Gary Neville believes Tottenham Hotspur could benefit from their Carabao Cup exit as they prepare to host Liverpool in the Premier League next Saturday.
Spurs were knocked out of the competition last month by Fulham on penalties, ensuring they will play no part in the third round ties taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Liverpool are among the sides involved and will take on Leicester City at Anfield on Wednesday.
Tottenham, meanwhile, will have the whole week to prepare for going head-to-head with the Reds and may well be glad not to be in action after their energy-sapping 2-2 draw with North London rivals Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
Aware of how the Lilywhites’ lack of Carabao Cup football could play into their hands come next weekend’s showdown with Liverpool, Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast: “It will be really good [Tottenham vs Liverpool]. Tottenham go into that game now having been knocked out the Carabao Cup, which I think is a big disappointment. What it does do is give them a real free week now to be able to prepare for Liverpool. That is another test for them.”
Heung-Min Son’s brace at the Emirates ensured Spurs did not leave empty-handed and maintained the unbeaten start to the Premier League season for Ange Postecoglou’s side. Few had predicted they would have adapted so well to the loss of Harry Kane, who left for Bayern Munich this summer.
Recognising the London club appear to have turned a corner as a club, which Liverpool could soon discover, Neville added: “I will be honest with you, before this game [North London derby], I thought Arsenal were going to win and that the quality difference would be too big. I thought it would be a little bit of the old Spurs, in respect of when it really gets tough, we will see them overwhelmed. And we haven’t done. So I am pleasantly surprised sat here tonight.
“Tottenham go into next week now with a lot of confidence, but Liverpool are a tough team, a good team. They go into it with good form, Liverpool, and I think the Tottenham fans will be really happy they’ve got a good football team. They could have easily wilted in the last ten minutes.”