Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has issued a stark warning to Liverpool ahead of their Sunday clash at Anfield, insisting that his team are coming with one goal in mind: victory. Should Arsenal manage to stand firm against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, all eyes will be on Liverpool who could clinch the Premier League title with a triumph over Spurs.
Tottenham faces its worst Premier League finish in nearly half a century but the focus is largely fixed on European commitments, specifically a Europa League semi-final showdown with Bodo/Glimt.
With the first leg set for next Thursday, Postecoglou has been juggling an injury-riddled squad throughout the season and fielded a heavily rotated line-up in the recent defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest.
This loss sees Tottenham slumped at 16th place on the table, a staggering 42 points behind table-topper Liverpool, who is poised for the added boost of securing the league crown with a win this Sunday.
Yet, in spite of the contrasting fortunes of both teams, Postecoglou remains confident that Spurs can disrupt Liverpool's title ambitions. He's maintained firm belief in his side's capabilities, asserting that a performance mirroring their effort against Forest could see them topple the league frontrunners.
"It's a bit of a balancing act and we have to be smart about what we do," he affirmed. "We have to be ready for Thursday in a week, with our players healthy. Good test against Liverpool obviously.
"If we play like we did (against Forest) but keep our concentration level where we should be then we can give them a game. I don't think you saw a team that wasn't motivated. It's not like we lost because players chucked it in.
"If that's what people saw then they're watching something different to me. I don't think they lacked motivation today because I thought our football was outstanding. But again we've paid the price for lacking focus and concentration in key moments."
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk knows all too well that victory on Sunday isn't a given. He's called on his fellow Reds to maintain their concentration and avoid complacency when facing Spurs.
"It's a great feeling to be in this position, something we don't take for granted," Van Dijk reflected following Liverpool's win over Leicester. "It's been, in my opinion, an outstanding season. A lot of good moments. A lot of good moments actually, a lot of wins and good performances.
"Now we have the chance to finish it off on the weekend against a very good Tottenham Hotspur, in my opinion. We played three times already against them this season and every game was very intense.
"We've got a week to prepare. If anything happens on Wednesday then happy days, if not then we have to finish it off and we have to be at our best to do that. That'll be our main focus.
"To be in this position now, it's a good position but we're not there yet. We all have to realise that and we will. We'll make sure of that. It's a good week of preparation and then we have to be ready."