Ange Postecoglou, in a feat that eluded previous managers like Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho, and Nuno Espirito Santo, led Spurs to this hard-fought draw. Despite falling behind twice due to a Cristian Romero own goal and a Bukayo Saka penalty, Tottenham managed to salvage the match, thanks in part to Son Heung-min's brace, assisted by James Maddison.
This result marked the end of Spurs' three-game losing streak at the Emirates Stadium. It's worth noting that Tottenham has maintained a trend of scoring at least twice in every Premier League game under Postecoglou.
Liverpool, in typical fashion, faced an early setback in their recent EFL Cup match against Leicester City but ultimately emerged victorious with a 3-1 win. Kasey McAteer scored an early goal for Leicester, but Liverpool bounced back with goals from Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Diogo Jota.
This comeback win was consistent with Liverpool's recent form, where they have secured four consecutive 3-1 victories, including matches against LASK Linz, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and West Ham United. Liverpool currently enjoys a seven-game winning streak across all competitions and has climbed to second place in the Premier League, just behind the undefeated Manchester City.
In addition to their impressive run, Liverpool has not lost to Tottenham since their 4-1 defeat in October 2017, managing 12 consecutive matches without defeat, including a double over Spurs last season. However, this match will be their first encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Postecoglou as the manager, adding an element of intrigue to the showdown.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Tottenham's hard-fought draw in the North London derby had its share of casualties. Brennan Johnson suffered a hamstring injury during his full debut, and James Maddison took a tough knock to the knee but continued for a brief period before being substituted.Fortunately, scans on Maddison's knee have reportedly yielded reassuring results, and there is optimism that the Premier League Player of the Month for August will be fit to face Liverpool. However, Johnson's availability remains uncertain, with Richarlison ready to step in if needed.
Tottenham's list of confirmed absentees includes Ivan Perisic (knee), Giovani Lo Celso (thigh), Alfie Whiteman (ankle), Rodrigo Bentancur (knee), Bryan Gil (groin), and Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring). There is positive news regarding the latter two, as they have reportedly returned to training as part of their recovery process.
On the Liverpool side, Trent Alexander-Arnold, the vice-captain, has rejoined the team at Kirkby after dealing with a hamstring issue. However, his availability for the crucial Saturday clash remains uncertain, and he faces a race against time to make himself ready.
Midfielder Thiago Alcantara is the only other injury concern for Jurgen Klopp's team, with a few more weeks expected before his return from a hip injury. Apart from these concerns, Liverpool has a full squad available and is expected to field their strongest XI after giving some fringe players a run-out in the midweek match.
The attacking trio of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Mohamed Salah, with Salah returning after being absent on Wednesday, is anticipated to lead Liverpool's forward line. Additionally, the well-rested Joel Matip is likely to continue his recent run of Premier League starts in defense alongside Virgil van Dijk.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Richarlison
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
EXPERT PREDICTION
Tottenham 3-3 Liverpool
The availability of James Maddison will be crucial for Spurs' prospects of victory in this clash. However, Klopp's Liverpool side has once again demonstrated their resilience, making them a formidable opponent. As a result, it's conceivable that Ange Postecoglou may oversee a second consecutive high-scoring draw, with both teams maintaining their unbeaten records.
