Tottenham and Liverpool will go head to head in a clash of two English powerhouses. Spurs are fresh after a 4-1 victory in the FA Cup, whereas Liverpool were knocked out by Manchester United in another FA Cup clash.
Match Timings: Dec 29, 1:30 AM IST
Team Preview
Liverpool will travel to Hotspur Stadium for a Premier League encounter against Tottenham. The Reds are not in good touch since Christmas. They ended 2020 with a top-finish in the table but downfall in the next couple of games made a pause on their glory. They lost to Southampton in the New Year clash and later, Burnely ended Liverpool’s 63-matches unbeaten streak at Anfield. In the previous outing, Man United defeated them in a 3-2 thriller to end the FA Cup campaign. Klopp’s side has been already knocked out from the League Cup last year. Champions League draw will start from February and this is the only event where Klopp can look for the title. Liverpool’s last Premier League victory came on December 19 when they thrashed Crystal Palace 7-0 in an away fixture.
From the last four top-flight games, they even didn’t score a single goal which is a surprising element. They are winless in the last five matches and the title is slowly slipping from their hands. It is really unexpected to see Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino struggling for goals, and the drought of the scoring in the last four matches is the worst in the last 20 years. In the previous FA Cup clash, Salah got a brace but Bruno Fernandes spoiled the party with a fine free-kick shot. Reds will miss its captain Jordan Henderson for this match. He has trained with the team but his availability is in doubt. Thiago and Georginio Wijnaldum may join Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the middle. James Milner might be another option for Reds. Naby Keita and Diogo Jota will not be ready for this affair. The trio Salah, Firmino, and Mane will play full-time on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Tottenham also had its weak points. They are coming off a FA Cup success and this month, they also made it into the final of the Carabao Cup. Spurs can aim for the two silverware this season but Harry Kane is more focused on the Premier League. Spurs were in the top two at one stage but previous games hurt its position and the hosts have slipped to sixth with 33 points. They are just one point behind the defending champions and one victory away to Champions League position. They can proud of their performance compared to Liverpool.
The last defeat for Spurs was recorded against Leicester City and they also lost to Liverpool in its last meeting at Anfield, courtesy of Firminho’s late-winner. The table has been changed since then and Spurs are now favourites to take the points back on Thursday. Three points will put them ahead of 4th placed West Ham and 5-points behind to leaders. Spurs will go ahead in the home-game without the injured Giovani Lo Celso. Matt Doherty may miss this fixture and Serge Aurier might also be the latest absentee. Sergio Reguilon has been ruled out with a muscular injury. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Ndombele will make the final cut for the starting lineups.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
Tottenham
Lloris; Aurier, Dier, Rodon, Davies; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Bergwijn, Ndombele, Son; Kane
Current Form: W W W D W W
Previous match: 4-1 victory against Wycombe
Liverpool
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Thiago, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Current Form: D L W D L L
Previous match: 3-2 defeat to Man United (FA Cup)
Key Players
Tottenham
Harry Kane
12 goals in Premier League 2020-21
Sons
12 goals in Premier League 2020-21
Liverpool
Mohammad Salah
13 goals in Premier League 2020-21
Sadio Mane
6 goals in Premier League 2020-21
