Liverpool return to action with a trip to Tottenham on Saturday evening, in a vital game for both sides after unpredictable seasons to date.
Tottenham vs. Liverpool
Premier League (17) | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
December 20, 5.30pm (GMT)
After seven days without a game, the Reds head to north London, taking on a Spurs side struggling to impress under Thomas Frank.
For Liverpool, it is a case of trying to make it six games unbeaten in all competitions, and preferably pick up three precious points on the road pre-Christmas.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of the match.
Having made his comeback against Brighton, Mohamed Salah has now headed off to the Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt.
Whether the Liverpool legend has played his final game for the Reds remains to be seen, but Slot was insistent on the eve of this match that the rift is behind them after his return last weekend.
Nevertheless, we won’t see Salah for up to a month, with the final taking place on January 18, should Egypt reach it.
It’s now up to Liverpool’s attackers to show that there is life without him, with big-money signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak needing to step up.
Spurs and unpredictable belong in the same sentence throughout history, and they have been exactly that this season.
The hope was that Frank would make them a more organised team, but they sit 11th in the Premier League table and were beaten 3-0 at Nottingham Forest last Sunday.
There have been key losses to rivals, including a 4-1 thumping away to Arsenal, and pressure is growing on the manager.
For now, Frank’s job is not reportedly at risk, but that may change if Liverpool dispatch of them.
On top of Salah, Liverpool have plenty of injury problems, despite having a week without a game.
Joe Gomez is out after limping off in last weekend’s 2-0 win at home to Brighton, but there is positive news regarding Cody Gakpo, whose scan “looked promising,” but he remains unavailable this weekend.
Jeremie Frimpong is back in the squad, while Dominik Szoboszlai must prove his fitness in Friday’s training session to be in contention to start after suffering a knock to his ankle.
Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are still missing, as are Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns.
After a midweek break, there is no need for Slot to rotate, so the starting lineup should be similar to the one that beat Brighton.
Conor Bradley is back after a one-game ban, so he will replace the absent Gomez at right-back, with Milos Kerkez and Andy Robertson battling for a start at left-back.
Isak remains off the pace and is likely to be on the bench, especially with Hugo Ekitike scoring four goals in his last two Premier League appearances.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister Wirtz; Ekitike
As mentioned, Spurs suffered a poor loss at Forest, so it will be interesting to see if Frank makes any changes.
Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are a strong centre-back pairing who are likely to start, and they will provide a stern test for Ekitike.
Mohammed Kudus has arguably been Spurs’ best player this season and will pose a threat, as will Netherlands international Xavi Simons.
Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie, Radu Dragusin and former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke are all out for the hosts.
Meanwhile, Yves Bissouma is suspended for off-field issues and is also carrying an ankle injury.
Potential Spurs XI vs. Liverpool: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bentancur; Kudus, Simons, Muani; Richarlison
Speaking in Friday’s pre-match press conference, Slot confirmed that he will not be creating distractions by discussing Salah during AFCON, feeling it is best for all parties:
“I said last week, actions speak louder than words. We moved on, he was in the squad and he was the first substitution I made.
“Now he’s at the AFCON, playing big games for himself and also for his country, so I think it’s fair to them that all the focus is, for him, over there.
“But definitely also for us, because we are going to play some very important games. There should not be any distractions from me saying anything about his time here at Liverpool, because as I said, we’ve moved on after the Leeds interview and he played against Brighton.
“Now he’s there, so it’s fair for the country and for him and also for us to talk, for us, about Tottenham and other games, and for them to be fully focused on their tournament.”
This is Liverpool’s eighth trip to the impressive Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – the seventh in the league – where they have experienced mixed fortunes.
Their first meeting there was decided by a Roberto Firmino goal in January 2020, in the title-winning season under Jurgen Klopp, winning 3-1 a year later.
A draw (2-2) and a win (2-1) came Liverpool’s way next, but Joel Matip‘s last-gasp own goal saw the nine-man Reds lose 2-1 heartbreakingly in September 2023.
Last season, Slot’s champions-in-waiting thrashed Spurs 6-3, before losing 1-0 in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. One thing we do know, you can guarantee goals!
Ekitike is arguably Liverpool’s most in-form player and has been the most successful of their summer signings to date.
The Frenchman has scored seven goals in his first 10 Premier League starts, which is the same as Salah managed in his first 10 after joining from Roma in 2017.
Only Daniel Sturridge (eight) has more for Liverpool in that period, summing up the impact Ekitike has made.
Erling Haaland (17) and Igor Thiago (11) are also the only players with more Premier League goals than him this season.
John Brooks will referee Saturday’s match, in his first Liverpool game since last season’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle.
In fact, he hasn’t taken charge of any Premier League fixture involving the Reds since the 2-1 win at home to Chelsea in October 2024.
Brooks’ assistants on Saturday evening are Simon Bennett and James Mainwaring, with Anthony Taylor the fourth official.
Stuart Attwell is in the VAR booth, assisted by Adam Nunn.
Tottenham vs. Liverpool is live on Sky Sports Main Event from 5pm (GMT), with kick-off at 5.30pm.
This Is Anfield‘s matchday live blog will be in full festive swing from 4.45pm, with Harry McMullen keeping you company.
Come on you Reds!