He is returning to Anfield and the Premier League for Liverpool, who will know not to take Tottenham lightly after taking points from both them and Man City this season.
Liverpool against Tottenham
Premier League (35) Anfield, Saturday, May 7, 2022 | 7.45 pm
Liverpool made us sweat in the middle of the week, but they brought us another high level to enjoy, securing a place in the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
But that’s for later this month. At the moment, the whole focus should be on the Premier League and putting extra pressure on Man City before their opening game on Sunday.
Here are 10 things you need to know before the penultimate Anfield League game.
1. Chasing the spurs of the four
There is nothing on Tottenham’s agenda other than finishing the top four to close this season, a position two points away from the remaining four games.
Their rivals, Arsenal, are currently in fourth place in the table, and since the two are yet to meet, any mistake will be disastrous.
Antonio Conte’s side have been unlucky lately, winning (Leicester), drawing (Brentford) and losing (Brighton) in their last three league games.
Although the inconsistency is their kryptonite, they took six points from Man City this season and two from Liverpool. They cannot be taken lightly.
2. Missing in action
Conte has always had to be without Matt Doherty, Oliver Skip and Jaffet Tanganga due to injuries at the end of the season and will certainly be without Sergio Regilon.
The defender’s groin problem kept him away from team training and Conte even admitted that he “is not sure if he will return” before the end of the season.
After a convincing 3-1 victory last time and a six-day break, Conte could make only one change in XI, which beat Leicester, with Dejan Kulusevski replacing Lucas Moura.
Possible spurs XI: Loris; Romero, Dyer, Davis; Emerson, Heuberg, Bentancourt, Cesegnon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
3. Clear contrast
It is amazing to think that three years ago these two teams faced each other in the final of the Champions League in Madrid.
What has happened in the years since then has seen Liverpool and Tottenham embark on a very different trajectory, with one piling up silverware as they struggle to end their 14-year wait for a trophy.
Since that day in Madrid, Klopp has directed the Reds to four more trophies (which can still be added to this season), while the Spurs had four different managers in the hot spot.
Talk about moments with sliding doors …
4. FULL composition
What a pleasure it can be to say that Jurgen Klopp has all the members of his senior team!
Roberto Firmino returned to team training on Thursday after a “very painful” foot injury sustained in the semi-final of the FA Cup, which protected him from the last five games of the “reds”.
But after the Brazilian returned to full training and ready for selection, Liverpool’s shame at the fortune continues to amaze.
A visit to the Spurs may come too soon for a spot in XI, but it provides another invaluable option in the front line along with Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz and Diogo Hota.
5. Predicted reds XI
With a four-day break between matches, change can be kept to a minimum as Klopp strives to maintain rhythm and consistency while balancing his team.
Joel Matip is likely to return to replace Ibrahim Konate, while Jordan Henderson will look forward to returning to XI after playing just 11 minutes at Villarreal.
And since both Diogo Hota and Luis Diaz have 45 minutes each, it may be that they both start at Anfield with Salah.
How nice to have all these options!
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alison; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dyke, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Tiago; Salah, Diaz, Giotto
6. Speaking of Salah
The man loves a goal against Tottenham at Anfield!
He has four in so many home games in the Premier League against the Spurs – and don’t make us start with a penalty from the Champions League final.
There are a few opponents that Salah doesn’t like to face, but overall he has 6 out of 10 appearances – will he make at least seven out of 11 on Saturday?
7. Press conference
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Klopp stressed how difficult this match will be, noting the threat of a Spurs counterattack:
“A huge, massive test. I think if I looked outside, I would say, “Okay, that’s gonna be hard, hey, for Liverpool?”
“Especially outside the home, they don’t worry about having the ball all the time, things like that. They defend compactness and things like that, and then obviously [they have] one of the best counterattack players in the world. So we have to find solutions to that. “
8. Did you know?
Klopp and Conte have met five different times in English football and they both like to call him even more times than not.
While with Chelsea and the Spurs, Conte has seen his team lose to Liverpool only once – when Chelsea met the Reds in the Premier League in 2016/17 and the result was 2-1.
Klopp has the same record, as Conte’s Chelsea team from the 2017/18 season inflicted their only defeat by the Italian thanks to a close 1-0 victory.
The other three games, all in the league, ended in a draw – the last of which was the disappointing one in north London in December.
We hope that Klopp is the one who added a victory to his book on Saturday!
9. Oliver, Oliver!
Michael Oliver, a referee considered the best in the Premier League, will watch this particular match.
He has watched four Liverpool games this season and the Reds have won two (Leeds-X, Arsenal-X), one draw (Arsenal-A, LC) and one loss (Leicester-A).
Oliver did not shy away from waving a red card this season with nine of 38 games in all competitions, but hopefully this is not necessary when it comes to Liverpool!
And in the VAR cabin for the evening is Darren England.
10. How can you watch?
Liverpool vs. Tottenham is live on BT Sport 1 for those of you in the UK, with coverage starting at 7pm before 7.45pm.
This is another great occasion for the Reds, and if watching TV doesn’t tickle you, Henry Jackson is leading the live blog for This Is Anfield’s 19:00 game – you don’t want to miss it!
Up the reds.
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