For Liverpool and their departing head coach Jurgen Klopp, things have not gone as planned. What started as a season with high hopes has turned into a struggle. While they did secure the EFL Cup, their dreams of a quadruple have been shattered with defeats in the FA Cup and Europa League.
To make matters worse, Liverpool has managed only one win in their last five Premier League matches, including a disappointing draw against West Ham and a heated argument between Klopp and star striker Mohamed Salah on the touchline.
This decline has put Liverpool on the verge of losing their shot at the Premier League title. They currently sit in third place, five points behind Arsenal and seven points behind Manchester City, who have a game in hand. A loss or even a draw against Spurs could spell the end of their title chase, especially if Arsenal wins against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Liverpool also faces the risk of losing three consecutive home games for the first time since 2021, after back-to-back defeats to Atalanta and Crystal Palace. However, there was a silver lining on Thursday when Tottenham lost to Chelsea, which secured Liverpool's return to the Champions League.
Tottenham, on the other hand, has been struggling with defensive issues, particularly in set-pieces. Their loss to Chelsea marked their third straight Premier League defeat, putting their Champions League hopes at risk. With 22 set-piece goals conceded in this season's Premier League, only Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United have worse records. Spurs are now seven points behind Aston Villa and have only one game in hand to make up that difference.
If Tottenham loses to Liverpool and Aston Villa beats Brighton, their chances for a top-four finish and Champions League football next season will be all but gone. Although Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou has downplayed the importance of a top-four finish in his debut season, their fans might feel differently, especially after the team's dramatic 2-1 win over Liverpool earlier in the season, which was marred by a controversial VAR decision.
All of this sets the stage for a high-stakes match at Anfield. Liverpool and Tottenham both have plenty to play for, and a loss could be disastrous for either side. It promises to be a thrilling encounter as these two teams battle to stay in the hunt for their respective goals.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Four Liverpool players—Joel Matip, Ben Doak, Bobby Clark, and Thiago Alcantara—are officially out for the rest of the season due to various injuries. Matip and Thiago, who are dealing with knee and muscle injuries respectively, might have played their last games for Liverpool, while Clark's injury hasn't been disclosed. In Friday's press conference, Jurgen Klopp added to the injury concerns by revealing that Virgil van Dijk hadn't trained, casting doubt on his availability for Sunday.On the brighter side, Conor Bradley has recovered from his ankle injury and is back in full training, ready for the match against Tottenham. Diogo Jota's hip issue should clear up soon, but he won't be ready to face Spurs.
After being benched for the West Ham game, Mohamed Salah had a public argument with Klopp, but the manager downplayed any tension, suggesting that Salah would be back in the starting lineup against Tottenham.
Spurs have their own injury problems. Prior to their defeat at Chelsea, Ange Postecoglou announced that Timo Werner (hamstring) and Ben Davies (calf) would miss the rest of the season due to injuries from the North London derby.
This adds to an already long list, which includes Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Manor Solomon (knee), Destiny Udogie (thigh), and Fraser Forster (foot). Despite these setbacks, Spurs should be able to bring back James Maddison, who was left out of the midweek lineup after a dip in form. Maddison could replace Richarlison, who didn't impress at Stamford Bridge.
With all these injury complications, both teams will need to make adjustments to their starting lineups. While Liverpool has the home advantage, they may have to cope without some key players. Spurs, too, will be hoping to bounce back from their recent struggles, despite their long list of injuries. The outcome could shape the rest of their seasons.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool possible starting lineup:Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Konate, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Emerson; Bentancur, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Maddison, Johnson; Son
EXPERT PREDICTION
Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur, with little time to rest and plagued by set-piece vulnerabilities, could see their top-four dreams crushed at Anfield, especially as some of their key players are struggling just when they need them the most.
Liverpool, under Jurgen Klopp, haven’t been their usual dominant selves this season, but they’ve shown a knack for comebacks, picking up 28 points from losing positions, which is impressive. With the memory of that controversial loss to Spurs in September still fresh, Liverpool might just find the motivation to turn things around and win this one, even if it doesn't significantly impact their season's outcome.
