Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to book their spot in the fourth round of the EFL Cup when they make the trip to fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.
Spurs will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, while Forest claimed a point in a 2-2 draw with Brentford on Saturday.
Match preview
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Forest were on the verge of suffering another defeat against Brentford at the weekend, with Yoane Wissa sending the Bees ahead in the 75th minute of the contest, but an own goal from Mathias Jorgensen in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the 90 secured a point for the Reds.
Steve Cooper's side remain bottom of the table, having picked up just 10 points from their opening 14 matches, but they are only three points behind 17th-placed Bournemouth on the same number of games.
Forest's priority this season will undoubtedly be to stay in the Premier League, but a run in the cup competitions could boost their confidence, and they managed to secure their spot at this stage of the EFL Cup courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Grimsby Town towards the end of August.
The Reds have actually won the League Cup on four separate occasions, with their last success coming back in 1989-90, when they recorded a 1-0 victory over Oldham Athletic in the final.
Forest, who were promoted back to the Premier League via the Championship playoffs last term, have already lost to Spurs this season, suffering a 2-0 defeat at the City Ground back in August, while they have not managed to overcome the North London club since a 1-0 success in March 1997.
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Tottenham, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, which made it three losses from their last four games in England's top flight.
Spurs, who have advanced to the knockout round of the Champions League, remain in fourth spot in the table, three points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United, having played a game more than the Red Devils.
The North London club's form is slightly concerning heading into the break for the World Cup, and they have a huge game at home to Leeds United next Saturday, which will represent their final fixture until the season resumes on Boxing Day, with Antonio Conte's side set to travel to Brentford.
The EFL Cup is down Tottenham's list of priorities this season, sitting fourth behind the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, but it was the last trophy that they won, enjoying success back in 2008.
The trophy might well be the club's best chance of silverware this season, and the team's supporters will be demanding a response on Wednesday evening following the disappointing display against Liverpool.
Team News
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Forest will again be missing Omar Richards, Harry Toffolo, Giulian Biancone, Jack Colback and Moussa Niakhate for Tuesday's EFL Cup contest with Spurs.
Head coach Cooper will use this match as the chance to hand squad players some much-needed minutes, with wholesale changes expected from the clash with Brentford.
Jesse Lingard, Renan Lodi, Willy Boll, Joe Worrall, Wayne Hennessey and Orel Mangala are among those expected to be handed starts, while Sam Surridge and Taiwo Awoniyi could both come into the attack.
Tottenham will again be without the services of Son Heung-min, who underwent surgery at the end of last week to address a fracture around his left eye.
Richarlison, though, could be back in the squad after recovering from a calf problem, while Cristian Romero has a slight chance of being involved in the EFL Cup affair.
Head coach Conte will make wholesale changes from the side that took to the field against Liverpool at the weekend, with Matt Doherty, Lucas Moura, Davinson Sanchez, Japhet Tanganga, Fraser Forster, Bryan Gil and Oliver Skipp all in line for starting roles against Cooper's side.
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Hennessey; Aurier, Worrall, Boly, Lodi; O'Brien, Yates, Mangala; Lingard, Awoniyi, Surridge
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Forster; Doherty, Sanchez, Tanganga, Lenglet, Sessegnon; Skipp, Bentancur, Bissouma; Lucas, Gil
We say: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Both managers will make wholesale changes from their respective Premier League games at the weekend, and it is difficult to predict exactly what will happen in this match, especially as it comes before one more set of Premier League games ahead of the season coming to a halt. Conte will be able to call on the greater quality in reserve, though, and we are therefore backing the visitors to shade this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
