The Hard Tackle lists three players who can singlehandedly swing the tie in the upcoming game between Liverpool and Tottenham.
The games are coming almost every day in the Premier League as we get busy during the run-in. Several marquee fixtures are yet to entertain us, and they can swing various battles on the table decisively. One such match will feature Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur locking horns at Anfield on Sunday evening.
Both teams have been underwhelming for much of the 2022/23 season, although Tottenham led the standings in the early stages. The hosts, in particular, have been severely off the pace from the word go, failing to match the heights of last term. And after playing catch-up all campaign, Liverpool will leave it late in the top-four battle.
But since Liverpool went down 4-1 to Manchester City earlier this season, they have embarked on a five-game unbeaten run. On the other hand, instability has been the name of the game for Tottenham, with Antonio Conte departing last month after a sensational tirade after a draw with Southampton. Cristian Stellini replaced his compatriot but failed to galvanise the squad before facing the axe following the 6-1 hammering at the hands of Newcastle United.
With both teams in the doldrums, they desperately need to find the top form to keep their top-four hopes alive. So three points are crucial for Liverpool and Tottenham when they lock horns later on Sunday. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle lists three players who can singlehandedly influence how the tie shapes up.
Harry Kane
Harry Kane: “I feel like we lost a bit of what the values are at this club over the last few years. It's about finding a way to get back on the same page again, even with our fans”, told @SkySportsNews ⚪️ #THFC
“We want to improve. That goes from the top right through the club”. pic.twitter.com/7kSgdCruBY
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 30, 2023
Our list begins with a world-class attacker who has gone under the radar due to the exploits of one Erling Haaland. This player has led the charge for Tottenham on his own, often singlehandedly earning points for Tottenham. We are, of course, talking about Harry Kane.
The 29-year-old faces an uncertain future at Tottenham amid the struggles to clinch a top-four finish. His situation has further worsened due to the North London giants’ ongoing search for their next manager. And such a situation has alerted clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, among others.
But Kane has not let the speculation surrounding his future affect his form. Instead, he has gone from strength to strength with each passing week. And he showed his quality a few days ago when he inspired Tottenham to come from two goals down to hold Manchester United to a 2-2 draw.
However, unlike Thursday, Tottenham cannot afford to go behind Liverpool, whose form at Anfield has been a far cry from the perpetual struggles on the road. So Kane needs to be at his best in a few hours to inspire Tottenham to a crucial result against Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah
Mo Salah has been involved in 11 goals in his last eight home games in all competitions, scoring at least once in each of his last six. The last Liverpool player to score in more consecutive Anfield appearances was Luis Suarez (8 in a row) 🇪🇬👑#LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/QOVw6jPi5q
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 30, 2023
With Liverpool trailing Tottenham Hotspur on the Premier League table, they have a more difficult task to clinch a top-four finish. So the following two candidates on our list come from the Merseyside club. And we begin with the Reds’ talismanic attacker, Mohamed Salah.
Despite Liverpool’s struggles this season, Salah has produced some brilliant numbers thus far. The 30-year-old has a solid tally of 27 goals and 11 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. But while he has relinquished the Premier League Golden Boot to Erling Haaland, he remains prolific.
The Egyptian wizard is a goalscoring extraordinaire and has pulled the rabbit out of the hat a few times this season. Such performances have helped him capture the attention of Real Madrid and Barcelona. But that remains in the background for the former Chelsea attacker.
With Liverpool’s attacking output improving, Salah has the onus on him to be clinical on Sunday. And if he rises to the occasion, the Reds should blow their visitors away and clinch the crucial three points. Expect the Liverpool talisman to reserve his best for this game.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander Arnold in his new role. pic.twitter.com/jpYzvAyHkg
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) April 29, 2023
Our list ends with another Liverpool player, as iterated earlier. And while players like Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, and Cody Gakpo are worthy contenders for this spot, we have gone ahead with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The English international has been the naysayers’ delight this term due to his horrendous season. But there is a line of thought that pundits and fans have been overcritical of the 24-year-old. And while he has been sub-par, he has been no different than several other Liverpool stars.
However, Alexander-Arnold has picked up form in the last few weeks, with a central role bringing the best out of him. Jurgen Klopp might experiment in a similar vein on Sunday to bring the best out of the struggling full-back. Either way, his creative output will go a long way in determining Liverpool’s fortunes on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold will be up against the equally underwhelming Son Heung-min on his side of the pitch. And that battle will be a big factor in swinging the game’s balance on Sunday. So the Englishman will be under the scanner for much of the proceedings.
