Just a month ago, this meeting between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield was being hyped up as a potential Premier League title decider, just as it was two seasons ago.
With how the reverse fixture went down, there would have been an extra impetuous for the Liverpool players to get a win, not only to avenge that October defeat but also the draw at Anfield two seasons ago that ultimately cost them a second Premier League title.
Instead, it has been a month from hell in Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour as the team have gone from three points clear of third place Man City to now being five points off first place Arsenal. With City four points ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand, that gap could increase ever so more.
This will be Klopp’s third last game as Liverpool manager, just his penultimate at Anfield, they will want to try to go out on some sort of high for the end of his tenure.
Meanwhile, Tottenham need to win to keep their hopes alive of a top four finish. After leading the league in late October, they currently reside seven points behind Aston Villa with a game in hand. A win on Sunday would put the pressure on Villa, who play earlier in the day, only three days after a damaging 4-2 home loss to Olympiacos on Thursday.
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Team News
Club captain Virgil van Dijk is a doubt for the game, having missed training this week. Should he miss the game, then the duo of Ibrahima Konaté and Quansah would likely be the centre-back pairing.
Conor Bradley may see a return to the substitutes bench but is likely to be beaten by Trent Alexander Arnold for the starting spot. Diogo Jota suffered an injury set back against Fulham, and this game may be a tough ask for the Portuguese international to return for. Meanwhile, Thiago Alcântara, Joël Matip, Ben Doak and Bobby Clark remain out.
All eyes will be on Mohamed Salah after his and Klopp’s public feud at West Ham.
Spurs not only lost against Arsenal last weekend, but also lost two players for the season as Timo Werner and Ben Davies suffered season ending injuries, to their hamstring and calf respectively.
The club will also be without Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon, Destiny Udogie and Fraser Forster. James Maddison was only a substitute for the Chelsea loss, so he is likely to be one of the first names on the team sheet when it comes to Sunday's match.
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Likely Lineups
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Konaté, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Díaz.
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Van de Ven; Bissouma, Hojbjerg; Kulusevski, Maddison, Johnson; Son.
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Key Players
Liverpool – Alexis Mac Allister
Should Endo start as the 6, then Alexis Mac Allister will be allowed to roam further forward, an area of the pitch where he excels the most.
He has been one of the signings of the season and his creativity will be much needed to a side that has struggled for it so much lately.
Tottenham Hotspur – Cristian Romero
Despite their recent form, Liverpool will always be a threat at home, and they will need their Argentinian centre-half to be at his best to stop the threat of Diaz, Salah and an improving Gakpo.
Diaz will cause the most threat on the left wing, looking to cut inside on his right where he will enter Romero territory.
Should Romero get the best of the Columbian, then there is a good chance that Spurs stop Liverpool’s attack.
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Match Details
Where is the game being played?
Liverpool are the hosts for this one, with the match taking place at their home ground, Anfield.
What time is kick-off?
This game is scheduled to get underway at 4:30 PM BST on Sunday.
How can I watch?
The game will be televised on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.
