Liverpool FC

The duo have been absent since last month's victory over Real Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League and will again be missing from Arne Slot's squad in the capital on Sunday as they continue their respective recoveries.

During his pre-match press conference, the head coach said: "These are the two that are still 'in the red', so they don't train with us at the moment. They are on their way back but they don't train with the team yet."

Slot added: "The main thing is that if they come back, they are ready to come back and we must not focus on one, two or three days. It's more important for the long term that they stay fit afterwards.

"Until now they [the medical staff] have done really well and hopefully with Conor and Ibou the same thing happens."

Andy Robertson is available for selection once more after serving a one-match suspension for the Carabao Cup tie at Southampton in midweek.

Harvey Elliott made his first start of the campaign at St Mary's, while Federico Chiesa and Kostas Tsimikas returned as substitutes after recent injury absences.

Ahead of the trip to Spurs, Ryan Gravenberch and Darwin Nunez are both one yellow card away from incurring a domestic ban.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are waiting on the availability of Timo Werner following an illness that meant the forward missed Thursday's Carabao Cup win over Manchester United.

Destiny Udogie is expected to return to the matchday squad having also been absent for that contest, in which Spurs prevailed 4-3.

Ange Postecoglou said on Friday: "Timo was unwell yesterday, so we've got 48 hours before the game, hopefully he'll recover, and the plan is that Destiny should be OK."

Spurs are set to be without eight players for certain, with Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Mikey Moore, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison remaining sidelined for the hosts.

Rodrigo Bentancur also continues to serve a suspension and will miss the fixture in north London.

On facing Liverpool, Postecoglou added: "We'll play our football because that's what is winning us games. That's what we'll do against Liverpool. [They're a] fantastic side, going really well.

"Arne has come in and it's not easy when you're taking over from somebody with the status of Jürgen Klopp. They're very settled and as a team they've got quality within the starting XI and squad.

"They've dealt with things; you saw last week they were a man down and they still had that overall belief. They're the standout team in the competition so far, but again on our day when we play our football, we're pretty good opposition."

Last match

Tottenham 4-3 Man Utd (December 19): Forster, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence, Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison, Kulusevski, Solanke, Son.

Southampton 1-2 Liverpool (December 18): Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Endo, Gomez, Nyoni, Mac Allister, Morton, Elliott, Nunez, Gakpo.

After reaching the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup in midweek, the Reds turn their focus back to league matters with a trip to the capital on the horizon.

Arne Slot's squad were in training on Friday as they build towards the clash against Spurs – take a look in the images from the AXA Training Centre below.

Shop Liverpool's 2024-25 training kit range at our online store

Photos by Nikki Dyer and Andrew Powell

After winning away at Southampton in the last eight, the Reds were paired with Spurs during Thursday night's draw.

The first leg will be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the week commencing January 6 and the return clash at Anfield in the week commencing February 3.

Confirmed fixture details will be announced on Liverpoolfc.com soon.

Arsenal and Newcastle United meet in the other semi-final.

The 4.30pm GMT kick-off at Totteham Hotspur Stadium will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. Global broadcast details can be found here.

Get fixture and broadcast information directly to your phone by downloading our eCalendar here

Matchday Live begins at 3.15pm GMT on LFCTV, with build-up followed by live audio commentary and then post-match reaction.

Free live audio commentary for this game is also available at video.liverpoolfc.com and in our dedicated Match Centre.

Follow Match Centre on Liverpoolfc.com and the official LFC app [iOS | Google Play] from 10am GMT on Sunday for live build-up, confirmed team news, minute-by-minute updates, photos, videos, post-match reaction and more.

Free bitesize highlights will be available on LFCTV GO from 8.30pm GMT on Sunday.

Extended highlights, a full match replay and more will follow for subscribers from midnight.

The clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will take place on Sunday December 22, kicking off at 4.30pm GMT.

View the ticket sales information here and accessibility information here.

As a huge fan since I was born, and someone who hasn’t had the easiest time at school, what I have experienced has allowed me to build my confidence and realise that professional athletes can actually relate to me.

Earlier this week, I took a trip to AXA Training Centre, with no expectations in mind apart from being excited to seeing the training pitch. My expectations were blown out of the park. As other fans will understand, meeting football players for your team such as Alisson Becker, Jayden Danns and Kostas Tsimikas was beyond anything I could have imagined.

I sat down with each player, and we spoke about challenges both of us encounter in our daily lives. Jayden Danns said to me “If you are willing to put in the hard work now, it will all be worth it in the end”. The fact that Jayden is so young, I thought this was very inspiring as it shows how he has reached his goals at such a young age.

It was also interesting when I met some of the Liverpool FC Women’s team – Ceri Holland, Sophie Roman Haug and Jenna Clark. In a conversation with Ceri Holland, she told me that football was “an escape” which is exactly how I feel about football too. This was really refreshing to know as even the professionals might have bad days.

The atmosphere before every Liverpool game is always electric, however today it was extra special as it is one of Jürgen’s last home games. ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ echoed around Anfield that little bit louder today and the sun was shining setting the tone for the big win we all knew was coming.

When I finally got into the stadium after the much-anticipated build up, I was given one more final surprise. Me and my older brother Ben, who I normally go to football matches with, got taken pitch side where we were able to walk through the tunnel the players walk through and past the famous ‘This is Anfield’ sign. Standing in the same position as the manager on the touchline is a dream come true. I got to see the goalkeepers train in front of me. I really did have to pinch myself.

The game was the icing on the cake to top off a perfect day. It was so exciting, it had me on the edge of my seat for 90 mins. Liverpool had a great start to the game with an early goal from the Egyptian King Mo Salah topped off with a second from Andy Robertson in the 45th minute right on half-time.

We started the second half like we finished the first half, very strongly with a goal inside the first five minutes by Cody Gakpo. Liverpool went from strength to strength as Harvey Elliott made it 4-0 to the Reds after he cut inside on his left and rifled one into the top left corner past the Tottenham keeper. I can remember leaping out of my seat as I saw this one fly into the net - it was an amazing finish.

Tottenham made it a nervy finish after scoring two quick goals in the 72nd and 77th minute, I wasn’t very happy when one of their goals was scored by ex-Evertonian, Richarlison. However, Liverpool held on to claim all three points and top off the perfect day.

If I was in charge of giving out Man of the Match today it would have to go to Harvey Elliott. The Liverpool youngster was fantastic today, constantly winning the ball back for Liverpool and getting them on the front foot along with scoring his wondergoal. It’s great to see one of Liverpool’s youngsters performing so well and getting a chance under Klopp, something he has done so often this year.

I normally struggle when it comes to writing and explaining how I really feel however when completing this match report, I really enjoyed it as I felt I could really express myself as I was talking about the things I love the most which are football and Liverpool Football Club.

This whole experience has been really positive for me and has made me realise that everyone can have bad days, but it is about turning up the next day and not worrying too much about things that I can’t control.

Marie Höbinger's 95th-minute penalty decided a memorable game on Sunday, securing the Reds' first victory of the 2024-25 season in the process.

See the best moments from the Brisbane Road clash in the free highlights package above.

Höbinger converted a 95th-minute penalty at Brisbane Road to settle a topsy-turvy affair and clinch the Reds' first Barclays Women's Super League win of the season.

The visitors were pegged back by Spurs on two occasions after Cornelia Kapocs opened the game's scoring ahead of Höbinger making it 2-1 entering the final quarter of an hour.

They were not to be denied following Clare Hunt's late equaliser, with Höbinger stepping up when a foul on Sophie Roman Haug resulted in the awarding of the injury-time spot-kick.

"It was crazy," Höbinger told BBC Sport post-match. 'It was very hard, we had to stay very focused, but we really wanted to get those three points. I'm just glad we got the win."

On her penalty, she added: "I was very nervous, to be honest. But I knew we were going to win this game, I knew I wanted to do it [take the penalty].

"I was just so sure that that's the moment that is going to bring us the three points. I knew where I wanted to place it and I just went 100 per cent."

Höbinger was duly voted the Reds' Carlsberg Player of the Match by supporters.

Her first goal of the afternoon came via a perfectly placed free-kick that was borne out of belief and hard work on the pitches at the AXA Melwood Training Centre.

She said: "I knew where I wanted to place it straight away when I saw the position and then I thought, 'You're going to do it. Just put it over their heads.' I think that worked quite well.

"We do practise shooting a lot – that's the most fun part as well! I really enjoy doing that and the coaches always help with beating the wall and helping with different techniques."

Get your tickets for LFC Women v Man City at Anfield on Sunday here

The Reds claimed a dramatic three points in the capital in Barclays Women's Super League action, with Marie Höbinger netting a penalty in minute 95 to claim the spoils.

Cornelia Kapocs had opened the scoring in the first half for Liverpool with a fine lobbed effort, before a Taylor Hinds own goal levelled proceedings after the interval.

Match report: Liverpool win at Tottenham in WSL with Marie Höbinger's stoppage-time pen

Höbinger then put the Reds back in front thanks to an inch-perfect free-kick, though Clare Hunt's deflected effort left the score all square ahead of the decisive strike from 12 yards in injury time.

"It was like history repeating itself in the first two games where we've had really good chances to go two or maybe even three up today," Beard told BBC Sport post-match.

"We've shown amazing character. Tottenham are a good side, but for us to keep plugging away at it and get the three points – it's a big three points for us."

He added: "We should've been two or three up with the chances that we've had. This is the problem now that the league is so competitive, that if you don't take your chances then at some point you're going to be under pressure. That's happened today.

"It was important we got the three points because the girls have been a little bit up and down confidence-wise, especially in the last week with the way it panned out for us. It's a big three points."

On the injury to Sofie Lundgaard in the first half and how that changed his game plan, Beard continued: "I'm gutted for Sofie because this is the second time this has happened to her.

"Ceri [Holland] is obviously out for two or three weeks, and she gets an opportunity to get a run in the team and the same thing has happened. It doesn't look good. We take Sofie out and we had to put Jas [Matthews] in midfield and she's more defence-minded, so we had to adjust slightly.

"We did think about maybe putting Fuka [Nagano] a bit higher, but we felt the way they were overloading our right side we needed to deal with that. We ended up changing to a 3-4-3, which I felt probably won us the game in the end."

Get your tickets for LFC Women v Man City at Anfield here

The summer arrival is one of two changes to the line-up that drew with West Ham United in the WSL last weekend.

Kapocs and Sofie Lundgaard are handed starting berths by Matt Beard for the 2.15pm BST kick-off, coming in for Ceri Holland and Jenna Clark.

Liverpool FC Women: Laws, Parry, Bonner, Matthews, Hinds, Nagano, Höbinger, Lundgaard, Smith, Roman Haug, Kapocs.