Hotspur HQ
Fansided

Liverpool v Tottenham Lineups & Preview

By Ryan Wrenn

ENFIELD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Manager Mauricio Pochettino laughs and jokes with his players during the Tottenham Hotspur Training Session on February 8, 2017 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
ENFIELD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Manager Mauricio Pochettino laughs and jokes with his players during the Tottenham Hotspur Training Session on February 8, 2017 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The balance of Tottenham’s season might not be more finely poised than it will be when the team walks out onto the pitch at Liverpool on Saturday.

A win, and Tottenham are seven points clear of the erstwhile title contenders. A loss, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side remains stuck in the mire, with Liverpool lapping at their heels.

There are, of course, other teams playing this weekend. Arsenal earned a scrappy 2-0 win over Hull City in Saturday’s early fixture, while Chelsea and Manchester City play on Sunday and Monday respectively.

Tottenham must take the opportunities given to them to keep pace this season. Even if a title challenge is looking more and more unlikely,  the race for Champions League spots remains very much on.

To that end, Pochettino will look to how best to deepen Liverpool’s woes on Saturday. The Reds have yet to win a Premier League match in 2017, and just last week lost 2-0 to lowly Hull. Check out our opposition scouting report to see why Liverpool still remain a threat.

More from Match Previews

It’s hard to see much daylight between these two sides on a player by player basis. Both teams have some remarkable and young talent that haven’t even yet peaked. See who makes our best combined XI.

Since Jürgen Klopp first brought his high pressing philosophy to Liverpool last season, they have played Tottenham to three consecutive Premier League draws. Read up on why Klopp and Pochettino’s broadly similar tactics tend to lead to stalemates — and how Spurs can break the deadlock — in our tactical preview.

Finally, see what the boss himself has to say before the teams take to the pitch at Anfield.

Now, on to the lineups.

Pochettino declines to experiment with a back three that features Kevin Wimmer, instead preferring to continue with a 4-2-3-1.

Danny Rose, of course, is out again, replaced by Ben Davies. Eric Dier comes in for the also injured Jan Vertonghen.

Overall, this is about what you would expect. Tottenham will attempt to crowd the center of the pitch, test Liverpool’s goal through funneling the ball to the edge of the penalty area and remain responsible at the back.

One key here might be the direct route between Toby Alderweireld and Heung-min Son. The centre-back is capable of mean long ball, and if Son can prove eager to chase those balls down that might stretch play enough to give Spurs the advantage.

If a return to a tactical formation that’s not proved especially effective lately is a little discouraging, Tottenham fans will take heart with Liverpool’s lineup.

Error-prone Simon Mignolet is back in goal despite a poor performance against Hull last week. Joel Matip also starts, but his usual partner Dejan Lovren isn’t even in the matchday squad. Instead, defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva is shifted into a centre-back role.

This remains a Liverpool side that can field all of Adam Lallana, Coutinho, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino however. Tottenham need to be wary of how dangerous the home side can be when they regain possession.

Check back here after full time for a match report!