Match Preview: Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
The Reds host Tottenham on Super Sunday this weekend in an important game for our ‘top 4’ hopes. Results in midweek saw Liverpool go up to third in the league just 3 points behind second placed Man United.
Despite this, Tottenham are hot on our heels – currently 5th but just 2 points behind us and will leapfrog Liverpool with a win tomorrow.
The Reds come into this game off the back of a 3-0 away win against Huddersfield on Tuesday night with goals from Emre Can, Bobby Firmino and a Mo Salah penalty.
READ MORE: Klopp provides pre-Spurs injury update as Clyne and Lallana close in on return
It was a dominant performance from the Reds which saw us end the game with 75% possession and completing 600 more passes than the hosts. Cameroonian centre-back Joel Matip broke a Liverpool record in the win on Tuesday evening as he completed 161 passes, the most recorded by any Liverpool player in Premier League history.
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND – Tuesday, January 30, 2018: Liverpool’s manager Jürgen Klopp reacts during the FA Premier League match between Huddersfield Town FC and Liverpool FC at the John Smith’s Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The win against Huddersfield was a vital one with Liverpool entering the game having lost back-to-back games against Swansea and West Brom: the latter ending our hopes of a Wembley visit this season.
The visitors also enter the game in high spirits having beaten Manchester United on Wednesday night as a very early Eriksen goal and an own goal by Phil Jones ensuring Tottenham claimed a vital 3 points for their ‘top 4’ chase and makes the gap between them and the ‘top 4’ just two points once more.
Team News
Adam Lallana is unlikely to return to the squad for tomorrow’s fixture after only returning to training yesterday from a slight muscle tear.
READ MORE: Liverpool vs Spurs – The View from the Opposition
Ragnar Klavan is still yet to recover from his thigh strain so is still absent along with long term absentee Nathaniel Clyne who Klopp says ‘is in a good way’ despite not yet returning to training following a back injury.
Previous Fixtures
Liverpool are desperate for revenge after their hammering at Wembley earlier on in the season as Spurs claimed a 4-1 win. Dejan Lovren was brought off early in that game after an abysmal performance and received much criticism after the game for his performance.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, December 10, 2017: Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton, the 229th Merseyside Derby, at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The Croatian was praised by Jurgen Klopp this week for transforming his Liverpool career since then and could start tomorrow after a good performance on Wednesday night. Van Dijk is expected to start after being rested on Tuesday night.
When Tottenham last visited Anfield, the Reds claimed all three points in a 2-0 victory. Two Sadio Mane goals in the space of two minutes early on made sure the Reds claimed the win.
This is the 170th fixture between the two sides and is a vital game in the race for the top four. Liverpool have a great record against Tottenham previously having claimed 80 wins in the past. Spurs have beaten us on 48 occasions with the points being shared 41 times.
The Referee
Jonathan Moss is the referee tomorrow in the 16:30 GMT kick off between the two sides. The 47 year-old referee last refereed us in our 4-3 win against Manchester City who were unbeaten in the league prior to our victory against them.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Tuesday, October 25, 2016: Liverpool’s Danny Ings is shown a yellow card by referee Jonathan Moss during the Football League Cup 4th Round match against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The last time Moss refereed a fixture between Liverpool and Tottenham was a League Cup victory for the Reds at Anfield in 2016 where a double from Daniel Sturridge saw us lead 2-0 with 25 minutes to go.
READ MORE: Klopp gives his opinion on Jamie Carragher’s Virgil van Dijk comments
A Vincent Janssen penalty for Spurs with 15 minutes to go made it a nervy finish for the Reds but the win ensured Liverpool were through to the 5th round of the competition.
Statistics
Liverpool are yet to lose at Anfield this season in the league: their defeat to West Brom in the FA Cup last weekend was the first time Liverpool have lost at home in all competitions this season.
Red Arrows.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 3, 2018
The Reds have also only lost one of our last 23 games against Tottenham. Liverpool will be desperate to keep Harry Kane quiet. The Englishman has scored 18 goals in his last 13 away games
My Prediction
Tomorrow’s fixture is like a ‘6 pointer’ with both teams fighting for a top 4 place. Tottenham will definitely come into this game boosted by their victory over Man United in midweek.
It’s important we defend well tomorrow and I’m hoping VVD can keep Harry Kane in his pocket. I predict a 1-1 draw.
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