Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport

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If things had worked out differently then Arne Slot could have been in the opposing dug out when his Liverpool side take on Tottenham on Sunday (16:30 GMT).

The Dutchman was heavily linked with taking over at Spurs in 2023 but, instead, stayed on at Feyenoord and went on to become Reds boss last summer.

Tottenham's loss has proved to be Liverpool's gain as Slot has won 20 of his 24 games in charge so far and the Anfield club are top of the Premier League, Champions League group and into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

However, Slot will want his team to get back to winning ways in the league at Tottenham and we'll get his thoughts when he speaks to the media at 09:15 GMT.

The Reds have had a nine point lead at the top of the table reduced to two by Chelsea and could go into the Spurs game in second place if the Stamford Bridge side win at Everton in a 14:00 GMT kick-off on Sunday.

Liverpool have drawn their last two Premier League games and had the derby at Everton postponed, while Chelsea have won their last three games in that same period and are on a run of five victories in a row.

Slot will be hoping his players are fresh and firing on all cylinders at Tottenham after most were rested for the midweek win at Southampton in the League Cup.

Alisson Becker, Luis Diaz, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Dominic Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah did not travel to the south coast and should be back, along with Andy Robertson who was suspended, to face Spurs.

Slot will also be back on the touchline for the game after having to watch the win at Southampton from the stands.

BBC Radio 5 Live

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Podcaster Joe Smith also spoke on if he believes Ruben Amorim is blaming certain players for Manchester United's form: "Well he left two out at the weekend. And he left four out this weekend so he clearly is blaming people.

"He's clearly someone that has standards and behind the scenes points the finger a little bit and tries to get the best out of everyone. I think he's got to do that. With the state United have found ourselves in the last 10 years of disarray. He's got to be like that."

Peter Schmeichel
Former Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC 5 Live

Marcus Rashford is just one piece in the jigsaw.

He is English and has a very high profile and therefore he's spoken about in the headlines.

This isn't about Rashford.

Ruben Amorim has a massive job on his hands. I have 100% faith in him that he can do it.

It's about new leadership and new direction.

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BBC Radio 5 Live

Joe Smith, who runs the Stretford Paddock Youtube channel and podcast, was on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning and said of the loss to Spurs: "All my emotions are completely shot after yesterday. I don't know what I was watching. I couldn't explain it to you."

And on if Marcus Rashford, who was left out of the squad, could have had an impact on the game: "Potentially yeah. It looks like he's out of form but he does tend to serve in big games."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Spurs podcaster Chris Cowlin was also asked how he feels about Tottenham facing Liverpool on Sunday in the Premier League: "We're going to be facing one of the best teams in the country but this season so far we have really competed against some of the best teams.

"We've got to give everything.

"We should be going into this game with Liverpool with big confidence."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Spurs podcaster Chris Cowlin was on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning talking about Tottenham's win over Manchester United. Reflecting on the game, he said: "It certainly was a rollercoaster but I'm feeling absolutely delighted.

"It was a mad, mad game. 3-0 up. Absolutely cruising in the game and then United come back and everyone was in the stadium thinking 'not again' because we've seen this happen time and time again over the years.

"This is what we do at Spurs. Truly entertaining stuff under Ange Postecoglou.

"We've got a real chance of putting a trophy in the cabinet."

"It will soon be 17 long years without a trophy and when you think of the quality of the managers and the quality of all of the players we've had through the door that have gone and left the football club without winning a trophy – Harry Kane included, we certainly do need a trophy."

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, speaking to TNT Sports after Thursday's 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers: "Very happy with the performances and results. In these kind of games it is easy not to do. They showed how professional they are and this is the right way.

"Since we started we have tried to share minutes - tonight was for young players.

"Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George are still very young, but we are very happy with them."

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport

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Teenager Marc Guiu scored a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea cruised past Shamrock Rovers to finish top of the Conference League league phase and deny their visitors an automatic place in the knockout stage.

Already assured of a last-16 spot, Enzo Maresca's youthful Blues made it six wins from six in the competition with another thumping victory.

They made early pressure count by taking a deserved lead when 18-year-old striker Guiu capitalised on a misunderstanding between Darragh Burns and goalkeeper Leon Pohls.

Rovers, who had gone close twice through Johnny Kenny either side of Guiu's opener, got back on level terms when Markus Poom's fierce shot deflected in off midfielder Cesare Casadei, delighting their 3,000 travelling supporters.

But those celebrations were short-lived as Guiu intercepted Daniel Cleary's under-hit back pass and steered the ball into the back of the net from the tightest of angles.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall drilled home a loose ball inside the area to give the Blues breathing space, before Guiu completed his treble with a close-range header in first-half stoppage time.

Marc Cucurella completed the scoring in the second half, his low shot striking the inside of the post on its way past Pohls as Chelsea ended the league phase campaign in style.

Manchester United

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford was again left out of Ruben Amorim's squad to face Tottenham.

This came after he said he was "ready for a new challenge" in an interview with journalist Henry Winter, having been left out of the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Asked if it is best for both parties if Rashford leaves the club in January, Amorim told Sky Sports: "Tomorrow we have training, he will be there preparing for the next game. He is a United player, everyone has a future at Manchester United."

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Manchester United

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, speaking to Sky Sports after his side's defeat by Tottenham:

"We disconnected at the beginning of the second half, that was a tough moment. If you look at all of the game, we were the best team but they were more clinical. We lost but the fight from the lads was really important for me.

"We were comfortable and dominated possession. It was not the last pass but the last shot [that was the problem]."

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Spurs and Arsenal have never met in a major domestic final but have faced each other four times previously in the League Cup semi-finals, in 1968, 1987, 2007 and 2008.

The semi-final first legs will be played in the week commencing 6 January 2025, and the second legs in the week beginning 3 February.

Wembley Stadium will host the final on 16 March.

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Holders Liverpool have been drawn against Tottenham in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup while Arsenal will face Newcastle.

Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have the won the cup competition a record 10 times, will face Spurs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the first leg before the return at Anfield.

Arsenal will play Newcastle at Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their tie before the second leg at St James' Park.

The draw also sets up the tantalising possibility of a north London derby in the final of the competition.

On the topic of a horrible night at the office between the sticks, let us know the worst performance you can remember from a goalkeeper.

The toughest job on the pitch....

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport

"Has there been a worse performance from two goalkeepers in the same game ever?"

That was the question posed by former Liverpool defender and Sky pundit Jamie Carragher after Tottenham's Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Manchester United.

It was a match in which United's expected goals (xG) was 2.38 and actual goals were three - and Tottenham scored four goals from just 0.67 xG.

The keepers in question were second-choices Altay Bayindir of Manchester United and Fraser Forster of Tottenham.

They were each directly responsible for two goals, while one shot which didn't actually end up in the net was kept out by a save which had commentators literally laughing out loud.

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Fraser Forster could only watch on as Joshua Zirkzee tapped in after he had given the ball away

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Forster was at fault again when Amad Diallo closed him down to make it 3-2

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Altay Bayindir claimed he was fouled for Tottenham's fourth goal

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Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, speaking to Sky Sports after his side's victory over Manchester United:

"We made it harder than it should have been, we were well in control, played really well, we looked like we were going to manage the game and then two unfortunate moments - the first one affected Fraser [Forster] and then the second one came as a result of that.

"But we showed character and scored a fourth.

"I love football and love watching teams that go out there to entertain. Obviously we want to be successful and we won't be if we make things difficult like we did tonight."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Tottenham survived a Manchester United comeback and their own attempts at self-destruction to reach the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Ange Postecoglou's side were cruising at 3-0 up with less than half an hour to go until two calamitous errors from Spurs keeper Fraser Forster opened the door to an unlikely United revival.

Dominic Solanke pounced on United keeper Altay Bayindir's error after 15 minutes as Spurs edged a tight, entertaining first half - and the real drama unfolded after the break.

Dejan Kulusevski drove home an emphatic finish seconds after the restart and, when Solanke struck his second after 54 minutes, United looked like they were being brought down to earth with a crash after Sunday's stunning derby win at Manchester City.

Forster made his first mistake after 63 minutes when an attempted pass from his goalline, intended for Radu Dragusin, was intercepted by Bruno Fernandes, who provided substitute Joshua Zirkzee with a simple finish.

The keeper was the villain of the piece again seven minutes later when he hesitated over another clearance before a poor first touch allowed Amad Diallo to charge in and profit from his moment of indecision.

Spurs eased the rising tension two minutes from time when Son Heung-min's corner drifted straight in, with more questions asked of Bayindir.

There was still time for Jonny Evans to head home a United third, four minutes into injury time with Forster again making an error, but Spurs managed to hold on for victory.

Tottenham edged Manchester United in a remarkable EFL Cup quarter-final that ended 4-3.

While Chelsea hammered Shamrock Rovers to finish top of the Conference League league phase.

We will bring you all the reaction to last night's football before diving into Premier League news conferences from 09:15 GMT.

Enjoy the footie chat!

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