Carabao Cup team news and prediction: Tottenham vs Brentford

The first Carabao Cup semi-final of a strange season takes place tonight as Tottenham welcome Brentford to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. With a spot at Wembley up for grabs, Spurs will hope to maximise home advantage to ease past Brentford. 

Ahead of tonight's semi-final clash, we have all your need-to-know matchday information in one place, including team news, where you can watch the game and probable XIs.  

When is kick off?  

Tuesday 5th January, 19:45 GMT  

Where is the match?  

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London 

Where can I watch it?  

Sky Sports Football 

Route to the semi-finals 

Tottenham entered the competition in the third round, but secured a bye into the fourth round as their meeting with Leyton Orient was called off due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the the O's camp. Spurs earned a penalty shootout win over Chelsea on home turf and then booked a semi-final spot with a 3-1 win at Championship outfit Stoke. 

Spurs though need to be wary of the threat Brentford carry. The Bees have toppled Premier League opposition on their way to this round of the Carabao Cup, overcoming Southampton, West Brom, Fulham and Newcastle after eliminating Wycombe in the first round of the season. Is a meeting with a Spurs a bridge too far for the west London side, however? 

Team News 

Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Erik Lamela will miss the meeting with Brentford after the Argentine breached COVID-19 protocols. Giovani Lo Celso and Sergio Reguilon were in attendance at a Christmas gathering with Lamela, but the former misses out with a hamstring issue. The latter was in the matchday squad against Leeds, yet is unlikely to start. Japhet Tanganga and Gareth Bale are also sidelined, while Steven Bergwijn may not be risked after struggling towards the end of the 3-0 win over the Whites. 

In the Brentford camp, Thomas Frank is without injured trio Shandon Baptiste, Mads Roerslev Rasmussen and Christian Norgaard, though all three players aren't first team regulars for the Bees so their absence isn't a huge blow. Indeed, Frank is expected to go with his strongest XI here after their meeting with Bristol City was postponed. 

Probable XIs 

Tottenham (4231) - Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Moura, Ndombele, Son; Kane

Brentford (433) - Martin; Dalsgaard, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry; Dasilva, Janelt, Jensen; Mbeumo, Toney, Canos

Key Battle: Harry Kane vs Ivan Toney

Harry Kane became the first player to register double figures for both goals (10) and assists (11) in Europe's top five leagues this season with his first half penalty against Leeds on Saturday and he'll look to take that momentum into tonight's semi-final. The Spurs striker scored on his first Carabao Cup start of the season at Stoke in the last round and, with a spot in the final up for grabs, will be raring to go tonight.

Looking to steal the limelight from Kane, no player has scored more goals than Ivan Toney (16) in the Championship this season and after Brentford's league meeting with Bristol City was postponed, the 24-year-old, and his teammates, have had additional rest to prepare for this clash. Toney has been impressive on the road for the Bees this term, having a direct hand in 11 goals, scoring eight, in 11 away matches, so a trip across the capital shouldn't faze the in-form Brentford hitman.

Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Brentford