Liverpool will go up vs Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday, looking to build on their recent performances and grind out all three points.
There is a slim chance of Liverpool qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season, but they will have to win their remaining games, including the one vs Tottenham Hotspur, and hope their rivals drop points.
This is a must-win game for Liverpool, and Jurgen Klopp will demand a strong performance from his players. The Reds are currently unbeaten in their last five league matches. So they will be full of confidence heading into this game as the battle for the top-four places heats up.
Tottenham Hotspur are coming into this match on the back of an impressive 2-2 draw against Manchester United. The north London giants have picked up just one win from their last six league matches. But they did well to come back from 2-0 down to secure a draw against the Red Devils.
The fightback against Manchester United will have given them some morale boost, and they will look to pull off an upset at Anfield now. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Back at Anfield this Sunday for #LIVTOT 🔴@Vistaprint | @byGundersons pic.twitter.com/bm5kGL0R7Q
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 28, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Liverpool will be without the services of Calvin Ramsay and Stefan Bajcetic. Both the youngsters have been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Roberto Firmino remains sidelined, and he is expected to return towards the end of the campaign.
Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation with Alisson Becker in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been in splendid form recently, and he will continue as the right-back with Andrew Robertson on the left.
The two players will look to create goal-scoring opportunities for Liverpool and contribute defensively as well. Ibrahima Konate missed the match against West Ham because of a knock. But the Frenchman is back for this game, and he will start alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Fabinho will look to anchor the midfield and win the ball back for his side while players like Thiago Alcantara will control the tempo of the game. Curtis Jones will continue his impressive run of form, and the young midfielder will look to add creativity to the side from the middle of the park. Mohamed Salah will start on the right with Diogo Jota on the left. Cody Gakpo is set to lead the line for the hosts.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Thiago, Fabinho, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Jota
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham will be without the services of Yves Bissouma (ankle), Rodrigo Bentancur (knee) and Emerson Royal (knee). Hugo Lloris is also expected to be unavailable after missing out against Manchester United.
Spurs will start in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Fraser Forster deputising for Lloris. Cristian Romero will start alongside Eric Dier and Clement Lenglet in a back three. They will look to keep things compact at the back and help Tottenham build from the deep.
Pedro Porro and Ivan Perisic will start as the wing-backs, and they will look to help out offensively and provide cover to the back three as well. Porro was on the scoresheet against Manchester United and he will look to do the same here.
Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg will start in the middle of the park. Son Heung-min and Richarlison will be the attacking midfielders and they will drift out wide from time to time. They will link up with striker Harry Kane and create goalscoring chances in the final third.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Forster; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Porro, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Perisic; Richarlison, Son; Kane
Key Stats
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in nine of their last 11 matches against Tottenham in all competitions.
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last 12 home matches against Tottenham in all competitions.
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last five matches across all competitions.
- Tottenham are winless in five of their last six matches across all competitions.
- 17 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 28, 2023
The Egyptian international has been in splendid form for Liverpool despite his team’s struggles. The 30-year-old has 27 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, and he will look to get on the scoresheet here.
Salah failed to score against West Ham United, and he will be desperate to get back on the scoresheet soon. Apart from his goal-scoring ability, he remains Liverpool’s best creator as well and will have to influence the game in the final third if the home side are to pick up all three points.
Prediction
Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham
Both teams will be desperate for a win as a defeat here could be a devastating blow to their Champions League qualification hopes. A cautious approach is expected from the two teams, and they are likely to cancel each other out in the end. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw between the two sides.