Tottenham host league-leaders Liverpool in a huge showdown in north London this weekend.
Spurs have limped into the new year on a three-game winless streak – including a 1-1 draw with Championship side Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.
They will need to bring their A game to the table on Saturday with Liverpool still in top gear. The Reds have kept eight clean sheets in their last 10 games in all competitions will hope to maintain their current run of five successive shut-outs.
All eyes will be on Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when Spurs take on Liverpool on Matchday 22. Jose Mourinho’s troops failed to impress in their last league match, with the team losing to Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium, meaning that fans are hungry for victories. However, home win should not be considered as Harry Kane suffered an injury in the 1-0 defeat to the Saints.
The good news for the hosts is that Korea international Son has served his ban. The Reds, on the other hand, aim to move one step closer to winning their first Premier League trophy since 1990. Jurgen Klopp’s troops are likely to stick to their attacking style of play against Tottenham, and they are going to take advantage of the fact that Harry Kane is out of contention with injury.
As always, all eyes will be on duo Sadio Mane – Mohamad Salah, who helped the Reds beat Sheffield United in the first game of the year.
Liverpool’s first-team stars will be well-rested after watching their youth team secure a famous victory over Everton’s senior stars in the FA Cup third round.
The mood will be even higher on the red half of Merseyside this week, and the break will have the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah fit and fresh for Spurs.
Jose Mourinho simply must find a way to inject goals into his team without Harry Kane – but he may struggle to achieve that against Virgil van Dijk & co.
However, Jose Mourinho also has a number of injury issues to contend with ahead of welcoming the top-flight leaders to North London.
Hugo Lloris: February has been pencilled in as the possible return month for Lloris, who has been sidelined since dislocating his elbow against Brighton & Hove Albion in October.
Ben Davies: Davies has been absent since sustaining an ankle injury in Mourinho’s first game in charge against West Ham United. The Welshman may not return until at least the end of January.
Dany Rose: Rose sustained a muscular injury last week, resulting in the Englishman being sidelined for the previous games. Mourinho has predicted that the left-back will be absent for ‘a couple of weeks’.
Harry Kane: Having been withdrawn against Southampton on New Year’s Day with a hamstring injury, Kane is expected to be sidelined for at least a month. Mourinho has suggested that the issue ‘is not a small one’, hinting that the forward is unlikely to return before the middle of February.
Tanguy Ndombele: Ndombele lasted just 25 minutes of the match against Southampton before being withdrawn due to a hip problem. With the Frenchman having missed out at the weekend, it remains unlikely that he will be in contention for a starting role against Liverpool.
Liverpool could welcome Xherdan Shaqiri and Joel Matip back for their mouth-watering Premier League clash at Tottenham this weekend.
Switzerland winger Shaqiri has been on the sidelines since the end of last month after picking up a muscle injury in the 1-0 victory over Wolves .
Defender Matip, meanwhile, has endured a three-month injury lay-off after aggravating a knee injury in the draw with Manchester United.
But the pair were seen training with the first-team squad at the club’s Melwood training base on Tuesday.
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp put his Premier League leaders through their paces ahead of the clash with Jose Mourinho’s struggling Spurs.
While it remains to be seen whether the pair will play a part on Saturday, it will no doubt be a huge boost to Klopp after a tough festive run-in.
The duo are seemingly on the road to recovery after joining Dejan Lovren, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the sidelines in recent weeks, although Oxlade-Chamberlain did come off the bench for the final 20 minutes of the Merseyside derby victory at Anfield achieved by a shadow Reds side.
A number of Liverpool youngsters impressed in the win, which was achieved thanks to a stunning goal from teenager Curtis Jones.
Head-to-Head
Liverpool
Matches Win Draw Lose
Overall 42 18 7 17
Home 21 13 4 4
Away 21 5 3 13
Tottenham
Matches Win Draw Lose
Overall 42 16 9 17
Home 21 11 4 6
Away 21 5 5 11
