Liverpool will be too good for Tottenham in Carabao Cup semi-final but sacking Ange Postecoglou isn't the answer
Yesterday at 08:01 AM
Ange Postecoglou faces another demoralising defeat when Tottenham entertain Liverpool in their Carabao Cup semi-final, first leg.
Spurs have just taken one point from their last four Premier League games which includes a hefty 6-3 defeat on home soil by the table-toppers from Anfield.
The pressure is on Big Ange to get results to move the fallen giants up the league ladder as they currently languish in 12th , but his job appears to be secure for the time being as Tottenham are still involved in the chase for Europa League silverware and Sunday’s FA Cup trip to non-league Tamworth is surely a routine exercise even for a squad blighted by injuries.
Suggestions the Australian could be dismissed appear wide of the mark with a dozen first-team regulars receiving treatment for injuries meaning that even if he was replaced his successor would be handcuffed by the same lack of options.
New recruits to boost numbers have already started to arrive in N17 with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky signed from Czech leaders Slavia Prague and if further additions are made to the squad and key personnel return from their absences then Postecoglou could still back up his bold boast of winning silverware in his second season in charge of every club he has managed.
To his credit, Tottenham have reached the semi-finals of this competition the hard way by beating both Manchester City and Manchester United, and they have reached the final of the League Cup in its various guises three times since winning it in 2008.
But Liverpool are a cut above the rest despite being held to a 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United on Sunday and they can make multiple changes and still field a strong side ahead of their FA Cup jolly against Accrington Stanley at the weekend.
Their only defeat of the season in all competitions was at home to surprise package Nottingham Forest, who they meet next week at the City Ground, and the Reds should prevail again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where Diogo Jota is likely to be given a start, making him interesting at 13/2 to break the deadlock with Paddy Power and 31/20 with Unibet to score at any time.
Tottenham will field as strong a side as possible and captain Heung-min Son is 5/2 with Sky Bet to score for the hosts.
Over 4.5 goals is 17/10 with Unibet and a 3-2 Liverpool win is 14/1 with William Hill, bet365 and BoyleSports.
• Nottingham Forest have fared well above expectations in the Premier League and could go a long way in the FA Cup if manager Nuno Espírito Santo shows ambition and a desire to win silverware.
Back Forest, who host Luton in the the third round, each-way at a whopping 40/1 with bet365, BoyleSports and Sky Bet to lift the trophy at Wembley in May.
• One Big Bang, second in heavy conditions at Newton Abbot at the end of October, will handle the equally testing conditions in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Warwick on Saturday and is 6/1 with Paddy Power, Sky Bet and Betfair to be first past the post.
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