Who: Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool
What: English Premier League
The place: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom
When: Saturday December 20, at 5:30pm (17:30 GMT)
How one can observe: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT prematurely of our textual content commentary stream. Click on right here to observe our dwell protection.
Defending champions Liverpool will search back-to-back Premier League wins for the primary time since September after they go to Tottenham on Saturday, however the Reds’ woes are removed from a distant reminiscence.
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The stress constructing on supervisor Arne Slot, who final 12 months gained the title in his first season in cost, was mounting after a run of 9 defeats in 12.
The public fallout between the Anfield membership and their star ahead, Mohamed Salah, has overshadowed the Slot state of affairs – but it surely has not gone away. Spurs equally had a sticky run of six defeats in 10 video games throughout October and November and it has hardly improved since.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a take a look at a recreation that sees each managers involved for his or her rapid futures.
What’s the newest on Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool future?
Salah has now departed for Egypt obligation on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, but it surely has not modified his state of affairs at Anfield.
Ever for the reason that 33-year-old claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” by the Reds for his or her woeful season – after he was dropped to the bench for 3 consecutive video games – rumours had been rife that his time on Merseyside was coming to an finish.
The Saudi Professional League have made no secret of their desire to make a move for Salah, who was dropped from Liverpool’s squad for his or her Champions League match in Milan following his outburst.
The ahead did return to the bench for the go to of Brighton within the Premier League final week however his time away at AFCON is prone to be surrounded by hypothesis that the January switch window will see a change to Saudi Arabia.
What occurred in Tottenham’s final recreation?
Tottenham have been soundly overwhelmed 3-0 at Nottingham Forest final Sunday, in a recreation that noticed rumours of Thomas Frank’s demise as Spurs supervisor enhance.
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the primary two objectives for the house aspect earlier than Ibrahim Sangare ended any hopes of a Spurs comeback within the 79th minute.
What occurred in Liverpool’s final recreation?
Liverpool put apart the Salah saga and the hypothesis about Slot’s future with a 2-0 win towards Brighton at Anfield final Saturday.
Hugo Ekitike scored each objectives, the opener within the first minute of the match, whereas Salah was an early first-half substitute and assisted for the second from a nook kick.
Whether or not that was Salah’s final recreation as a Purple stays to be seen.
How have Tottenham fared within the Premier League this season?
Tottenham started their Premier League marketing campaign, Frank’s first in cost, with a run of just one defeat of their opening seven video games. The North Londoners have since misplaced 5 of their final 9 within the league.
The run of six defeats in 10, in all competitions, has been adopted by two wins, and the defeat by Forest, of their final 4 in all competitions. It is only one win in seven, nonetheless, within the league – a run that has seen Spurs slip into the underside half of the desk.
How have Liverpool fared within the Premier League this season?
Liverpool gained their opening seven video games of the season in all competitions, excluding the preseason Group Defend defeat on penalties towards Crystal Palace.
4 straight defeats adopted, which started the run of 9 defeats in 12. In Premier League phrases, the Reds have solely gained three of 11 video games – shedding six. On the again of successful their first 5 league video games of the season, the Anfield membership have been in a position to maintain onto a top-half place within the league, they usually begin the most recent spherical of matches in seventh place – 10 factors of leaders Arsenal, who journey to Everton Saturday night.
How a lot stress is on Tottenham supervisor Thomas Frank?
Tottenham lifted the UEFA Europa League final season, however that was not sufficient to cease Ange Postecoglou from being axed on the finish of the marketing campaign. The current run of matches has resulted in big stress being positioned on Frank.
The most important hearsay to mount has been that former Spain and Barcelona midfielder, Xavi, is being lined as much as substitute Frank.
Spurs have been famend for being a sacking membership, with Frank being the fifth everlasting supervisor since Mauricio Pochettino was sacked in 2019.
Ought to Frank be proven the door, his wouldn’t be the shortest tenure of a Spurs supervisor in current occasions – Nuno Espirito Santo lasted solely 4 months and two days throughout his 2021 stint in cost.
What occurred the final time Tottenham performed Liverpool?
Liverpool thumped Tottenham 5-1 within the Premier League at Anfield in April when the edges final met.
Dominic Solanke gave Spurs a Twelfth-minute lead earlier than Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo responded for the Reds by the break.
Mohamed Salah and a Future Udogie personal purpose accomplished the rout within the second interval.
What occurred within the corresponding fixture between Tottenham and Liverpool final 12 months?
It was a Premier League double for Liverpool final season as they gained the primary assembly of the final marketing campaign with a nine-goal thriller at Tottenham on December 22.
The 6-3 win for the Reds noticed Diaz and Salah each hit braces in a recreation the place the away aspect led 3-1 on the break, and 5-1 by the 61st minute.
When did Tottenham final beat Liverpool?
Tottenham did really handle to beat Liverpool final season within the first leg of their League Cup semifinal. The 1-0 residence win wasn’t sufficient for Spurs, nonetheless, because the Reds had the final snicker, successful 4-0 within the return fixture at Anfield.
Lucas Bergvall scored the one purpose in London, whereas the combination rating was degree on the break within the second leg after Gakpo’s first-half strike. Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk settled issues within the second interval.
When did Tottenham final beat Liverpool within the Premier League?
Tottenham’s final league win towards Liverpool got here in September 2023, courtesy of a 2-1 residence.
Curtis Jones noticed crimson within the 26nd minute with Son Hueng-min netting Spurs’ first 10 minutes later.
Gakpo levelled for the Reds on the stroke of half-time however the second half went from dangerous to worse as Diogo Jota was given his marching orders in 69th minute earlier than Joel Matip put by way of his personal web within the last minute of the sport.
Head-to-head
That is the 186th assembly between the edges, with Liverpool successful 90 occasions and Tottenham rising victorious on 50 events.
The primary match was in November 1909 on the previous Division One (now the Premier League) with Spurs successful 1-0 in London. Liverpool gained the return match that season 2-0 in March 1910.
Tottenham staff information
James Maddison, Future Udogie, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski are all injured, whereas Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin are nonetheless deemed wanting match health as they make their returns from knocks.
Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are each on the Africa Cup of Nations, which means Frank is about to be with out eight gamers for Liverpool’s go to.
Liverpool staff information
Salah is the primary absentee for Liverpool, though the Egyptian did begin the final 4 league video games on the bench.
Cody Gakpo, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are all injured whereas Conor Bradley is suspended.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Joe Gomez each picked up knocks within the Brighton recreation and are a doubt, however Jeremie Frimpong is near a return following a hamstring damage.
Predicted Tottenham beginning lineup
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bergvall; Kudus, Simons, Kolo Muani; Richarlison
Predicted Liverpool beginning lineup
Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Chiesa, Jones, Wirtz; Ekitike
