Christmas will come early for Premier League fans as the champions host the leaders in a mouth-watering midweek showdown. Liverpool welcomes Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield on Wednesday night.
The two sides are divided by just the goal difference going into the competition. But at the weekend, both will look to bounce back from an underwhelming 1-1 draw.
So far this season, Liverpool and Spurs have an identical record of seven wins, four draws, and one loss. Also, two home wins and two away draws from their last four league games. The rivalry on Wednesday also pits the best assault of the league against the best defense of the league. And the best home form against one of the best away records this season in the division.
In their last two league games at Anfield, they had comfortable victories over Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. This means that they have now won 31 of their last 32 such outings. Taking a whopping 94 points from the 96 on offer at the time, and scoring 93 goals too. The unbeaten streak now goes back to 65 games. They will now face a Tottenham Hotspur side full of confidence on Wednesday that they might be the team to finish that run.
Problems at the back
Liverpool also has its problems this season, however imperious the home record is. Injury stakes have been a problem with as many as nine first-team players in danger of missing this game.
On Sunday, a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace dented Tottenham’s title hopes slightly. But among supporters, there is still an increasing expectation that this may be the year they end a 60-year wait to be crowned champions.
There is also a good reason for that this season, Spurs have already beaten Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal, in addition to picking up a good point away from Chelsea. It will be the biggest declaration of their title credentials to end Liverpool’s long home unbeaten run yet. They also face Leicester and Wolves in their next two league games after Wednesday to round off a demanding festive schedule.
Joel Matip was taken off at half time against Fulham due to back spasms. Matip joins an already lengthy list of injury concerns, which now includes Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas. Virgil van Dijk, Thiago Alcantara, Joe Gomez, James Milner, and Xherdan Shaqiri also remain sidelined, while Naby Keita is not expected to be available after suffering a fresh muscle injury.
Tottenham’s injury problems are a lot less severe, with Erik Lamela likely to be the only absentee for the visitors in this match. Gareth Bale missed the weekend draw with Crystal Palace due to illness, but Mourinho expects the Real Madrid loanee to have recovered in time for the trip to Merseyside.
Possible Starting Lineup:
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Tottenham Hotspur : Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Bergwijn, Ndombele, Son; Kane
