Liverpool vs Spurs – Analysis, Prediction, Team News

As part of our weekend Premier League predictions, we take a look at Spurs’ visit to Anfield. This is a European qualification six-pointer, and Liverpool have mostly been excellent at home all season. Home win? Read on with our Liverpool vs Spurs prediction.

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Liverpool come into this game having improved their form as the season nears its climax. Indeed, the Redmen have scored 11 goals in the last three games, dispatching Leeds, Nottingham Forest and West Ham. The victories over Leeds and Forest will be particularly pleasing, given that both these sides shocked Liverpool with wins in the reverse fixtures.

The match at the London Stadium midweek was also a good performance – Liverpool had 73 per cent possession and an xG of 2.16 to 0.83, so they deserved to come back to win 2-1. West Ham were a danger on the break, though – Bowen had a goal disallowed at 1-1, and the Hammers were denied a penalty after Thiago handled in the box late. The decision could have gone either way, but we would have awarded it ourselves. Nevertheless, Liverpool played well and won the game.

At home, Liverpool have ten wins and 34 points from 15 games this season – excellent form as you’d expect from them at Anfield, though maybe not as extremely good as in certain previous seasons. They’re currently seventh in the table – one point from fifth and seven from fourth. Man Utd have Aston Villa, Brighton and West Ham to play in the next three games, so Liverpool will hope they drop points in these matches and that they can win this game and then beat Fulham in midweek (also at Anfield). After that, Liverpool have Brentford at home, then Leicester, Villa and Southampton, so they’ll hope winning every game gives them an outside chance of Champions League football.

Spurs travel to the North-West from London in a desperate state. The 6-1 loss to Newcastle last week – where they were 5-0 down after 21 minutes – resulted in temporary boss Cristian Stellini’s sacking. This dismissal happened not long after Antonio Conte was also fired. Now Spurs have installed Ryan Mason for his second spell as interim coach.

The team did show some fight against Man Utd in midweek – they were 2-0 down at half-time, and then the fans booed them off the pitch. However, they came out defiantly in the second half and managed to equalise the game thanks to goals from Porro and Son. Truthfully, with an xG of 2.36, they could have won the match in the end – it was a game of two halves. However, they reverted to being more conservative when they equalised, and it finished in a stalemate.

Spurs’ away record is mediocre – they have five wins and 20 points from 16 games. Most teams tend to be better at home (some significantly so), and Spurs are certainly one of those sides. They are in fifth position, six points behind Man Utd and having played two games more. On paper, they have as much chance as Liverpool of finishing fourth, but the Reds are trending in the right direction, whereas Spurs have no momentum. The reverse fixture ended 2-1 to Liverpool. Indeed, Liverpool haven’t lost to Spurs for a while, and a trip to Anfield should make Spurs feel nervous.

Team News

Injuries and Suspensions

Liverpool:

Might Not Play: Konate, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jota

Will Not Play: Ramsay, Bajcetic, Keita, Firmino

Spurs:

Might Not Play: Sessegnon

Will Not Play: Lloris, Emerson Royal, Bentancur, Bissouma

Liverpool vs Spurs Lineups (Predicted)

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Robertson, Van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold; Henderson, Fabinho, Jones; Nunez, Gakpo, Salah

Spurs (3-4-3 / 3-4-2-1): Forster; Lenglet, Dier, Romero; Perisic, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Porro; Richarlison, Kane, Son

Liverpool vs Spurs Analysis

Liverpool Still Have A Slim Chance of Making The Top Four. They’ll Play On The Front Foot

Unbelievably, given their torrid season, Liverpool can still qualify for the Champions League. It would take a massive collapse from other teams for this to happen, but Liverpool must keep fighting regardless. Therefore, we expect them to throw the kitchen sink at Spurs in this game. They will be quick out of the blocks, putting the Londoners under severe pressure and strain right from the first whistle. The first 25 minutes, in particular, should be frenetic – we envisage Liverpool having most of the ball, pushing Spurs back, and counter-pressing high when they lose the ball, meaning that the Spurs players will have little time on the ball and must pass quickly.

Alexander-Arnold has been a revelation since Jurgen Klopp took a leaf out of rival Pep Guardiola’s book and switched his role to more of an inverted full-back a few weeks ago. The native Liverpudlian now comes inside in the right channel – this allows him to affect the game in more dangerous areas and unleash his creativity, rather than always running up and down the pitch on the outside. As a result, Alexander-Arnold has contributed five assists in the last four league games. Furthermore, it gives Liverpool an extra body in the midfield when they are countered against – which is a significant advantage versus a side like Spurs, assuming Fabinho fills the right-hand side. It also has the bonus of freeing Salah to have more of the right-hand side.

This change in Alexander-Arnold’s role and position has allowed Liverpool to enjoy more build-up play. They’ll likely be quick against Spurs from the off, looking for incisive passes and dribbles. As long as Van Dijk, Konate, Fabinho and Henderson hold firm on counter-attacks, Liverpool have more than enough quality in attacking areas with Salah, Gakpo, Nunez, Diaz and potentially Jota (he might be injured). Their pace, directness, dribbling, and finishing could put Spurs to the sword. Alisson is also a weapon with his sweeping off the line and fast distribution – he can snuff out Spurs counters and start Liverpool’s transitions of their own.

Spurs Can Try To Build On Their Comeback Against Man United

Spurs were looking in freefall following the hammering at Newcastle and the first half against Man Utd in London, where they found themselves 2-0 down. However, they rallied in the second half. They had many chances against the Manchester side, eventually attaining the draw described above. Anfield is possibly the last place a team wants to travel to when bereft of confidence, though, and Spurs must try to be brave on Sunday.

The back three looks vulnerable, and Dier especially has a severe lack of pace which Marcus Rashford brutally punished in midweek. Therefore, they will need to be protected by Hojbjerg and Skipp in midfield. The back three and two central midfielders must be very brave in possession and try to keep hold of the ball and not allow Liverpool to win it constantly (which, as alluded to, is much easier said than done). If the defence and midfield can stay compact and deny Liverpool space, there might be openings for Spurs on the counter-attack.

Perisic and Porro must be wary in this game – their role is vital because Liverpool are so dangerous on the wings. It is a balancing act as the two wing-backs want to get forward to support the attack. However, they know they risk leaving space for Salah, Gakpo, Nunez and Diaz in the other direction. Therefore, they must pick their moments wisely. Son, Richarlison, Kulusevski and Danjuma must try to offer a threat in behind the Liverpool defence with their pace, dribbling and shooting. All four have struggled this season, but playing off Kane and his ability to create and bring them into the game should help.

Kane must also make himself available for chances at every opportunity – the Spurs goalscorer has been his usual fantastic self with his creativity, passing and finishing, and will be looking to add to his 24 league goals. However, Van Dijk and Konate will try to stop him, which should be a fascinating battle.

Our Prediction

Spurs demonstrated some heart in that second half against Man Utd. Given their awful performances recently, it would have been easy for their heads to drop, but whatever Mason said at half-time had the adrenaline pumping. They were defiant in the second half. They know they still have a chance at European qualification and must restore professional pride after a torrid time recently.

However, Liverpool at Anfield will likely be far too much for Spurs to handle. Liverpool are creeping into form and looking strong at the end of this season. Sure, they were somewhat fortunate to beat West Ham, given that Thiago could have given away that late penalty, but they were the better side on the night. They are undefeated in their previous twelve home matches against Spurs. They have also scored at least two goals in nine of their last eleven games against Spurs (all competitions in both cases).

Therefore, Liverpool hold the Indian sign over the London side. Liverpool are too good in attack, and Spurs rarely do well at Anfield, so we anticipate a reasonably convincing home victory.

Liverpool 3-1 Spurs

Liverpool vs Spurs Betting Tip – Liverpool Odds: