Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur. Premier League.
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Saturday 11 February 2017 16:38, UK
Liverpool will be targeting their first Premier League win in 2017 when they host Tottenham in a top-four battle on Saturday evening.
The Reds have earned just one win in all competitions since the turn of the year - an FA Cup third-round replay against League Two side Plymouth - with three draws and four losses in the top flight.
Liverpool have not lost a game to Tottenham in their last eight meetings, and manager Jurgen Klopp is urging his side to step up against second-placed Spurs.
"Against a team like Tottenham we need everything we have got," Klopp said. "It's a strong opponent. If we play like we did in the first half against Hull, no chance, if we play like we did in the second half, better chance, but we should play better."
Mauricio Pochettino's side are four points ahead of their Saturday opponents, and can maintain their push on Chelsea at the top if they win this weekend.
But despite their recent run of poor results, Pochettino is aware of the Reds' threat, saying: "They are not on a good run but Liverpool have very good players, for me it is one of the best squads, not only in England but also in Europe."
Klopp is hopeful of having Adam Lallana available for the match after missing two days of training this week with a slight Achilles issue, while Dejan Lovren (knee) is also touch and go.
Ragnar Klavan has also been suffering with illness during the week and could miss out while the decision of who starts in goal is one Klopp is keeping under his hat.
Tottenham will be without defenders Danny Rose (knee) and Jan Vertonghen (ankle), meaning Ben Davies and Eric Dier are expected to continue in defence.
Erik Lamela is still struggling with pain in his hip but Kieran Trippier is available again after overcoming an injury to his ankle.
Liverpool are on an eight game unbeaten run against Spurs in the Premier League (W5 D3); they last went nine without defeat against them in March 1998.
Spurs have lost 15 of their 24 visits to Anfield in the Premier League (W2 D7) - they have only lost more often at Old Trafford (20) and Stamford Bridge (16).
Pochettino has never beaten Liverpool as Spurs manager (D3 L3), including losing a League Cup fourth-round tie earlier this season. However, when he was manager of Southampton he won two of three games (L1) against them.
Only against Newcastle (88) have Liverpool scored more Premier League goals than against Spurs (83).
There have been nine own goals in Premier League meetings between these sides - more than in any other Premier League fixture.
Liverpool have scored 12 penalties against Spurs in the Premier League - the most by a team against an opponent in the history of the Premier League.
The Reds have scored more penalties than any other Premier League side this season (6), with all six converted by James Milner.
Liverpool have won just one of their 10 games in all competitions in 2017; this is their worst start to a calendar year since 1993, when they mustered just one win in their opening 11 matches.
Spurs have conceded the fewest goals from open play in the Premier League this season (7). Indeed, Liverpool have shipped more goals from open play (18) than Spurs have in total this season (16).
Harry Kane has been involved in all three of Spurs' goals in their last two Premier League games at Anfield, scoring twice and assisting once.
No player has more Premier League goals in 2017 than Kane (6 - level with Romelu Lukaku). He is the only player to score 20 or more Premier League goals in the last two calendar years (27 in 2015, 22 in 2016).
Four of Spurs' last five away Premier League wins have seen them score four goals, most recently a 4-1 win at Watford on New Years' Day. However, they've never scored more than three goals in a game at Anfield.
Klopp has an identical record to Brendan Rodgers in his opening 54 Premier League games as Liverpool boss (W26 D16 L12).
This is a big game for both these sides' respective seasons. Liverpool are out of the title race now and they've done an Arsenal, going out of everything in the space of two weeks. If they're not careful they could be out of the race for the top four - they have to win!
A Tottenham defeat would more or less hand the title to Chelsea but could put Spurs' own aspirations at risk. If they lose and the other teams win, all of a sudden they're in a battle for the top four. It can change that quickly. Liverpool have to win and Tottenham have to make sure they don't lose, with that in mind I see Spurs denting Liverpool's season further.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Liverpool are Sky Bet's 23/20 favourites despite their troubling form, with Tottenham up against odds of 23/10, the same price as a fourth successive draw between the two sides. Klopp's men were all but written off in the title race at 66/1 after their Hull loss, while Spurs are considered the main threats to Chelsea at 14/1.
Roberto Firmino and Kane share favouritism in the first goalscorer betting at 5/1 apiece, while Milner is 12/1 to break the deadlock again after doing so at White Hart Lane.
