Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur meet at Anfield on Wednesday evening in the third round of the Carabao Cup, with kick-off scheduled for 8:00pm BST (3:00pm ET / 5:00am AEST). Supporters in the UK can watch the fixture free-to-air on ITV4 and via the ITVX streaming platform, while US viewers have access through Paramount+ and Australian fans can tune in on beIN SPORTS.

Form heading into the cup tie

Neither side arrives in confident mood. Liverpool drew 0-0 at home to Fulham at the weekend, a flat result that frustrated supporters just four days after a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. Manager Andoni Iraola faces a tricky selection dilemma — this is Liverpool's third match in under a week, yet the Wembley final is only three rounds away, making progression a genuine priority.

Defender Joe Gomez, returning from a pre-season injury, could be handed minutes as Iraola looks to manage his squad's workload without sacrificing ambition in the competition.

Tottenham's situation is arguably more alarming. Their 0-0 draw with Everton on Saturday left them without a goal in the opening four league games of the season — a record low in the club's history — despite investing well over £300 million in the summer transfer window. Back-to-back 17th-place Premier League finishes have tested the patience of their supporters, though a 5-1 thrashing of Charlton Athletic in the previous Carabao Cup round hinted that De Zerbi's side can perform when the pressure shifts.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi is contending with a number of injury absentees, though full-backs Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie could return to the squad after sitting out the Everton draw.

What's at stake

For both Iraola and De Zerbi, this competition offers the clearest path to a first trophy at their respective clubs. Winners on Wednesday will need only three more victories to lift the cup at Wembley, making this tie considerably more significant than a routine midweek fixture.

The concurrent third-round fixture between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion is also being broadcast on ITV the following evening, underlining the competition's growing profile.

Prediction

Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur. The hosts are narrow favourites, though the final outcome may hinge on how boldly each manager approaches team selection.