"While not on the scale of Spurs’ absentee list, Liverpool are missing some notable players and were found wanting in their midweek loss at Galatasaray, with the hosts able to engineer a chaotic, transitional game to win 1-0..."
Rob Daly, official club commentator, presenter and pundit
How did Liverpool line up in the week?
Arne Slot went 4-2-3-1 for the Tuesday encounter in Istanbul, using Dominik Szoboszlai in the 10 position, Mo Salah out on the right, Florian Wirtz on the left and Hugo Ekitike up front. Wirtz was making his first start following an injury but missed two notable first half chances and, like Salah, failed to have an impact on the game before being taken off in the second half. Jeremie Frimpong came on and played right-wing, as he does on occasion, despite being signed primarily as a defender – and likewise offered little. Right-back has been a problem position for Liverpool since Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure and Conor Bradley’s serious injury in January. Even Curtis Jones and Szoboszlai have played there, but Joe Gomez started there in the week.
Is Alisson going to play?
"I'm hopeful but that's not to say I'm 100 per cent sure,” said Reds boss Arne Slot of Alisson’s prospects of featuring at Anfield. Liverpool’s number one missed the Galatasaray game after picking up an injury in training. "He felt something when he passed the ball in one of his muscles, but after we checked it, it was so minor that we think it doesn't have to take very long.” If he’s out, it means another start for Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Georgian international made some notable saves in the midweek Champions League outing but doesn’t boast the same passing ability as Alisson to build-up play with stats showing a much higher proportion of his kicks were played long.
Who will start in Liverpool's attack?
Mo Salah has been a regular since returning from AFCON and, while he hasn’t been putting up the same goal and assist numbers as last season, it’d be a major surprise if 17-year-old wonderkid Rio Ngumoha came in to replace him – despite calls from some that he should be starting games. Wirtz could move into the ten position, allowing for Cody Gakpo to be restored – while Ekitike is near certain to spearhead the attack with Alexander Isak yet to return since his serious injury at Spurs in December. Federico Chiesa is back from illness but starts for the Italian international have been few and far between.
Why are Liverpool improving at set-pieces?
Prior to the turn of the year, Liverpool were the joint-lowest scorers in the Premier League from set-pieces. Not only that, but they’d conceded 12 goals from them – a 'killer' in the words of captain Virgil van Dijk. The club parted with specialist coach Aaron Briggs in late December, but more focus on in-swinging deliveries since, exploiting Szoboszlai’s dead-ball quality, has seen players like Ekitike and Van Dijk profit – with Slot acknowledging they’ve changed their set-up too. In a recent 5-2 win over West Ham, for example, Liverpool’s first three goals came from corners – and in 2026, they’ve been one of the best teams in Europe at set-pieces.
What line-up can Spurs field at Anfield?
Joao Palhinha, Cristian Romero, Yves Bissouma and the suspended Micky van de Ven are the latest additions to a wild absentee list for Igor Tudor to deal with. Conor Gallagher has had a fever too and, while the Head Coach said he will probably be available, Spurs are seriously stretched. Sticking with three centre-backs is possible, if Pedro Porro were to be deployed alongside Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin, with Archie Gray and Djed Spence at wing-back. That would mean Pape Matar Sarr and Gallagher, if fit, anchoring midfield most likely. Four at the back is possible too (Porro, Drăgușin, Danso, Spence) with Sarr and Gray in midfield allowing an attack made up of Xavi, Mathys Tel, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke, for example. It also means Spurs will be lighter from the bench, but the squad is set to look in much better shape for the Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest games next week.