MatchThe opposition lowdown: Tottenham Hotspur

Recent form

Spurs arrive into this game on a run of three consecutive defeats, losing 4-0 at Newcastle United before losses at home to Arsenal (3-2) and away to Chelsea (2-0) in the last seven days.

Ange Postecoglou’s side sit fifth in the Premier League table, seven points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa with a game in hand in the race for Champions League qualification.

The opposition view

Charles Eccleshare, The Athletic

On Spurs’ season so far…

I think if you zoom out, it’s been pretty positive. To be fifth, on the back of selling Harry Kane just before the season started, having been eighth last season and having been a mess, really, it’s improved a lot. Results have been so much better, and they have largely been playing really exciting football. It’s tailed off a bit recently, and it looks like they won’t get top four, but overall it’s been positive.

On Postecoglou’s likely approach against Liverpool…

He hasn’t compromised for any opponent so far. He went to the Etihad in December missing a ton of players and played the same way, escaping with a 3-3 draw. It’s going to be front-footed, it’s going to be positive. They will try to be as attacking as they can, which Liverpool may appreciate somewhat, being used to playing against low blocks at home.

On Tottenham’s key players…

Son Heung-min has been out of form recently but he is still the biggest goal threat. Micky van de Ven with his pace is crucial to how Spurs play - he’s a bit like William Saliba at Arsenal or Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool, that guy with the pace that allows them to push on. Cristian Romero as well has been brilliant of late, the vice-captain and he’s really led by example, as seen in the Arsenal game. He’ll be important.

Likely XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Royal, Bentancur, Maddison, Sarr, Kulusevski, Richarlison, Son.

Team news

Tottenham will definitely be without Ben Davies (calf), Timo Werner (hamstring), Destiny Udogie (thigh), Manor Solomon (knee), Fraser Forster (foot) and Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) for their trip to Merseyside.

Postecoglou also confirmed that they would need to assess the fitness of other first-team squad members, following the defeat by Chelsea on Thursday evening.

“It’s a bit early to tell,” the Spurs boss said on Friday. “There are a few of the guys who are feeling the effects of the game. We’ll probably get a better update later in the afternoon.

“I don’t think there is anything significant out of it, but we’ll find out a bit later.”

Previous meetings

Tottenham took the points when the sides met in north London back in September, with Joel Matip’s stoppage-time own goal giving Postecoglou’s side a 2-1 win after Son and Cody Gakpo had earlier traded goals. The visitors had a man sent off in either half.

The last Anfield meeting, in April 2023, ended 4-3 to Liverpool, Diogo Jota scoring a last-gasp winner after the Reds had seemingly given away a three-goal lead.

Liverpool have won 31 of the 63 Premier League games between the sides, drawing 17 and losing 15. At Anfield they have lost only two of 31 clashes.

What they said

Tottenham head coach Postecoglou

“[Jürgen Klopp] has had a massive impact. I’ve said before that I’ve always been drawn to managers who are a little bit different, who play the game a bit differently and have a really clear vision and identity, and he certainly has that.

“It’s not easy going into a big club that has traditionally had a lot of success and has then gone through a really tough spell in terms of that, and then come in and transform a club the way he did. It’s a credit to him, he’s an outstanding manager.

“I’m sure we’ll see him back managing at the top level again because he’s one of the top managers in the world. Credit to him that at such a big club he was able to imprint his style and vision and bring success.”