Liverpool vs Tottenham: Iraola to make six changes for Carabao Cup tie

Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in the Carabao Cup third round tonight, with manager Andoni Iraola expected to make six changes from the side that faced Fulham. Joe Gomez returns to full fitness, but Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni remain out.

  • Fixture: Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur, Carabao Cup third round
  • Venue: Anfield
  • Kick-off: Tonight (15 September 2026)
  • Headline selection: Giorgi Mamardashvili starts in goal; Ronald Araujo at centre-back
  • Injury boost: Joe Gomez back in contention after pre-season injury
  • At stake: A place in the Carabao Cup fourth round

Confirmed line-ups

No official team sheets have been released. The following XIs are predicted by Football Talk.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1)

Starting XI: Giorgi Mamardashvili; Jeremie Frimpong, Ronald Araujo, Virgil Van Dijk, Kostas Tsimikas; Trey Nyoni, Alexis Mac Allister; Victor Muñoz, Florian Wirtz, Rio Ngumoha; Cody Gakpo

Substitutes: Jeremy Jacquet, Milos Kerkez, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Bradley Barcola, Alexander Isak

Tottenham Hotspur

No predicted line-up was provided in the source article.

Selection notes

Alisson Becker is usually first choice but is rested, with Mamardashvili set to start. Ronald Araujo comes into the centre of defence alongside Virgil Van Dijk, which means Jeremy Jacquet drops to the bench. Kostas Tsimikas takes the left-back slot ahead of Milos Kerkez. In midfield, Trey Nyoni is expected to play the deep-lying role, Alexis Mac Allister box-to-box, and Florian Wirtz as the No.10, leaving Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch among the substitutes. Out wide, Rio Ngumoha and Victor Muñoz are tipped to start, with Cody Gakpo at centre-forward. That would give Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak a midweek rest, likely with Sunday's league fixture in mind.

Injury and availability

Joe Gomez: Out since pre-season but has returned to full fitness and is ready to be involved tonight.

Conor Bradley: Not in contention due to injury.

Federico Chiesa: Not in contention due to injury.

Hugo Ekitike: Not in contention due to injury.

Giovanni Leoni: Not in contention due to injury.

Cody Gakpo: Missed the opening Champions League game against Atletico Madrid with a minor problem but returned against Fulham; he should be fit to play tonight.

Why Iraola is rotating – and where the tie will be won

Liverpool's start to the season has been inconsistent: one win from four Premier League games, leaving them eighth on six points. With a league fixture to come at the weekend, Andoni Iraola is using the Carabao Cup to manage minutes and look at squad depth. The six changes are not just rotation for its own sake; they signal that Iraola wants to see whether his fringe players can impose the front-foot, high-press style he favours.

The most interesting selection is Trey Nyoni in the deep-lying playmaker role. Without a recognised senior No.6, Nyoni will be tasked with building from the back while Alexis Mac Allister pushes forward. That could leave Liverpool exposed to counter-attacks if Tottenham press aggressively – though Spurs have yet to score a Premier League goal this season, so their confidence in front of goal is fragile.

Ronald Araujo partnering Virgil Van Dijk is a physically imposing centre-back pairing, but it is also a new one. Communication and positioning will be tested, especially with two attack-minded full-backs in Jeremie Frimpong and Kostas Tsimikas. Iraola clearly wants to dominate territory, but the trade-off is vulnerability in transition. If Tottenham can survive the first 20 minutes, Anfield could become edgy.

Talking points

  • Should Iraola be rotating this heavily in a cup tie when Liverpool have won just one of four league games? Momentum matters.
  • Starting Trey Nyoni as the deepest midfielder is a bold call against a Spurs side desperate for a first goal of the season.
  • Leaving Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola on the bench hands Tottenham a psychological lift before kick-off.
  • Gomez's return is timely, but throwing him straight in after a pre-season injury would be a risk Iraola seems keen to avoid.

What happens next

Victory would put Liverpool into the Carabao Cup fourth round and ease some pressure on Iraola, whose side sit eighth in the Premier League. Defeat would intensify scrutiny before a demanding run of league fixtures. Tottenham, meanwhile, are chasing a first goal of the campaign and a morale-boosting cup upset at Anfield – a result that could transform their early-season narrative.

Frequently asked questions

Is Giorgi Mamardashvili starting for Liverpool vs Tottenham?

Yes – the predicted line-up has Mamardashvili starting in goal ahead of Alisson Becker, who is expected to be rested for the Carabao Cup tie.

Who is injured for Liverpool tonight?

Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are all out. Joe Gomez has returned to full fitness and is ready to be involved.

What time is Liverpool vs Tottenham in the Carabao Cup?

The match takes place tonight at Anfield on 15 September 2026. An exact kick-off time was not stated in the source article.

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