Arne Slot will have his sights set on a first cup final with Liverpool later as the Reds take on Tottenham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Liverpool is of course defending the trophy this season, having won it in spectacular fashion against Chelsea last year for Jurgen Klopp’s last piece of silverware. Now, the competition could provide his successor with the first of what he hopes will be multiple trophies this season.

Of course, with the Premier League and Champions League still the priorities for the Reds, Slot will almost certainly make some changes in north London this evening. Having come this far though, and facing a side that will be desperate to claim some silverware of its own, the Liverpool boss may want to send a strong side out.

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It’s a question then of how Slot balances things this evening. Considering Liverpool has an FA Cup clash with League Two side Accrington Stanley coming up at the weekend, that could be the ideal time for him to make wholesale changes and rest his stars, meaning tonight might see more subtle tweaks.

The first of those might see Caoimhin Kelleher deputizing for Alisson Becker in goal. Although Slot was coy on whether the Irishman will start, he has in essence become Liverpool’s cup goalkeeper over the last couple of years, and there is no reason to change that given he is a more than able backup to the Brazilian.

We could see a number of changes in defense. Slot has already suggested Ibrahima Konate might not be risked after making his return from injury on Sunday, so Jarell Quansah should start alongside Virgil van Dijk in the center.

Given the fallout from his performance against Manchester United, all eyes will be on whether Trent Alexander-Arnold starts tonight. If he doesn’t though, that’s not a sign of Slot losing faith by any stretch of the imagination, with Conor Bradley deserving of an opportunity at right-back.

We could also see Andy Robertson making way at left-back, with Kostas Tsimikas making his first start since November after returning from injury.

Midfield is a slightly tricky area to gauge. Slot would no doubt like to give Ryan Gravenberch a rest at some point, so Wataru Endo might come into his thinking, while Harvey Elliott deserves a chance to stake his claim, so he can replace Curtis Jones in the No.10 role, with Alexis Mac Allister providing some continuity.

In attack, it’s a question of whether Mohamed Salah is given a rest, and whether Federico Chiesa gets a rare start. The former’s fitness is exceptional, and having him in the side might give Liverpool the ideal platform to try and put one foot in the final, so he gets the nod from us.

On the left-hand side, Cody Gakpo gets another chance to add to his impressive tally in this competition, while it’s probably about time for Diogo Jota to return to the starting line-up, with the Portuguese replacing Luis Diaz.

Predicted Liverpool line-up vs Tottenham: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Elliott, Gakpo; Jota.