Our Sporting Life big match guide has team news, stats, predictions and best bets ahead of the Super Sunday showdown between Liverpool and Tottenham at Anfield.
It's the big game on Super Sunday and another crucial encounter between Liverpool and Tottenham, when Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino will lock horns again with plenty on the line.
Signs of life at Spurs?
It's not been pretty at all for Spurs this season with just three wins from nine putting them in seventh place in the table, already 13 points behind the league leaders going into the game. What's going on at Tottenham has been a theme throughout the season so far after a bad start that hasn't really got any better.
Most point to the contract situation of the likes of Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld as a major fly in the ointment, with their contracts expiring next summer and them being able to sign pre-contract agreements with another team in January. Pochettino himself has admitted that things hadn't been right in the dressing room.
A 5-0 win over Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League was a huge boost though, and the noises coming out of the camp have been positive. Let's not forget this is a team that made the Champions League final so there's still plenty of talent there, so writing them off as no-hopers at Anfield is a dangerous game to play.
Reds see record end
Liverpool go into the game huge favourites, but they were big fancies at Old Trafford last week when Manchester United held them to a draw to end their 17-game winning run and prevent them from matching Manchester City's Premier League record.
How they bounce back from that will be the big question, but a similar thumping Champions League win will have helped. Their home form will also given them confidence, as you can see below, while Jurgen Klopp is not one for complacency.
Their lead at the table was cut by City and they won't want it dwindling any further as they close in on a huge meeting with Pep Guardiola's side next month.
Liverpool v Tottenham best bets
George Pitts runs the rule over all of Sunday's action, including the big one at Anfield.
Pundits' Predictions
Soccer Saturday's Phil Thompson, Matt Le Tissier and Charlie Nicholas have their say on the big game, including predictions, talking points and key battles for the game.
Liverpool v Spurs - The tactics
Alex Keble looks at the tactical battle that will take place at Anfield, will Spurs try to take a leaf out of Manchester United's book to stem the danger?
Mauricio Pochettino made some in-game switches last season that did the trick, will he try the same approach?
Liverpool's home comforts
Liverpool have an incredible unbeaten run going at fortress Anfield under Klopp, with the Reds last tasting defeat on home turf back in April 2-017 against Crystal Palace. Since then they've been about as good as it gets at home.
- Played 44
- Won 34
- Drawn 10
- Lost 0
- Win rate 77.3%
- Scored 115
- Conceded 24
Contrast that with Tottenham's away form over the last ten games.
- Played 10
- Won 0
- Drawn 2
- Lost 8
- Scored 8
- Conceded 19
- Points 2/30
What they said...
Harry Kane is hoping Tottenham have recovered enough form to try and hit Liverpool's title charge.
Jurgen Klopp insists Spurs are still a 'top team' even if they are struggling for consistency.
Liverpool v Tottenham team news
Liverpool defender Joel Matip is the only doubt for the game. The centre-back has missed the last two matches with the recurrence of a knee problem and he will require a final check before Sunday but there are no concerns over full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold (illness) and Andy Robertson.
Klopp is likely to restore Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum to the team after resting them for the Champions League win over Genk but fellow midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri (calf) is still out.
Tottenham are only missing goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for the trip to Merseyside.
The France captain is recovering from a dislocated elbow and will not feature again in 2019.
There are no other injury or selection concerns for boss Mauricio Pochettino, who admitted Ryan Sessegnon could be involved for the first time.
Provisional Liverpool squad: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Adrian, Gomez, Milner, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Origi, Brewster.
Provisional Tottenham squad: Gazzaniga, Vorm, Austin, Foyth, Aurier, Walker-Peters, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose, Davies, Sessegnon, Winks, Ndombele, Sissoko, Lamela, Alli, Eriksen, Lo Celso, Kane, Moura, Son, Wanyama, Parrott.
More drama at Anfield?
Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham - March 2019
A dramatic end to the game that kept Liverpool's title challenge on track thanks to a last-minute own goal from Toby Alderweireld from Mohamed Salah's header. It could have been all so different had Moussa Sissoko not blazed over when clean through as Liverpool pushed for a winner.
Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham - February 2018
This one had everything, a Victor Wanyama screamer from another planet, a missed Harry Kane penalty, a late Mohamed Salah goal followed by another Kane penalty - this time converted - to bag a draw.
Liverpool v Tottenham - Opta stats
- Liverpool have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League meetings with Tottenham (W8 D4), going down 1-4 at Wembley in October 2017.
- Tottenham are winless in their last eight away league games against Liverpool (D3 L5), last winning at Anfield in May 2011 (2-0), thanks to goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric.
- Liverpool won both league meetings with Spurs last season, and also beat them 2-0 in the Champions League final. They last won four in a row against them between 2013-2015 (a run of five).
- This will be Tottenham’s 25th Premier League game away from home against a side starting the day top of the table – they won their first such match (2-0 at Blackburn in November 1992), but are winless in their subsequent 23 games (D3 L20).
- Liverpool have lost just one of their last 48 games in the Premier League (W39 D8 L1), losing 1-2 vs Man City in January 2019. At Anfield, the Reds are unbeaten in 44 Premier League contests (W34 D10), last losing against Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace in April 2017 (1-2).
- Liverpool have won each of their last 11 Premier League games at Anfield – they last embarked upon a longer winning run at home in the top-flight during a 13-game streak between April and November 1985.
- Tottenham are without a win in their last 10 Premier League away games (D2 L8), including a 1-2 defeat to Liverpool in March. The Lilywhites last endured a longer such run between May 2000-January 2001 under George Graham (14 games).
- Between them, Sadio Mané (17), Mohamed Salah (12) and Roberto Firmino (7) have scored 69% of Liverpool’s last 52 home league goals. The last time neither of the three scored for the Reds at Anfield in a league game was December 2018 (1-0 vs Everton via Divock Origi).
- Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored six goals in his last eight starts against Spurs across all competitions, with four of those coming while playing for the Merseyside club (also one each for Basel and Fiorentina).
- Tottenham’s Harry Kane has been directly involved in seven goals in nine Premier League appearances against Liverpool (5 goals, 2 assists). However, Kane failed to score in both of his PL games against Liverpool last season, after netting three goals in two games against them in 2017-18.
Michael Dawson exclusive
Former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson talked to Sporting Life about Mauricio Pochettino's future and looks ahead to their huge test at Anfield.
Click here for the full interview
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