Ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker Gary Lineker has predicted that his former club could have an advantage over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final - as he predicted Arne Slot could rest some of his key men for the clash.

The Reds currently lead both the Premier League and Champions League standings at the halfway point of the season following an impressive start to the campaign. However, the Carabao Cup represents the first opportunity for new head coach Slot to win a trophy after succeeding Jurgen Klopp in the Anfield hotseat.

The Merseysiders have reached the last four of the domestic cup after defeating Southampton in the quarter-final last month. Now a two-legged tie with Spurs awaits the record ten-time winners of the competition with the first leg taking place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Jan. 8.

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Ange Postecoglou will be without stars including James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr for that game due to suspension. However, former Spurs forward Lineker believes that the North Londoners could potentially boast an advantage if Slot decides to rest some of his key players due to commitments in other competitions.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said: "Particularly, probably the cup game because it’s been so long since Spurs have won something. It’s hard to see him getting past Liverpool. The only thing I would say is that Liverpool will probably rest quite a few.

However, he later conceded: "I know it sounds mad in a semi-final, but there are Champions League games coming up, although they’re in pretty good shape there. But with them being so far ahead in the league, that would take absolute priority for Liverpool. So I’d be surprised if they didn’t mix it up a little bit, which might help the chances of Spurs."

Addressing the subject of squad rotation due to fixture congestion following the clash with Southampton in the last eight of the competition, Slot admitted that he felt it was necessary to make changes. He said: "It would be normal if I play with all the regular starters that we have a better team than we have tonight otherwise I make every week the wrong decision.

"It's more for the long-term fitness of the players that we made the decision that the ones who have played so many minutes to give them a bit of rest during this week, because the schedule is going to be intense again in the upcoming weeks," he continued, as he revealed his methodology. "For the ones who have played a lot, only 45 or 60 minutes, and the ones who haven't played a lot play 90."

Prior to the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, Liverpool faces arch-rivals Manchester United in what could prove a pivotal game in the Premier League title race. The Reds currently boast an eight-point advantage over second-placed Nottingham Forest - having played a game less than their rivals.