Liverpool vs. Tottenham: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info, Ticket News
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool host title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, a little under six months on from the German's first game in charge of the Reds away to Spurs in October.
Incredibly, Klopp has overseen 37 games in charge of the Reds in that short space of time, with his new team performing impressively on occasion but struggling to find consistency. Indeed, this would be the first time this season the Reds have recorded back-to-back home league wins should they defeat Mauricio Pochettino's side.
Spurs, on the other hand, have found consistency that has belied them in recent years, placing them second in the table with only four defeats this season. They know that a win can put them two points behind top-of-the-table Leicester City—who play on Sunday.
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While Spurs need the three points to put the pressure on Leicester, Liverpool need a win to keep alive their diminishing hopes of a top-four finish, while also looking for a confidence boost ahead of their huge UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie with Borussia Dortmund.
Spurs, Liverpool and Dortmund are all pressing sides, so on Saturday, Klopp's team will face a similar opponent to the manager's former side, who the Reds will meet on Thursday.
All the pre-match talk will focus on Spurs' title chase, finding themselves in a similar position to what Liverpool were in two years ago.
Sporting a tan after a mid-season break to Tenerife during the international break, Klopp said:
"If I were not the manager of Liverpool maybe I could enjoy the stories of Leicester and Tottenham more.
This is a pretty good year to become champion because a lot of clubs who fight for this title are usually not involved. There is pressure for teams at the top and we will see who handles it better.
This is the decisive third for Tottenham and if you want to become champion of the Premier League, for Tottenham especially, this year is a good opportunity.
"
Tottenham have history against them as they arrive at Anfield, where they've won just once in the last 17 visits—losing 3-2, 4-0 and 3-2 on their last three trips.
The Londoners' last win at Anfield was in 2011, before that, it was all the way back in 1993.
Date: Saturday, April 2, 2016
Time: 5:30 p.m. BST / 12:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Anfield
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK) / NBC (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Sports (UK) / NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.)
Form Lines (Last 5 Games)
Liverpool
Lost 3-2 vs. Southampton
Drew 1-1 vs. Man United (Europa League)
Won 2-0 vs. Man United (Europa League)
Won 2-1 vs. Crystal Palace
Won 3-0 vs. Man City
Tottenham
Won 3-0 vs. Bournemouth
Lost 2-1 vs. Borussia Dortmund (Europa League)
Won 2-0 vs. Aston Villa
Lost 3-0 vs. Borussia Dortmund (Europa League)
Drew 2-2 vs. Arsenal
Team News
Liverpool are without Christian Benteke, who picked up an injury while on international duty with Belgium, but compatriot Divock Origi has returned to training and is available.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Klopp said a late decision will be made on Roberto Firmino, saying "it will be close" whether the Brazilian is available or not.
James Milner missed the Reds' last game—the 3-2 collapse at Southampton—due to suspension but is back available again. Likewise captain Jordan Henderson, who was only fit for the bench in that defeat on the south coast.
Alberto Moreno is back fit after missing the Reds' last two games with a hamstring issue.
For the visitors, Pochettino has doubts over defender Toby Alderweireld and attacker Erik Lamela, but both are expected to be fit. Captain Jan Vertonghen is sidelined, though, meaning Kevin Wimmer will continue at centre-back.
Predicted Lineups
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Can, Henderson, Milner, Coutinho, Lallana, Sturridge.
Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Alli, Eriksen, Lamela, Kane.
Player to Watch
Liverpool: Mamadou Sakho
In this corresponding fixture at White Hart Lane in October, Frenchman Mamadou Sakho was Liverpool's standout player, producing a dominant performance under new boss Klopp.
Since then, Sakho has perhaps epitomised this Liverpool team. He's produced more impressive showings—especially in big games, such as the Europa League match at Old Trafford—but also struggled for consistency and had the odd nightmare performance, such as Watford away.
Sakho had appeared to have formed a nice partnership with Dejan Lovren in recent weeks, but Liverpool's defence fell to pieces after Martin Skrtel replaced Lovren at half-time against Southampton a fortnight ago.
Klopp will need Sakho and Lovren to continue in defence, keeping Skrtel—who gave away a penalty for Slovakia during the international break—out of the picture.
Tottenham: Mousa Dembele
While Harry Kane and Dele Alli have rightly taken plenty of the plaudits this season, there's been several others who have performed impressively for Spurs without getting the same acclaim.
Among them is midfielder Mousa Dembele, who sits in the engine room of Pochettino's high-energy side. The box-to-box Belgian provides the experience between the youthful duo of Alli and Eric Dier and has stepped up his game this season.
Key Battle: Midfield
Dembele, Dier and Alli vs. Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and James Milner is undoubtedly a key aspect of this game.
With two pressing, energetic sides, midfield will always be key. Henderson has been struggling for form all season and must provide a display more akin to the two he produced against Spurs in 2013/14, when the Reds' won 5-0 and 4-0.
Emre Can will need to be positionally disciplined to ensure Alli isn't given the freedom to find Kane with regularity. The England duo have linked up with impressive effect in recent months.
With Firmino a doubt, Klopp will likely field Milner in a narrow right-midfield role, with Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho supporting Daniel Sturridge in attack.
Both teams like to press the opponent, but both have been found out when coming up against teams who press them too, so this will be an intriguing battle. Liverpool could opt to start fast and shock the visitors—similar to their home match against Arsenal in January, or alternatively, they could play more on the counter and utilise Sturridge's pace on the break.
Odds (Via Odds Shark)
Liverpool: +154
Spurs: +201
Draw: +244
Ticket Information
For ticket information on all Premier League games visit the official website or go to the ticket page on the home club's official website. Secondary ticket information for Liverpool can be found here.
