Liverpool Prepare to Face Tottenham After a Month Between Cup Semi Legs
With the Reds down a goal in the two-legged semi-final, leg two kicks off a full 29 days after leg one ended.
With the new look league phase of the Champions League pushing that competition into January, the already often difficult task of fitting in a two-legged League Cup semi-final into a congested fixture list got even more difficult this season.
The eyebrow raising answer was to have a full month, albeit a short 29 day month, between legs. A situation that would be downright laughable following a first-leg blowout. Perhaps fortuitously for the organizers, neither pairing provided that.
Both at least appear to be competitive—and in fact both see the perceived underdogs with an advantage. Newcastle are up two goals on Arsenal and host the Gunners in leg two, while Spurs are up 1-0 on Liverpool and now visit Anfield.
“If you play one week later, normally you face the same team again,” noted Reds manager Arne Slot. “With the injuries Tottenham had last time we played, it would have been a bit more to our advantage if we played them one week later again.
“It might change the quality we face compared to the last time—but we were already not able to win against them last time. So it’s going to be a difficult one. If you reach a semi-final against Tottenham, you know it’s going to be difficult.”
The goal, though, is at least straightforward with just the one goal deficit: win. Win by any margin and Liverpool at least force extra time and penalties. With the second leg at Anfield and given table position, most will expect that as the minimum.
“If you play in this shirt you need to win the game,” Slot added. “That’s for tomorrow, that’s for Sunday, that’s for the Wednesday afterwards and the game after that. Even if we go 1-0 down in the league or wherever, we want to win the game.
“That’s also what we tried in the away game—and we were close to a result until the last seconds. So nothing changes. If you wear this shirt, if you go out at Anfield, there is only one thing that is expected of you, that’s winning the game.”
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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