Team news and stats ahead of the Carabao Cup quarter-final between Stoke and Tottenham on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports; Kick Off 5.30pm.
Team news
Stoke boss Michael O'Neill has a goalkeeping dilemma ahead of his side's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham on Wednesday.
Blondy Nna Noukeu, a 19-year-old with no first-team appearances, and 37-year-old Andy Lonergan, fourth choice at Liverpool last year, are the players in line for the unexpected opportunity as Spurs visit the bet365 Stadium.
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The situation has arisen after an extraordinary chain of events with three goalkeepers going down injured and another being cup-tied.
Adam Davies, who began the season as number one, and his replacement Angus Gunn were the first to be sidelined before Finland international Niki Maenpaa joined them on the sidelines within days of being signed as cover.
Joe Bursik has started the last nine games after being recalled from loan at Doncaster but he is cup-tied. Including Jack Butland, who left the club in October, as well as Noukeu and Lonergan, Stoke have used seven goalkeepers in matchday squads already this season.
Stoke are without a number of other players including experienced players John Obi Mikel, Joe Allen and Ryan Shawcross.
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho is set to rotate his squad for the trip to the Potters.
Giovani Lo Celso is a doubt after suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-0 defeat to Leicester at the weekend, with Erik Lamela (Achilles) and Japhet Tanganga (shoulder) out.
How to follow
Stoke vs Tottenham will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football and Main Event from 5pm on Wednesday; kick-off at 5.30pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Free highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
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How they got here...
Pitch to Post Review: What if Man Utd actually clicked? Plus: Arteta's stats debunked
Manchester United are in contention having barely performed this season - how good could they be if they actually clicked?
In the last Pitch to Post Review of 2020, Jasper Taylor is joined by Gerard Brand and Ben Ransom to discuss Manchester United's chaotic 6-2 win over Leeds, and whether in fact Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are title contenders (04:12). As for Leeds, we analyse Marcelo Bielsa's unapologetic style, and whether it can last (13:00).
The shambles at Arsenal continues as they are beaten at Everton, and after Mikel Arteta channels his inner Rafa Benitez with a list of statistics, the panel provide some other damning metrics (16:47).
In the Regional Review, Adam Bate discusses West Brom, Aston Villa and Wolves (32:59), and in part four we look at Tottenham's defeat by Leicester as Jose Mourinho was played at his own game to cap off a bad week (42:36).
DOWNLOAD THE PITCH TO POST PODCAST ON APPLE - or listen on Spotify below...
Opta stats
- The only previous League Cup meeting between Stoke City and Spurs was in September 2011, a goalless draw with the Potters winning 7-6 on penalties to progress.
- Spurs have won their last five games against Stoke, winning all five in the Premier League between April 2016 and April 2018 - four of those wins were by a four-goal margin.
- Stoke City are looking to reach the League Cup semi-final as a non-top-flight club for the first time - they have progressed three times previously to that stage, each time as a top-flight team in 1963/64, 1971/72 and 2015/16.
- This is Spurs' 25th League Cup quarter-final, with only London rivals Arsenal appearing in more (29, including this season). They have progressed from their last two ties at this stage, in 2014/15 vs Newcastle and 2018/19 vs Arsenal.
- Stoke City have kept clean sheets in all four of their League Cup matches this season and could be the first non-Premier League side to keep five in a row since Preston North End between 1997 and 1999. They are also the first side to have started in the first round and reached the League Cup quarter-final without conceding since Colchester United in 1974/75.
- Spurs' last three League Cup ties have all gone to a penalty shootout (W1 L2) - the only team to be involved in a shootout in four consecutive League Cup matches were Leicester between September 2018 and August 2019.
Carabao Cup key dates
In this season's competition, two-legged semi-finals will be replaced by a single tie.
December 22/23: Quarter-finals
January 5/6 2021: Semi-finals
April 25 2021: Final