Klopp vs. Pochettino Will Be Key Battle in Liverpool vs. Tottenham

With the international break dealt with, focus returns to the Premier League and Tottenham Hotspur's attempt to overhaul runaway leaders Leicester City. 

Seven games remain for Spurs, and the final sprint begins with a tricky trip to Anfield. 

Jurgen Klopp's first game in English football came against Tottenham.

When Liverpool travelled to White Hart Lane in October, they were much improved compared to the Brendan Rodgers vintage and left with a well-earned point after a tight 0-0 draw.

Five months later, Klopp's Liverpool remain a work in progress. 

At times, they've been excellent, with their hammerings of Manchester City probably the high-water marks.

They battered Aston Villa 6-0 at Villa Park in February, but that was more demonstrative of the home side's foibles than Liverpool's excellence. 

The collapse against Southampton in their most recent fixture underlined the fact Klopp's job is far from done.

Without a pre-season under the German, Liverpool's fitness levels are lacking. 

Injuries have repeatedly frustrated them and often prevented Klopp from playing his strongest lineup.

Klopp's rival on Saturday afternoon, Mauricio Pochettino, has been in place over a year longer, and his project is correspondingly further developed. 

In many ways, Spurs are what Liverpool aspire to become. 

They press better and with greater consistency and use the ball more efficiently when it is won back. 

Klopp's players can hardly be criticised for lacking the deep understanding of their tactically complex task as they've not had sufficient time to absorb it.

The long-term task facing Klopp will be challenging, but his immediate assignment is to derail Tottenham's title charge. But if all is equal, Spurs should emerge victorious. 

Klopp must find a tactical solution to the imbalance of the teamsheets.

In the reverse fixture, Liverpool were able to negate Spurs effectively but produced little themselves. 

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The suspension-enforced absence of Eric Dier was crucial to the Tottenham's subpar display.

With Dier missing, Dele Alli was withdrawn from his attacking-midfield position and asked to play a more controlled, defensive role.   

The loss of Alli's energetic and unpredictable movement wasn't compensated for by his replacement, Nacer Chadli.

Dier will start at Anfield, and Alli will be in his preferred role. 

Mousa Dembele was a doubt after sitting out training on Belgium duty, per HLN (h/t Football Insider), but Pochettino didn't mention him in his pre-match press conference, so it must be assumed he'll be fit to start alongside Dier.

In Dier and Dembele, Spurs possess the most effective defensive midfield in England. 

Dier's aggressive tackling and intelligent movement provides the perfect foil to Dembele's cautious distribution and strength on the ball. Dier takes possession, and Dembele never gives it away. 

Liverpool won't dominate the ball in this match, but they could frustrate Spurs, force mistakes and hurt them if they play with efficiency.

The attacking weapons Liverpool possess, namely Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino, can expose any defence. 

Spurs have the statistically most effective defence in the division (24 goals against). They've not conceded more than two goals against any domestic opponent, but few teams in the league offer such an effervescent attack. 

Regardless of the quality of individuals, Liverpool will be lost if they fail to unsettle Spurs. 

Klopp must force Pochettino to react to his tactical approach.

To allow Tottenham to play their normal game would hand the visitors a decisive advantage. 

Liverpool's midfield composition will go a long way toward determining the outcome of this match. 

Fiorentina's failed attempt to dominate Tottenham's midfield in the UEFA Europa League showed selecting a like-for-like lineup would be folly.

Instead, Klopp could inject a sense of chaos by picking an aggressive three-man midfield. 

Emre Can, Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson, with the always willing James Milner offering support from a wide position, could swarm Spurs in midfield and cut down their passing options while tracking Alli's dangerous movement. 

This would have the added bonus of better protecting Liverpool's vulnerable back four and force Tottenham to revert long passes out of defence.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, that has been a dangerous weapon for Spurs this season. 

Toby Alderweireld's ability to bypass midfield and put his forwards in one-on-one situations presents a unique challenge. Kevin Wimmer is also adept in this regard. 

Klopp is at a major disadvantage in this match as he confronts a team that shares the strengths of his side but is generally stronger across the pitch. 

The 2012 DFB-Pokal final was arguably Klopp's crowning result as Borussia Dortmund manager. It should provide the template of what Liverpool will try to do to Spurs.

In that game, his men punished Bayern Munich viciously for every turnover and tore the supposedly stronger team apart in a 5-2 triumph. 

Bayern made numerous costly mistakes on that day, and Spurs have been forced into errors by the best opposition they've faced this season.

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Both West Ham United and Dortmund, who inflicted Tottenham's two most recent defeats, applied selective pressure to great effect.

Ben Davies was particularly poor against both sides. And given Danny Rose played 57 minutes for England in midweek, he could be selected to face Liverpool. 

Dier is also limited under pressure, and if Klopp sets up his midfield as a hunting pack, he could be exposed.

Tottenham should win this game. They have the superior squad and a much greater motivation to win. 

Liverpool will be playing in front of their home fans, but there is little on the line beyond pride. However, Spurs' title hopes could be dashed with defeat. 

Both sides will set out with similar lineups and comparable tactical goals, but the visitors have greater familiarity and depth of understanding of what their manager is trying to achieve.

Liverpool could certainly win this match,and Klopp could massively increase his side's chances by disrupting Spurs' approach and forcing the visitors to adapt.

Putting the likes of Dier and Davies under pressure and avoiding conceding too much possession to the irrepressible Dembele or exposing their defence to dangerous long balls would frustrate Tottenham and force the crucial mistakes that could allow the home side to triumph.

Klopp is renowned as a master tactician. This match is an opportunity for him to show just how inventive he can be.