Liverpool switch their attention to the defence of the Carabao Cup tonight. The Reds head to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a semi-final first-leg showdown.

Newcastle United already have one foot in the final after they won their first leg 2-0 at Arsenal last night. And Liverpool will be hoping to dish out further north London pain on a Tottenham team that are riddled by injury and suspension problems.

Whether that allows Reds boss Arne Slot truly to rotate his squad remains to be seen. While his current Premier League and Champions League leaders will be hot favourites to hand out a second defeat to their opponents in the space of 18 days, Spurs have proved this season they can beat the best on their day.

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So how should Slot line-up this evening? Our Liverpool writers have their say...

Paul Gorst

The first of two cup games this week is most certainly the biggest one, so if Arne Slot is going to make wholesale changes against either Tottenham or Accrington Stanley, then I strongly suspect it will be Anfield on Saturday lunchtime.

Having navigated a path to the last four without having to use too many of his big guns, Slot might be tempted to bring several of them back tonight but I am going to give Ibrahima Konate the evening off given his exertions on Sunday after a five-week absence. Jarell Quansah comes in and there's a start for Kostas Tsimikas at left-back, also.

In midfield, I'm going to give Harvey Elliott the nod if Dominik Szoboszlai is not fit enough. Curtis Jones can rest up and Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch both start.

Up top, Diogo Jota starts through the middle and Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah complete the front three and they can all rest up for Tuesday at Nottingham Forest after a host of changes are made against Accrington.

My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Elliott, Gakpo; Jota.

Ian Doyle

The League Cup may be the lesser of the two domestic cup competitions, but once you get to the semi-final stage it's probably worth taking seriously. And that'll be very much in the mind of Arne Slot as he considers his team selection for the first leg at Tottenham Hotspur this evening.

What, then, is the Liverpool boss to do?

There will be changes, most certainly in goal where Caoimhin Kelleher should start. At centre-back, Ibrahima Konate can't begin so Jarell Quansah comes in. After that, though, is interesting. On consideration, skipper Virgil van Dijk should also be at centre-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold right-back and Andy Robertson on the left.

In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch hasn't played at all in this competition and he can have another rest. Wataru Endo can come in alongside Alexis Mac Allister with Harvey Elliott operating as the number 10.

Up top, it's time Diogo Jota got a start down the middle, and I'd have League Cup specialist Cody Gakpo on the left and keep Mohamed Salah on the right. Everyone of note will have a rest at the weekend, surely.

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Elliott, Gakpo; Jota.

Theo Squires

Arne Slot was giving very little away in terms of his thinking regarding team selection for Liverpool’s League Cup semi-final first leg away at Tottenham Hotspur. But with Joe Gomez - and maybe the ill Dominik Szoboszlai - the only players missing, the Dutchman has plenty to play with.

With Accrington Stanley looming in the FA Cup on Saturday, wholesale changes are not needed. But the Reds can field a nice blend of starters and squad players as they look to move one step closer to reaching successive League Cup finals.

Caoimhin Kelleher returns in goal, with the competition very much his tournament in my eyes having shone in Liverpool’s 2022 and 2024 final victories. Virgil van Dijk captains the side, with Jarell Quansah partnering him after Slot admitted Ibrahima Konate wasn’t ready to start two games in a week after injury.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is taken out of the firing line after struggling against Manchester United, with it all-change at full-back as both Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas start.

In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister keeps his place and is partnered by Wataru Endo as Ryan Gravenberch is afforded a night off. Harvey Elliott starts ahead of them at number 10.

And in attack, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez can both get opportunities from the start, with Mohamed Salah completing the attacking trio.

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Elliott, Jota; Nunez.