Second-placed, Liverpool will face off against the Premier League table-toppers, Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Wednesday night with both sides desperate for the three points. The Reds will come into this game on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw vs Fulham. Similarly, Spurs were also held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace last weekend and are currently only ahead of their Merseyside opponents on goal difference in the league table.
Talking Tactics
Jurgen Klopp will stick with his preferred 4-3-3 formation and is likely to opt for the same team that started versus Fulham last weekend. The Liverpool boss will instruct his players to press high up the field and dominate possession of the ball so that they can create enough goal-scoring chances to win this game.
Jose Mourinho will probably go with a 4-2-3-1 formation and might bring Giovani Lo Celso back to his starting XI. The Portuguese mastermind will ask his men to defend deep and use the pace of Heung-min Son and the guile of Harry Kane on the counter.
Teams News
Liverpool
The Merseyside outfit are sweating on the fitness of Joel Matip, who is a slight doubt for this game along with Naby Keita. However, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be available for selection in midweek.
Liverpool Predicted XI
Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Fabinho, Andrew Robertson, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Curtis Jones, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane
Tottenham Hotspur
Gareth Bale is a slight doubt for this clash and will be in a race against time to be fit. Otherwise, Mourinho has no fresh injury concerns to cope with heading into this midweek game at Anfield.
Tottenham Hotspur Predicted XI
Hugo Lloris, Serge Aurier, Toby Alderweireld, Eric Dier, Sergio Reguilon, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Moussa Sissoko, Heung-min Son, Giovani Lo Celso, Stephen Bergwijn, Harry Kane
Key Men
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah has been in red hot form for Liverpool of late, so he will be Klopp’s best hope for a goal on Wednesday. The performance of Fabinho and Matip in central defence could very well end up determining the outcome of this game.
Tottenham Hotspur
Kane and Son have developed a telepathic understanding with each other this season, so they will fancy their chances of scoring or picking up an assist later this week. Lloris can expect a busy night in the Tottenham goal but might have to make some solid saves if he wants his side to stand a chance of claiming maximum points at Merseyside.
Odds
The Reds are 3/4 favourites to emerge victorious in midweek while the draw is priced at 14/5. Spurs are 7/2 underdogs to win this game which would end Liverpool’s long unbeaten steak at Anfield.
