liverpool have reached the final in three of the last five years and lifted the trophy in both 2022 and 2024. They are also the competition’s most successful club, having won it 10 times.

Manchester City moved within one title of Liverpool’s record by winning the competition last season. Tottenham’s four EFL Cup triumphs leave them behind Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United with six, Chelsea with five, and Aston Villa with five. Spurs’ last domestic silverware came in this tournament during the 2007/08 season, when they beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Anfield has been an unforgiving venue for Tottenham. Spurs are winless in their last 17 visits to Liverpool’s home ground, a run stretching back to May 2011. Their latest trip, on March 15, produced a 1-1 Premier League draw only after Brazilian forward Richarlison scored a dramatic 90th-minute equalizer.

That draw ended a three-match winning streak for Liverpool in the fixture. The Merseyside club have won five of the teams’ last six meetings overall, while the historical aggregate also favors the hosts: Liverpool have 92 victories across all competitions, Tottenham have 50, and 45 matches have ended level. Liverpool lead the all-time scoring aggregate 312 goals to 219.

Richarlison is Tottenham’s most potent current threat against Liverpool, with three goals in the fixture since May 2022. The overall scoring record belongs to former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who has scored 14 times across all competitions—three more than late Tottenham and England legend Jimmy Greaves.

The EFL Cup head-to-head has been closer. Tuesday’s match will be the seventh meeting between the clubs in the tournament since 1984, and Tottenham hold a narrow advantage of four wins to Liverpool’s three in those ties. Liverpool, however, have won each of the last four EFL Cup meetings.

Their most recent cup encounter came in the 2024/25 semi-finals. Tottenham won the first leg 1-0 at home before Liverpool dismantled them 4-0 in the return leg at Anfield.

The match is scheduled to begin at 20:00 BST, equivalent to 5:00 PM ET and 2:00 PM PT. UK television coverage will be shown live on ITV4, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, and Sky Sports Ultra.

Supporters can stream the game through the ITVX app and website. Now TV also offers live streaming with Sky Sports day passes priced at £14.99, monthly memberships at £34.99, or a 12-month commitment costing £27.99 per month.