Our Liverpool writers select their line-ups for tonight's Premier League showdown at Tottenham Hotspur
It was a Christmas cracker when Liverpool visited the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this time last year. And the Reds will be looking for more of the same as they aim to keep their improved form going this evening.
Rewind 12 months ago and Arne Slot's ran out emphatic 6-3 winners in north London to move four points clear at the top on their way to winning the Premier League.
Fast-forward to the present day and any thoughts of defending their crown have been effectively banished by a dreadful run of six defeats in seven league games. However, since then, the title holders have started to show promising signs.
So can they add to Tottenham's woes today? And who should Reds boss Slot select? Our writers have their say...
Paul Gorst
A sixth unbeaten game will be further evidence that Liverpool are over the worst and a trip to a Tottenham Hotspur who are at a low ebb means Arne Slot's players must take full advantage.
The home form of Thomas Frank's side has been frustrating for the Spurs' faithful and they will likely have dark memories of this time last year when the then league leaders turned up in North London and stuck six past them.
Liverpool, in fact, scored 16 times in four games against today's hosts last season - and one of them they failed to score in.
That was a different Reds side, though, it must be stressed, and a new-look team heads to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium looking to build on what has been an encouraging couple of weeks for a club which is still looking to delicately move away from a deeply unsettling period between late September and November.
Conor Bradley returns to the team and Milos Kerkez keeps his place. Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk continue their partnership in the middle.
With no Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo sidelined, the temptation is to play both Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak together but I am going to pack the team with midfielders who can operate in a couple of positions.
So ahead of a midfield three of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones is Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai, who start the game on the left and right, respectively.
Ekitike leads the line and Isak and Federico Chiesa can wait in reserve if needed.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Szoboszlai, Ekitike, Wirtz.
Ian Doyle
It's Christmaaaas! In a few days, anyway. And while Arne Slot would very much like the present of three points at Tottenham Hotspur this evening, it's Christmas presence that will be bothering him more immediately.
Primarily because there aren't many players from which he can choose. What, then, is the Reds boss to do?
He at least has a number of goalkeepers, so between the sticks is Alisson Becker. The only two fit available centre-backs are Ibrahima Konate and captain Virgil van Dijk, so they can start. At right-back, Conor Bradley returns from suspension while Milos Kerkez can continue at left-back.
In midfield, it's all about the formation. And I'd suggest sticking with 4-2-3-1, with Alexis Mac Allister alongside Ryan Gravenberch at the base and Curtis Jones as the number 10.
Up top, Florian Wirtz is on the left, Dominik Szoboszlai can be patched up and put on the right and Hugo Ekitike continues down the middle.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Jones, Wirtz; Ekitike.
Theo Squires
Liverpool might be welcoming back a couple of players from injury and suspension against Tottenham, but Arne Slot still has little to play with due to enforced absences elsewhere.
As a result, there are only really a couple of decisions for the Dutchman to make ahead of the trip to North London.
Firstly, does Alexander Isak come into the starting XI or does he retain an additional midfielder? I’m opting for the latter on this occasion. The Swede can be unleashed alongside Hugo Ekitike over the festive period against Wolves and Leeds United instead.
The in-form Frenchman leads the line as a result, with Alexis Mac Allister continuing at number 10 and Florian Wirtz on the left. Dominik Szoboszlai has fortunately appeared to shake off his ankle injury, so retains his starting berth too.
Jeremie Frimpong is at least back from injury so can spare the Hungarian the full 90 minutes if required with a cameo off the bench.
Meanwhile, Conor Bradley replaces the injured Joe Gomez at right-back, with the rest of the back five remaining unchanged.