Liverpool head to Wembley to face Tottenham on Sunday afternoon, in another tough Premier League game for the Reds. Here’s all you need to know.
Tottenham vs. Liverpool
Sunday, October 22, 2017 — 4pm (BST)
Wembley Stadium
Premier League
Referee: Andre Marriner
There was always a feeling that somebody was going to get a hiding from Liverpool sooner or later, and Maribor were the victims on Tuesday night.
Jurgen Klopp‘s side destroyed their Champions League opponents 7-0 in Slovenia, with some of the attacking football on show sublime.
It wasn’t exactly the hardest of tasks, but the win should give Liverpool such a confidence boost after a tricky run of form, where victories have been hard to come by.
Up next is the weekend visit to Tottenham‘s temporary home ground, in what could be a very entertaining 90 minutes of action.
Both sides play very good football and adopt a high-energy style, and it will be fascinating to see who comes on top between Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino. The German is yet to lose to his opponent.
Spurs have become one of the country’s top sides under their impressive manager, and their team is as balanced as any in the Premier League currently.
From Toby Alderweireld all the way through to Dele Alli and Harry Kane, the north Londoners are a quality outfit, as they showed by drawing 1-1 away to Real Madrid in midweek.
We all know what Liverpool are capable of in attack, though, and the likes of Mohamed Salah, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino will be buoyant after being among the goals on Tuesday.
This really is a match that could go either way—the Reds will have to be at their best to come away with something positive.
Last Meeting: Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham
Team News
Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne are still sidelined through injury, but Klopp has no new fitness issues to worry about.
Joe Gomez is likely to come back in for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, even though the teenager both shone and scored against Maribor.
James Milner was excellent in Slovenia, producing one of his best performances in a Reds shirt, and many supporters are calling for the 31-year-old to start on Sunday.
That is unlikely, however, with captain Jordan Henderson set to return after being rested, and Emre Can and Gini Wijnaldum both used regularly in games against the top six.
Simon Mignolet will replace Loris Karius, with the Belgian first choice in the Premier League and the latter Liverpool’s Champions League goalkeeper.
Tottenham are without Victor Wanyama because of a knee injury, and Mousa Dembele is absent with an ankle problem. Erik Lamela is a long-term casualty.
Ben Davies should return to the side having recovered from illness.
Wembley Stadium
Capacity: 90,000
Away fans’ pubs: “Fans often drink in central London, at pubs dotted along the many underground stations en route to Wembley Park and Wembley Central stations, and Baker Street is a good example of this,” says Spurs fan George Lacey.
“Many fans also enjoy the many pubs near to London’s mainline railway stations, before making their way to Wembley nearer to kickoff time.”
Last 5 at Tottenham (All Competitions)
Tottenham 1-1 Liverpool – August 27, 2016 (Rose; Milner pen)
Tottenham 0-0 Liverpool – October 17, 2015
Tottenham 0-3 Liverpool – August 31, 2014 (Sterling, Gerrard pen, Moreno)
Tottenham 0-5 Liverpool – December 15, 2013 (Suarez x2, Henderson, Flanagan, Sterling)
Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool – November 28, 2012 (Lennon, Bale; Bale OG)
Form
Tottenham – Last five results (all competitions)
Drew 1-1 vs. Real Madrid
Won 1-0 vs. Bournemouth
Won 4-0 vs. Huddersfield
Won 3-0 vs. Apoel Nicosia
Won 3-2 vs. West Ham
Liverpool – Last five results (all competitions)
Won 7-0 vs. Maribor
Drew 0-0 vs. Man United
Drew 1-1 vs. Newcastle
Drew 1-1 vs. Spartak Moscow
Won 3-2 vs. Leicester
Did You Know?
Liverpool haven’t lost to Spurs in their last 10 meetings in all competitions. The Reds’ last defeat in the fixture came in November 2012—a 2-1 loss at White Hart Lane.
Klopp’s View
In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Klopp stressed the importance of his side counter-pressing at their devastating best this weekend:
“After all the things that we analysed, all the good things we did that didn’t lead to the result we wanted, you asked me ‘what can we do so we score?’,” he said.
“We cannot change the situations we had, we can only have more and easier.
“It could be easier if you win the ball back in more situations than we did in the last few games through counter-pressing.
“It keeps you in a much better position on the pitch, it’s energy-saving because you don’t have to run for long distances. That’s [why] I was very happy about this.
“Am I 100 percent sure we will do it again? Not so far. But I’m going for the proof.
“I think that will be a really big key against Tottenham: a football-playing, top team of the league. It will help a lot, we will see.”
TV & Live Blog Info
Sunday’s clash finishes off the Premier League weekend in style, with Sky Sports Main Event showing live coverage from 3.30pm (BST), after Everton and Arsenal do battle at Goodison Park. Kickoff at Wembley is at 4pm.
Out matchday live blog will be running from 3.15pm, with Henry Jackson tasked with keeping you entertained and up to date throughout the afternoon.
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