Tottenham Hotspur will take on Liverpool this weekend, so it is time to take a look at which players would make a combined XI between the two teams.
Who starts in a Tottenham and Liverpool combined lineup?
This combined Tottenham Liverpool XI only includes players who are currently available. Those who are injured, suspended or have dpearted their club to compete at AFCON will not be included.
Alisson Becker: Liverpool were dreadful when Girogi Mamardashvili was playing in goal, but the side have looked more secure since Alisson returned from his injury. The Brazilian is still a top class keeper and is certainly a level above Guglielmo Vicario.
Pedro Porro: Tottenham’s first choice right back has not covered himself in glory recently and he could really use a good performance on Saturday. However, Porro is a great player on his day, often impressing with his attacking abilities and he can be quite good in defence too when he actually sorts his positioning out. Arne Slot has been experimenting with the right back position at Liverpool since Trent Alexander-Arnold, but no player seems to have started consistently there for long. Joe Gomez was beginning to build a run, but he is now injured.
Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool’s captain has come under some harsh scrutiny this season, but the 2019 Ballon d’Or runner-up is still a top, top player. Cristian Romero is not far behind, but he needs to be performing week-in, week-out. It feels all too often that the Argentine defender has a dodgy game and proceeds to avoid the media until his next good display.
Micky van de Ven: Ibrahima Konate has been at fault time and time again for Liverpool this season, so this was an obvious choice. van de Ven is among the top defenders in the Premier League and he always gives 100 per cent. Some Liverpool supporters have already been fantasing about what it would be like to sign the flying Dutchman and it is not hard to see why.
Djed Spence: Tottenham’s lone England international has definitely not reached the standards of Andy Robertson in his prime, but these days the 31-year-old has to share his position with Milos Kerkez. Based on the here and now, Spence would start in the combined XI. However, if Destiny Udogie was available, there would be an argument to include him ahead of his Spurs teammate.
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Ryan Gravenberch: It was tempting to include Joao Palhinha in this team, but Gravenberch is more dynamic in what he offers. The midfielder was one of Liverpool’s best players last season and he appears to have rediscovered his form in recent weeks.
Curtis Jones: Essentially a far more complete version of Rodrigo Bentancur, Jones makes the team ahead of the Uruguayan without any need for deliberation. He also gets in ahead of Alexis Mac Allister, who might be considered a better player overall, but his form this season has been a bit off. Lucas Bergvall has a high ceiling and could reach this kind of level one day, but he is not there yet.
Dominik Szoboszlai: Liverpool’s Hungarian has been declared fit to face Spurs and so including him is a no-brainer. Xavi Simons will hopefully become as influential for Tottenham as Szoboslazi has been for the Reds, but the 22-year-old still has room for improvement.
Mohammed Kudus: If Mohamed Salah played for Spurs, he would be making the starting lineup regardless of his form. The Egyptian is a Liverpool legend and it is important to remember that he bagged 29 goals and 18 assists in the Premier League only last season. However, Salah is away at AFCON and Kudus is the next best option. The ex-West Ham winger has been one of Tottenham’s best summer signings and his best may still be yet to come.
Hugo Ekitike: Richarlison has a decent goal tally this season, but Ekitike is in a different league. Despite coming from the Bundesliga, the 23-year-old Frenchman has been a far better signing for Liverpool than Alexander Isak.