Liverpool v Tottenham preview: Sky Sports Soccer Saturday panel give us their verdicts on the big Super Sunday game at Anfield
Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier give us their predictions, combined XIs and Klopp v Poch verdicts for Sunday's big game.
Matt Le Tissier
Who is it a bigger game for?
This is a good question. At the moment, it is a bigger game for Tottenham, given the situation they find themselves in - Liverpool are cruising at the moment. They dropped their first points at the weekend but a draw at Manchester United is no disgrace. Tottenham need to get their league form back on top, sharpish, so it is a bigger game for Tottenham.
Who has done a better job, Poch or Klopp?
I think you could say Jurgen Klopp has done better, as well as Mauricio Pochettino has done taking Tottenham forward, both consistently finishing in the top four and taking them to a Champions League final. The season Liverpool had last year, how they didn’t win the league was remarkable, but for winning the Champions League I would go for Klopp over Pochettino.
What Tottenham players would get into the Liverpool team?
This is another really good question! You could make a case for Toby Alderweireld alongside Virgil van Dijk, although he has not been up to his usual standards this season. I think Heung-min Son plays too far forward to fit in the middle three or one that could potentially play behind a front three. He is an intelligent footballer and could do a job in an attacking three behind those front three, but I am not sure you could argue with anyone easily getting into that Liverpool team. Harry Kane is the strongest case you could make, but other than that, I don’t think you can.
How will the game be decided?
I think if you look at the way the two teams have been performing, you would say the game would be decided through the midfield. I think Liverpool are in much better form through that middle area of the pitch. It is a shocker at the minute for Tottenham and do not see them getting much out of the game.
What is the key battle?
I think the key battle in this game is Harry Kane against van Dijk, and the other Liverpool centre-half. Other than that, I cannot make a case for Tottenham getting anything out of it. The pace and movement of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, alongside the trickery of Roberto Firmino, could be way too much for Tottenham.
I think you have to be naive if you didn’t have a look at what worked with how Manchester United went about that game to nullify Liverpool. Do Tottenham have the personnel to play that system well? He will have seen that it worked but will be looking at his side and seeing if they can do that. It would not surprise me if Tottenham switched to a back three, given what happened last week.
Score & scorers prediction
Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham (Sky Bet odds: 10/1)
Goals: Mane (2), Firmino, Kane
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Phil Thompson
Who is it a bigger game for?
You cannot get much bigger than what it is for Liverpool at the moment. It is another home game and another search for three points - it is vital. Throughout Jurgen Klopp’s tenure, Anfield has been a fortress. It is a holy grail to us as fans and three points to keep this run going is imperative. Having dropped two points against Manchester United, it is very important to get back on track against Tottenham. I can see the reasons as to why it is important for Tottenham. An ‘up and down season’ for Tottenham would be an understatement - but the result against Red Star Belgrade will give them a massive boost. The way they went about it will bolster them too.
Who has done a better job, Poch or Klopp?
You have to see the resurgence of Liverpool. You could say winning the Champions League puts Klopp above Pochettino, but it was two managers who had not won anything in the English game going into Champions League final. That has elevated Klopp, but he has also taken them to another Champions League final, Europa League final and a Carabao Cup final too. I admire Pochettino immensely, but even he would have to say that what Klopp has done has been unbelievable.
What Spurs players would get into Liverpool team?
You would have to think of Harry Kane. The amount of goals he has scored, so consistently over the years, would put him on anyone’s radar, but Roberto Firmino is also my favourite player in the Liverpool side. Kane is an out-and-out goalscorer, but a team player and a leader too, setting him above most centre-forwards in Europe. I am trying to think of the midfield players, and there is not a lot I would change - perhaps the players behind the front lines for both sides are not as creative as you would like, but all of them do a job for their teams.
How will the game be decided?
I think it will be decided by the front players. I think that is also where Tottenham’s best chances to play will derive from. The front three of Liverpool, if they function, are one of the best in world football. If Kane and Heung-min Son play well, with him getting back to full fitness, it will be difficult for Liverpool as Son’s pace can cause Liverpool problems, as seen in the past, so the forward players will have the biggest impact on the game.
It will be interesting to see if Tottenham start as a back three. It should have worked better than what it did against Watford. As well as Manchester United played, will Tottenham be able to do that at Anfield?
What is the key battle?
It will be between Kane and Virgil van Dijk. This is the most interesting scenario, to see how it develops. Kane is in fine form as England’s talisman, with van Dijk waiting to pick up the Ballon D’or.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham (Sky Bet odds: 17/2)
Goals: Mohamed Salah (2)
Charlie Nicholas' verdict
It is another cracking game. Tottenham bounced back in the Champions League, getting a lot of anger out of their system. The way he keeps talking, it is as if Mauricio Pochettino has a back-up plan - that is in the form of Manchester United or Real Madrid, who supposedly want him. He knows he gets on with the owner. The players want to take him for dinner too, it could be a drive-through!
Toby Alderweireld was rested, so where does that leave him? They now go to Liverpool and you want defenders like him playing there of all places, but you don't know what's going on behind the scenes. Is he not playing him because he hasn’t signed a new contract and is running his current contract down?
Tottenham managed to salvage a point against Watford and could have some confidence going into Anfield after their win through the week.
Saying that, I do not see past a Liverpool win, and they will continue to roll along with Mohamed Salah back in the side, scoring again through the week against Genk.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham (Sky Bet odds: 11/1)
Goals: Firmino, Matip, Salah