PreviewKostas Tsimikas interview: Tottenham, Carabao Cup hunger and sharpness

The current holders meet Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur in the capital on Wednesday night for the first leg of their last-four tie.

The Reds are ultimately looking to return to the Wembley showpiece and retain their crown, but will not overlook the latest challenge in their way.

• Round-up: Arne Slot's pre-Tottenham Carabao Cup press conference

"Before it [Wembley] comes we have to win against a big opponent," Tsimikas told Liverpoolfc.com. "I think always when we play against them it's really tough.

"First of all, we have to win both games if we want to be at Wembley. I think they have very, very talented players and they play really, really good football.

"Everybody is excited for this challenge but, first of all, we have to win the two games.

"Many years they [Tottenham] want to win a trophy and I think they will [do] everything to do that.

"As I say, it's a very, very hard opponent to play against, but this team showed many, many times that we are 100 per cent focused.

"The team is clear: we want to win everything. From the start of the season, we set our goals and the only thing we have to do is to go there, play our football and win the game."

Liverpool's desire to lift the League Cup again has only increased since winning away at Southampton in December's quarter-finals.

Tsimikas wants another unforgettable memory at the national stadium, having delivered the corner that Virgil van Dijk headed in to decide last season's final with Chelsea.

He continued: "Of course [the team's hunger increases], because you are two games away from the final.

"I think everybody who is playing football, the main aim is to win football matches and to win trophies.

"I think for everybody in this club the expectations are high. Always we want to win every single trophy we have ahead. The only thing we have to do is to play good football and to win football games.

"When you play in a stadium like Wembley, it's pleasant to be there and especially when you win the trophy and make everybody in this club happy and all the fans who always travel there and show their amazing support we have in every single game.

"We are more than happy to celebrate all together and always we want to win trophies."

Tsimikas made his comeback from an untimely injury in the Carabao Cup win at St Mary's when he appeared as a half-time substitute.

He has made a further two outings from the bench since then and now considers himself ready to grasp any starting XI opportunity given to him by Arne Slot.

"I wait for my turn from the manager to give me the chance to be back again and to play as good as I can and to help my team to achieve our goals," he said.

"Of course it was a little bit of a tricky period for me [with] the injury I had, but now I'm 100 per cent fully back and ready for every challenge I have ahead.

"I worked really hard – a lot of hours of treatment here in the training ground, even in my house. I always try to help myself [with] healing faster.

"I came back as fast as everybody thought but when you play in these high-level football games for this club, you have to be 100 per cent. I took my time.

"Now I'm fully here and 100 per cent. It was a really tricky period but I trained really hard and that's why I'm here."

Tsimikas is looking to recapture the form and rhythm he had prior to the setback so he can deliver a telling contribution in Liverpool's second half of the campaign.

"It will come again hopefully," the Greece international finished. "The only thing I care [about] is to be in the next challenge the manager will give me.

"The next chance, I will be there 100 per cent to play good, to help the team win the game. I know what I can do inside the pitch when I'm playing and I just wait [for] my chance.

"That's the dream for every player – to lift trophies, play football games. And especially when you are in this football club, it's a privilege when you are healthy and you have the chance to show yourself and to play for this club in front of all these fans.

"The only goal is ahead – to win trophies and to be happy."