Stoke v Tottenham Hotspur: Carabao Cup quarter-final – live!

3 min: An in-swinging corner from Moura brings Lonergan into the action for the first time. The keeper goes to punch it clear but is not needed, as Batth nods it away for him. But when the cross comes back in from the left, Lonergan is required to punch it to safety.

2 min: Arsenal were a goal down at this stage in yesterday’s quarter-final, so it’s been a superb start by Stoke even though Spurs have had about 99% of possession.

1 min: Off they go in a very blustery conditions. Spurs are wearing their dark green third kit for the first time this season. There must be still time for you to order it as a Christmas gift?

“Good evening! Hoping Spurs get on the front foot right away and attack so we can get two or three up by half time. Then we can withdraw people like Kane and rest them for Saturday. But as a Tottenham fan knowing us I doubt it will be that simple!” quips Dan F.

“Is Michael O’Neill’s decision to play 37-year-old Andy Lonergan in goal—after two years on the bench with pipe and slippers at the ready—the ultimate ‘Lads, it’s Spurs!’ moment?” chortles Justin Kavanagh.

Concerning the inclusion of Alli and Bale, Mourinho suggests this represents a chance for them to play their way into the starting lineup in the Premier League. “It is an opportunity. Of course the objective is to win and go to the semi-final and I would never a pick a team or a player that I didn’t believe can perform for the team and do the job we need to do.”

Mourinho also says that Stoke have been fine hosts so far, having upgraded the facilities for visiting teams in the wake of a recent condemnation from the likes of Neil Warnock. “It’s very good,” says Mourinho. “I know the ones who complained had a reason to complain because we watched the videos. Probably we have to thank them because today we have very good facilities.”

The conditions in Stoke are – yes – very wet and windy. O’Neill says that was a factor in his decision to plump for Lonergan n goal. “We only had young goalkeepers as other options and we felt with the conditions, and at this stage of the competition, we decided to go with experience. “ He adds: “The league is always our priority and we want to push for a top six position but having got this far in the competition, we want to treat this game properly. We’ve made six changes but we’ve put energy in the team.”

With three goalkeepers out injured and another Cup-tied, O’Neill has chosen to give a start between the sticks to 37-year-old Andy Lonergan , who hasn’t played a competitive match for nearly two years. The unrested Harry Kane will be deadset on testing his reflexes … and look, there’s Dele Alli, given a chance to play his way back into José’s heart … or attract January bidders.

Stoke: Lonergan; Collins, Souttar, Batth; Smith, Thompson, Cousins, Fox; Oakley-Boothe, Brown, McClean

Subs: Fletcher, Ince, Shawcross, Powell, Noukeu, Tymon, Vokes

Spurs: Lloris; Doherty, Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Hojbjerg, Winks, Lucas, Bale; Alli; Kane

Subs: Hart, Alderweireld, Reguilon, Sissoko, Lamela, Son, Vinicius

Referee: D England

Hello. Stoke City win trophies at a rate of one every 153 years so they wouldn’t exactly have been viewed as prime contenders to win this season’s Carabao Cup even before being pitted against one of the best teams in England. Yes, that means Spurs even though they come into this game on the back of defeats to Liverpool and Leicester, two of the five teams above them in the Premier League table. With jumping back up that table being their chief priority for this season – and this being one of three matches Spurs have to play in a week – José Mourinho is likely to make several changes to his usual starting lineup. But make no mistake, he would like to win this tournament to prove he has turned Spurs into winners and he has a mighty squad so the Premier League side should certainly be expected to beat a team sitting seventh in the Championship. But Michael O’Neill, who took over Stoke last season when they were bottom of Tier 2, has a proud record of upsetting teams with far greater resources, especially from his time with Northern Ireland and Shamrock Rovers. Stoke have already ousted Wolves and Aston Villa this season and are capable of bloodying Tottenham’s noses. Let’s be having you!