Liverpool will host Tottenham this weekend with Arne Slot's side in dire need of points as they chase a spot in the top four
Liverpool will host Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday, with both sides desperately requiring points at opposite ends of the table. Whilst the Reds are aiming to recover from their midweek Champions League loss to Galatasaray, Spurs are fighting to avoid relegation.
The Lilywhites are dangerously near the drop zone following a terrible sequence of results under new manager Igor Tudor and are grappling with a significant injury crisis. A Liverpool victory, combined with favourable results for West Ham and Nottingham Forest, will only plunge Tudor's team further into trouble.
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Arne Slot has not experienced a straightforward campaign with Liverpool. Lacking consistency, the Reds now face a significant challenge to secure a top-four finish. Here, the ECHO examines what seven of the sport's leading pundits have forecast ahead of this weekend's encounter between the two clubs.
Paul Merson - 3-0
Former Arsenal star Merson anticipates Liverpool will defeat Spurs 3-0 and the outcome will see Tudor lose his job. He said: "It's just a matter of by how many goals Liverpool can win. How long is Igor Tudor going to be around? My question is who wants the Spurs job at the moment?
"Tottenham will wait it out. They will get the Liverpool game out of the way before making a decision on Tudor. No one expects Spurs to win this game.
"If Tottenham lose at Anfield, I will be shocked if Tudor is still in charge of the team for next weekend's massive relegation six-pointer against Nottingham Forest. I'm expecting Arne Slot to go with his best team for this game. I expect Liverpool to turn it around against Galatasaray in the second leg next week."
Chris Sutton - 2-0
Former Blackburn Rovers striker Sutton believes that Liverpool, despite facing their own challenges, will prove too strong for Spurs and emerge as comfortable winners.
The former Premier League champion said: "There just seems to be so many things wrong at Spurs. They sacked Thomas Frank, thinking they were going to get this short-term fix from Tudor, but they have got a guy who has had a short-term shocker.
"Liverpool are far from convincing either, mind you. It's not impossible that Spurs scramble a win here because Arne Slot's side were lousy in Turkey on Tuesday. Slot has got the second leg against Galatasaray to think about, and they will make changes, but they surely can't lose to Tottenham, can they? Prediction: 2-0."
Wayne Rooney - 6-0
Manchester United legend Rooney reckons the Reds will demolish Spurs. Speaking on the most recent episode of the Stick To Football podcast, the former England captain suggested Slot's squad could dominate at Anfield and notch up a substantial scoreline, whilst predicting the north London outfit will suffer relegation.
"I think six," Rooney said. "The players need to take a hard look at themselves because I think they've been an absolute disgrace. The performances, the attitude, the lack of desire, the lack of fight and there's a lack of everything in them. After witnessing what's transpired in the last few matches, I believe they will be relegated."
Jamie Carragher - Liverpool win
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Liverpool defender suggested that the prospect of facing Spurs amidst their current difficulties would be a delight for his old team. The ex-centre-back believes that Slot's team will secure a substantial win.
"Liverpool will be thrilled to play a Spurs team in turmoil, and should secure a resounding victory," he said. Last month, Carragher also proposed that the mere notion of Spurs being relegated would constitute one of the Premier League's most astonishing shocks ever.
"It is often claimed that a club is too big, or even too talented, to be relegated. No one is making that assertion about Tottenham Hotspur," the former Liverpool defender wrote in The Telegraph.
"If they descend into the Championship, it would represent the most shocking downfall of the Premier League era, and the most humiliating for a club of such wealth and prestige since Denis Law's back-heel for Manchester City relegated Manchester United into the old Second Division in 1974."
Gary Neville - 5-1
Ex-United captain Neville predicted a 5-1 home victory for the Reds. However, he ultimately expressed confidence that Spurs would avoid relegation.
"I don't think they will go down," he said on Stick to Football. "I think if you're going to make another change [of manager] that, for me, probably needs to be today or tomorrow because you don't wait. My view is they will make a change and stay up just. That's what I think will happen."
Alan Shearer - Liverpool win
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer predicted a comfortable victory for the Anfield side. Speaking to Betfair, he said: "I have no confidence whatsoever in Spurs, so Liverpool home win. It could be messy. Anything could happen at Anfield, if Liverpool score early, then Spurs could capitulate.
"The size of the game for Tottenham, I know Liverpool have got a huge game against Galatasaray which they have to get through and win, but the magnitude of this for Tottenham is incredible. I have no belief or confidence that they'll go there and win. Liverpool win".
Tim Sherwood - draw
Speaking to NewBettingOffers, the former Spurs caretaker manager suggested Spurs could secure a point, or perhaps more, at Anfield if they remain disciplined and defend effectively.
He said: "Liverpool haven't been great, but Anfield is never an easy ground for Tottenham. It's historically a disastrous ground for them, even in their best periods.
"They need to go there, try to frustrate the home crowd, who need points for their own Champions League aspirations, and be well organized with a counter-attacking threat.
"Hopefully, they can nick something, maybe from a set piece or a quick counter-attack, and then they have something to hold onto, forcing them to really fight, dig in, and defend their box, as all teams at the bottom of the table must do."