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Liverpool sent League Cup warning as worrying semi-final issue emerges

Liverpool's Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch (centre) and Luis Diaz at the end of the League Cup semi-final first leg match at Tottenham Hotspur on January 8 2025
-Credit:Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images


The final whistle was still resonating through the chilly North London air at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Virgil van Dijk metaphorically rubbed his hands together. Not, though, in an attempt to warm himself up, but rather at the prospect of avenging a disappointing reverse.

"It’s quite cliched but it’s half-time now and I’m looking forward to the game back at Anfield," said the Liverpool skipper.

With the Reds having underwhelmed in going down 1-0 to injury-hit Tottenham in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final for only a second reverse under head coach Arne Slot, there is certainly room for improvement.

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But with the return game at Anfield not until February 6 - Liverpool will play another seven games before the second leg - there is plenty of scope for the landscape to change, both in favour or against Slot's side.

And the portents suggest the Reds could have a difficult time overturning the one-goal deficit as they aim for a record-extending 15th League Cup final appearance.

This is the 20th time Liverpool have reached the semi-final stage of the competition, with Lucas Bergvall's controversial strike four minutes from time consigning them to only their sixth first-leg loss.

Twice, in 2001 against Crystal Palace and two years later versus Sheffield United, the Reds overturned a 2-1 away loss by winning at Anfield 5-0 and 2-0 respectively. They went on to win the final in both years.

But on the three previous occasions they have lost 1-0 away - to Nottingham Forest in 1980, Queens Park Rangers in 1986 and Southampton in 2017 - Liverpool fell short in their attempted comeback.

Slot's side, then, will have to break new ground to set up another Wembley final date in March. Tottenham, though, have won only one of their last 27 visits to Anfield, losing 19 in that time. Ten of those defeats have been by a single goal, which of course would send the game to penalties with away goals no longer a consideration in top-level club football.

Wednesday was the 11th time Liverpool have played the first leg of the League Cup semi-final away, with it their sixth defeat in that time. And their lack of firepower on Wednesday continued a trend of now having scored just eight times in their last 10 semi-final first legs in the competition.

It all points to Van Dijk and Liverpool having much work to do if they are to retain the trophy that won so thrillingly against the odds against Chelsea at Wembley last year.