Liverpool Echo

Arne Slot issues clear response to Liverpool fans booing Reds off after Tottenham draw

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Arne Slot was speaking after his side conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday

Arne Slot admits he doesn’t blame Liverpool fans for venting their frustration after his team were booed off at Anfield.

And the Reds boss has challenged his players to make amends for another dismal performance when they attempt a Champions League comeback against Galatasaray in midweek.

Liverpool allowed a lead to slip late on once again as they were held to a 1-1 home Premier League draw by struggling Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

Dominik Szoboszlai had put Slot’s side ahead on 18 minutes only for former Everton striker Richarlison to equalise in the 90th minute having earlier spurned a number of chances.

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The final whistle was greeted with jeers from the Anfield faithful who sounded their displeasure at another disappointing result and performance.

And Slot accepted the boos made “complete sense” as he looked ahead to Wednesday’s European clash with Liverpool looking to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit.

“I think it's understandable for fans to be frustrated because it has happened so many times that they have seen the home team not picking up the points they are expecting, us conceding goals in the last minute," said the Reds boss.

“Now it is up to us to bring that frustration to Wednesday and come up with a big performance because we are all frustrated. That is completely clear.

“It is now up to me and the players to take that frustration to Wednesday evening and show the fans the performance and the result they deserve because they have been supportive throughout the whole season to us.

“If it happens so many times that they are frustrated in the end of the game or after the final whistle, that makes complete sense to me.”

Liverpool have actually moved up to fifth in the table and are now just two points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in the battle for Champions League qualification.

But Slot admits the draw was a significant setback in keeping with much of his team’s shortcomings in the Premier League this season.

“Of course it is damaging but how many times has this been damaging for us (this season),” he said

“We don’t help ourselves at all. It is so many times this season we have created much more xG or chances than the amount of goals we score. Usually in the Premier League you see a lot of teams outperforming their xG but that definitely is not what we are doing.

“Then the game stays tight until the end and we struggle to keep clean sheets. We haven’t had as many clean sheets as you would want if you want to go higher up in the table.

“That’s a bad combination for picking up the amount of points we want to pick up.”

Jamie Carragher slams Liverpool players who 'don't want to dig in' after Tottenham slip up

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Jamie Carragher made his feelings clear on Liverpool's players following the 1-1 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday afternoon

Jamie Carragher questioned the character of Liverpool’s players and revealed why he believes Arne Slot’s side have become so easy to play against. Boos rang around Anfield at the final whistle after Richarlison’s 90th-minute equaliser earned Tottenham Hotspur under-fire interim head coach Igor Tudor a huge point.

Liverpool headed into the game at Anfield having watched both Chelsea and Aston Villa slip up in the battle to secure Champions League football next season. And even though the Reds were hardly fast out of the blocks, they took the lead through Dominik Szoboszlai’s fine free-kick after just 18 minutes.

But Arne Slot’s side were lacklusture to say the least in the second-half and after Richarlison deservedly drew Spurs level, the Reds were ultimately forced to settle for a point.

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And Carragher, speaking in the immediate aftermath of the full-time whistle going, not only claimed that a change in manager would not transform his old side’s fortunes but also believes that Liverpool’s players don’t have it in them to dig in and make it difficult for the opposition.

He said: "It was an awful performance. No disrespect to Tottenham, but they are the worst team in the Premier League now, probably for the last couple of months.

“They are exactly who you want to play, playing at home, the incentive of your results this weekend, and to put in a performance like that. But it's been like that all season.

"And the big question on everybody's lips is that down to the manager or the makeup of the squad? Could a new manager completely revitalise these type of players and bring that energy and sort of intensity back into this team? I'm not sure.

"I think a lot of it goes back to what happened in the summer, the profile of the players that came in, and there's just too many players who just want to play when the ball's at their feet.

“They don't want to dig in and make it difficult. That's why it's so easy to play against this Liverpool team."

And speaking after Richarlison’s equaliser, Carragher claimed: "Well it was coming. I've been saying all second-half, Liverpool have been sleepwalking into this result.

“And it was always going to be him, he's looked the most dangerous Tottenham player. And Liverpool just don't challenge for the long ball.

“Andy Robertson doesn't challenge for the long hopeful ball. Does the jump, gets in-between, not sure where Van Dijk's going - doesn't react quickly enough and then Liverpool are all over the place.

“But I can't say Tottenham don't deserve it, they've had chances in the game. The majority fell to this man, but this was definitely their best one.

Liverpool player ratings as 5/10 Reds star struggles before late Tottenham equaliser

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Ian Doyle with the Liverpool player ratings and scores from the Premier League clash at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon

Liverpool missed the chance to move into the top four when they were held to a dismal 1-1 Premier League draw at home to struggling Tottenham Hotspur. Dominik Szoboszlai scored the opener with a free-kick in the first half only for former Everton striker Richarlison to net his customary goal against the Reds in the 90th minute.

The result nevertheless means Arne Slot's side have actually moved up to fifth and now stand only two points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.

The ECHO was in attendance at Anfield and here we run the rule over the performances of the Liverpool players.

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Alisson Becker 8

Smart stop to turn over Souza shot from range before two excellent stops to deny Richarlison either side of the interval. Impressive return after missing out in midweek.

Dominik Szoboszlai 7

Thumped home the opener with a trademark free-kick and stuck to defensive tasks up against the tricky Tel until lack of right-back experience began to tell second half.

Joe Gomez 6

Dealt sufficiently with Tottenham’s physical threat before break and played ball well into midfield. Stood tall up against increasing number of long balls second half.

Virgil van Dijk 6

Involved in a right tussle with Richarlison throughout and did well to put off the Tottenham man for big chance second half. Got dragged out of position a bit too often, though.

Andy Robertson 6

One good piece of covering ushered away dangerous Solanke cross early on but unable to properly make an impact going forward.

Ryan Gravenberch 6

Fired one effort over when invited to shoot by Kop and some good pressing in midfield but among many who lost their way after break.

Alexis Mac Allister 5

Strong run won the free-kick for the opener and set up Gakpo for opportunity but otherwise flitted in and out before becoming very peripheral second half. Subbed.

Jeremie Frimpong 6

Started with intent with a few probing runs but became less effective as the game wore on other than some flashes second half. Subbed.

Florian Wirtz 6

Took a while to settle in the number 10 role but began to find his passes more towards half-time. Frustrated crowd with reluctance to shoot at times. Subbed.

Rio Ngumoha 7

Pretty quiet first half and let down by control when fed by Wirtz inside area for one chance, but improved after break and caused Porro problems. Subbed.

Cody Gakpo 6

Led the line but not afraid to drop back and get stuck in, and hit post with one effort first half. Moved to left wing after an hour and won ball back at key moments. Subbed.

Mohamed Salah (for Frimpong 64) 6

Close with one effort and caused problems during lively showing down the right, although quality not always there.

Curtis Jones (for Wirtz 64) 5

Didn't really get into the game at all.

Hugo Ekitike (for Ngumoha 64) 5

Not able to get on the end of a few teasing passes and had late shot blocked.

Trey Nyoni (for Gakpo 84)

More minutes for the teenager.

Federico Chiesa (for Mac Allister 90+1)

Came on for a bit.

Arne Slot explains leaving Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike on bench for Liverpool against Spurs

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Team news confirmed from Anfield as Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike drop to the bench in a changed lineup

Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike start on the bench for Liverpool as Arne Slot's side host struggling Tottenham Hotspur.

The Reds entertain Galatasaray in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday night and will be aiming to turn things around after Tuesday night's 1-0 loss in Istanbul.

And Slot has made a handful of changes for Sunday's visit of Spurs as Salah and Ekitike are replaced in the starting lineup by Jeremie Frimpong and Rio Ngumoha.

Explaining his decision to leave out Salah and Ekitike, Slot said: "It is three games in seven days for us with on Wednesday a possibility of more than 90 minutes, but this game is crucial for us, so yes you are looking at how many games you have to play and how may games we have played with mainly the same players."

It's 17-year-old Ngumoha's first Premier League start and Cody Gakpo leads the line in place of Ekitike.

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Dominik Szoboszlai is expected to start at right-back with Joe Gomez central alongside Virgil van Dijk. Ibrahima Konate drops to the bench as a result and Andy Robertson replaces Milos Kerkez on the left side.

Alisson Becker returns in goal after missing Tuesday's defeat in Turkey with a minor muscle issue. Giorgi Mamardashvili drops to the bench.

Federico Chiesa is back in the squad after overcoming illness that saw him miss the Galatasaray trip.

Liverpool: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Gakpo.

latest score, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike benched, Rio Ngumoha starts

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“After today’s game we will have only eight league matches left to play, which serves to underline that we are now entering the home straight.

“While some of our objectives might have changed since the start of the season, the basic requirement of finishing as high as we can in the league table remains.

“The key to this, of course, is to win as many games as possible and then we will see where it takes us. There is no point dwelling on what might have been or getting drawn into what might have been different, our total focus has to be on reaching the finishing line as strongly as possible.

“Going into this weekend we are sixth in the table, which is not where we want to be and also not where we want to end up. The aim has to be to go higher so that we can push ourselves into the Champions League qualification places and hopefully stay there.

“That particular race is going to be highly contested – as it should be – with a number of teams having the same aim going into the final months. Again, our focus should not be on what they are doing. It should only be on what we are doing. After all, it is our results and performances that will dictate our outcome.

“Today, this means taking on a Tottenham team which has its own reasons for needing a strong finish to the campaign. For someone like me who always followed English football from a distance before coming to this country, it is strange seeing them in their current situation and this is one of the reasons why I do not expect it to last.

“At the same time, their circumstances mean they will arrive at Anfield not just as a wounded animal, but also as a team which knows it has to scrap for survival and which has a point to prove. This makes them a dangerous opponent regardless of recent results or league position and we will treat them as such.

“We also know that we need a response of our own having narrowly lost our last game away to Galatasaray. While we have the opportunity to overturn that result at Anfield on Wednesday night, the best way to go into the second leg would definitely be on the back of a positive result against Tottenham.

but very nearly died while at Tottenham

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I regretted my transfer to Liverpool - but very nearly died while at Tottenham

Liverpool and Tottenham face off in the Premier League this weekend, with several players having turned out for both clubs in the past

This weekend sees Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur face off in the Premier League, with plenty of players counting both teams on their CVs. For Christian Ziege, though, there are difficult memories from his spells at the two clubs.

Ziege, a Germany international, joined Liverpool in 2000 after first moving to English football with Middlesbrough. However, the versatile former Bayern Munich star - who could play at left-back or in midfield - endured a challenging spell at Anfield and left after just one year.

He had a more settled time at Spurs, scoring five league goals in his first season at White Hart Lane. He was clear in his belief that moving to Liverpool was a mistake, but faced a scary moment in 2002, which nearly cost him his life.

Ziege joined a Liverpool team that had narrowly missed out on Champions League football under Gerard Houllier in 2000. They would go on to win a famous cup Treble the following season, but the German was left frustrated, starting just 11 league games and 20 in all competitions.

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"I didn't play enough and still don't know why," Ziege told The Mail in 2019. "I scored a penalty in the shootout to win the League Cup but then didn't play in the FA or UEFA Cup finals.

"Gerard Houllier had a problem that he never bothered to explain. It made me think, 'If I'm a coach, I'll always tell my players the truth.'"

Ziege would eventually move into coaching, working with Borussia Monchengladbach and Germany in their youth set-ups. He held a number of other jobs in Germany, Austria, Spain and Thailand before returning to work with Gladbach's Under-17 side earlier this year.

That lengthy coaching career was no guarantee, though. During his second season as a Tottenham player, he suffered a freak injury on Boxing Day in 2002, which could have killed him.

"I had a dead leg, no big deal. But my thigh was swelling and swelling," he said. "I learned later that the blood was trapped between two skins, it had nowhere to go.

"I did not want to go to hospital, not at Christmas, but my wife insisted. Thank God she did. By the time we arrived I was unconscious. There was pressure on everything inside my body, I was fighting for my life.

"They opened the leg and it went down like a balloon. But it left a big hole, something went completely wrong. I still suffer now, but I am also lucky. Another 30 minutes and they would have cut off my leg to save me. In this moment, you realise that life is so much more than just a football game."

At the time, Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle put everything into perspective as he prepared to be without his player for several months. "It's a big blow football-wise, but I'm not concerned about that," Hoddle said.

"First and foremost, it's his health that's more important. That will always come first in front of football. I would think it would be very difficult for him to return before the end of the season but the major thing is that he's okay."

Liverpool latest: Transfer meeting could be held today and £43m star available to Arne Slot

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Liverpool will be looking to earn three points toward their top four crusade today when they face struggling Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield

Liverpool face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday at Anfield with the two clubs also potentially set to meet on the transfer front. Arne Slot will be aiming for a return to form for his team after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday.

Points are crucial for both sides: embattled Spurs manager Igor Tudor is yet to claim victory since arriving at the club, with the Lilywhites facing a relegation battle, whilst the Reds are seeking to secure a top-four finish this season.

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A subplot could also be developing between the two regarding the transfer of a Liverpool icon, with discussions potentially taking place when they meet on Merseyside. Meanwhile, the Reds have been linked with a summer move for an international star.

Transfer talks

Spurs are reportedly still keen to sign Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson. The Scottish star reportedly rejected the opportunity to swap Anfield for north London in January but discussions could be reopened on Sunday with the two clubs facing each other at Anfield.

Should Spurs retain their Premier League status this season, speculation suggests they are optimistic about being able to persuade the defensive veteran to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer. There's no doubt representatives from both sides will be at the match on Sunday where conditions of a transfer could be negotiated.

The 31-year-old Robertson is nearing the end of his contract with the Reds but he could stay on Merseyside if he agrees to another supporting role under Arne Slot next season. The left-back, a two-time Premier League champion and Champions League winner, would undoubtedly be a desirable addition for Spurs given his extensive experience winning the sport's most prestigious trophies.

Following Liverpool's 3-1 win over Wolves in the FA Cup earlier this month, Robertson spoke about his future. He said: "There was obviously interest there - there were discussions had with both sets of clubs. But the decision was that I wanted to stay. We stayed at Liverpool and that was the decision made."

He concluded: "When a decision is made, and we're getting to the point where I only have three months left on my contract, it will be announced to you guys."

Reds eye £43m option

Spanish outlet Marca reports that Real Madrid might be inclined to sell Eduardo Camavinga for around £43million this summer.

Camavinga has been with Madrid since 2021, having transferred from Rennes. He is contracted to the Bernabeu until 2029, but a proposed squad overhaul in the Spanish capital this summer could result in the French star's departure.

Liverpool have been associated with Camavinga for a whilst. The 23-year-old was reportedly closely monitored by the club's recruitment team during his breakthrough at Stade Rennais between 2019 and 2021.

Camavinga operates as a holding midfielder but is equally capable at left-back and on the wing, making his adaptability a significant draw for the Reds. Liverpool may be seeking midfield additions this summer with uncertainty surrounding the futures of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo.

ups vs Tottenham as Alexis Mac Allister dropped and Rio Ngumoha decision made

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Liverpool line-ups vs Tottenham as Alexis Mac Allister dropped and Rio Ngumoha decision made

Our writers have picked their starting XIs for Liverpool's Premier League clash at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon

Arne Slot will be hoping that Liverpool can put their recent results in the Premier League and Champions League behind them when they face Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.

The Reds currently sit outside the Champions League qualification places but they have the perfect opportunity to move level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea and up the pressure on fourth-placed Aston Villa and third-placed Manchester United, who face each other at Old Trafford earlier in the afternoon.

Injury-hit Tottenham are in crisis, having lost their last six matches in all competitions and having not won in the Premier League since December 28.

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So what team does Liverpool head coach Slot pick against Igor Tudor's struggling team? Our writers have their say...

Paul Gorst

Let's start with the now age-old debate at right-back, shall we? Jeremie Frimpong is vying for a recall and Joe Gomez will be looking to keep his place after a rare start on Tuesday night in Istanbul.

Since Liverpool will likely see more of the ball on Sunday, Frimpong's electric pace might be needed to help break down this Spurs side, which we can now refer to, without irony, as 'relegation-threatened'. Yikes.

Milos Kerkez keeps his place and if Alisson Becker is fit to play, he starts over Giorgi Mamardashvili, even though the Georgia international did little wrong against Galatasaray on Tuesday night.

In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister drops out and Curtis Jones comes in. Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch also complete the midfield, meaning Florian Wirtz once more starts on the left of the attack. Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha can wait in reserve, as tempted as I was to start the teenage winger.

Mohamed Salah is stationed on the right side and Hugo Ekitike leads the line.

Liverpool must take full advantage of this game against a Tottenham side currently at its lowest ebb.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Ekitike, Wirtz.

Ian Doyle

Liverpool made hard work of seeing off a nine-man Tottenham Hotspur with a two-goal start before Christmas, so anybody expecting a 5-0 home win has probably not watched any football in the last nine months.

This is going to be an absolute slog of a game despite Tottenham seemingly having to play their third string on Sunday. What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do?

Slap bang in the middle of the two Champions League legs against Galatasaray, there are going to be changes.

Not in goal, though. That should remain Giorgi Mamardashvili who did pretty well in Istanbul, so there's no need to rush back Alisson Becker. However, Joe Gomez can move to centre-back alongside skipper Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong is the right-back and Andy Robertson left-back.

In midfield, Curtis Jones can join Ryan Gravenberch at the base with Florian Wirtz switched to the number 10 role.

That means Dominik Szoboszlai can go on the right of the attack with teenager Rio Ngumoha making his first Premier League start on the left and Cody Gakpo moved up front. A lot of players can therefore be fresh for Wednesday.

My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Gakpo.

Richard Garnett

Arne Slot appeared to pick a risk-averse line-up in Istanbul against Galatasaray, although you would never have guessed that given how they played on the night. There is less need to approach the match against Spurs like this, however, so I'm expecting a more positive approach on paper.

I fear that Alisson Becker may miss out on this match, and if he does, Giorgi Mamardashvili will retain his place. Joe Gomez has a lovely long throw, it turns out, but Jeremie Frimpong is about five times faster and more exciting, so he returns to provide some much-needed width at right-back.

The Dutchman can play alongside Ibrahima Konate (who can never be dropped due to a lack of viable options), Virgil van Dijk and the returning Milos Kerkez.

Recently, Liverpool's midfield has looked like it couldn't fight its way out of a wet paper bag, so I am unconvincingly making a tweak. Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai can protect the back four, with Florian Wirtz pulling the strings in front of them.

Mohamed Salah continues to retain his place thanks to little pressure to dislodge him, but fortune favours the brave and now is the time to hand Rio Ngumoha his Premier League debut, with Hugo Ekitike leading the line.

Liverpool's 'make or break' Tottenham clash ended with 'the most amazing sight in football'

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Liverpool need a win against struggling Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to boost hopes of finishing in the Champions League spots, but they've been here before

It was a game which had so much riding on it that Rafael Benitez would break with tradition.

The Liverpool boss, usually so stubborn and stoic in front of the press, shocked members of the media when he was faced with the question of whether or not a January 2010 meeting with a Tottenham Hotspur side four points ahead of them in table - and at a time when both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, as well as an in-form Yossi Benayoun, were injured - was a 'make or break' moment for his side's season and ambitions of finishing in the top four.

"Yes," was the extremely matter of fact, nonchalant reply. "There's a big difference between being one point behind and seven points behind. It's an important game for us.

"If Tottenham win, it will give them a buzz and a lift and they will have confidence, but if we can beat them, then we'll be in a good position. And when a team is fighting from behind it gives you more confidence."

Those comments, coming at a time when the pitch battle between Benitez and owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett was at its height, lit the red touch paper, and flags and banners in support of the manager were out in force for the arrival of the team coach before such a thing was commonplace at Anfield.

One of the great Premier League nights in L4 would unfold, as a vociferous home crowd played their part and left Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp in awe.

Attacking the Kop end in the first half, it would take the Reds just six minutes to establish an advantage.

In the absence of Gerrard and Torres, it was Alberto Aquilani and Dirk Kuyt who were asked to provide the attacking thrust, and after the Italian - on a rare positive night in his Anfield career - was challenged on the edge the box the ball broke to Kuyt to fire home a controlled finish and set Anfield alight.

It was a moment the crowd had been baying for, and Kuyt almost added a second with a header that was cleared off the line by Gareth Bale, before Luka Modric saw his effort saved by Pepe Reina. As those names suggest, this was quite the Spurs side.

It wasn't a classic Liverpool XI, as evidenced by Albert Riera and Philipp Degen both missing chances to double the lead, with the former hitting the bar.

As the Anfield noise turned to nerves, Jermain Defoe would have a goal disallowed and Jermaine Jenas brought another excellent stop from Reina, before Kuyt missed a glorious chance to seal the win late on. No matter.

Substitute David Ngog brought his own brand of busy but limited action to proceedings, and when he was chopped down by Sebastien Bassong in the box it fell to Kuyt to bring the night to successful conclusion with one kick.

He ended up having two, with his first successful penalty past Heurelho Gomes ruled out by Howard Webb for encroachment. The second was just as emphatically dispatched, and was greeted with the loudest roar of the evening.

“You have to give credit where it’s due, Liverpool worked their socks off," said an impressed Redknapp after the game.

"They closed us down and pressed us. I have said before you never get an easy game here.

"You stand out there and hear the crowd sing - it's the most amazing sight in football, and it lifts the players. I said to my players 'Don't think they are going to come out here and give a half-hearted performance because they have got some good players missing.

"Their players responded to the crowd and deserved the win in fairness. Dirk Kuyt never stopped working and chasing, the whole team played with great enthusiasm."

A night that started with Benitez's words hanging over it ended with the crowd singing his name.

Liverpool have had plenty more celebrated occasions in the 16 years that followed this raucous January evening, but this one was special.

Just what is going on at Tottenham? We find out before Liverpool visit

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The ECHO spoke to football.london Tottenham Hotspur reporter Alasdair Gold ahead of the crisis club's visit to Anfield to take on Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday

Liverpool face a Tottenham side on Sunday afternoon that could hardly have imagined they would find themselves in the position they are now when they won the Europa League against Manchester United last May.

Despite ending their 17-year wait for silverware under Ange Postecoglou, a 17th-place finish in the Premier League meant the European triumph was not enough to save the Australian manager's job. He was replaced by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, but after a dismal run of results and little to no apparent progress, the German was replaced by Igor Tudor.

However, the Croatian could not have got off to a worse possible start, presiding over four straight defeats that have left Spurs, perilously over the relegation zone.

Their plight makes Liverpool overwhelming favourites when the two sides meet at Anfield on Mother's Day. And to find out exactly what has been going on in north London, the ECHO caught up with football.london Tottenham reporter Alasdair Gold, to get his verdict from the other side of the fence.

Tottenham appear to be free-falling in the Premier League. How has this been allowed to happen?

Poor decisions at every level, in terms of managers sacked and appointed, a January transfer window that didn't respond to the problems in the squad, a horrendous injury list that is rarely out of double figures - it will be 12 missing for Liverpool - and a group of players who are yet to realise - or maybe care - just how much danger the club is in.Igor Tudor didn't even get a honeymoon period in charge and should he suffer a defeat at Anfield, will have presided over five straight losses since taking the job. How much of this is his fault, and is there any hope amongst fans at all that he can keep his job and get on top of the situation?

There's been no bounce nor improvement with Tudor. He's been an instant football firefighter at each of his previous five clubs and brought immediate change, but the problems at Tottenham are just too big and deeply rooted. His usual right-hand man, Ivan Javorcic, has been unable to join him as of yet due to work permit problems and that's limited him as well. The club will be panicking about relegation, the players don't appear impressed by the Croatian and that could cost Tudor his job.It seems unimaginable that Spurs could get relegated, but are fans really now thinking that way and if they did go down, what would be the knock-on effect?

Many fans believe they will go down. They haven't won a Premier League match yet in 2026, so there's no momentum there. Relegation would be huge for the club. They would have to sell most of the best players, they'd lose out on around £250million financially, and cuts would have to be made internally, meaning likely redundancies across staff who work in and around the club.The last time Spurs came to Anfield, Liverpool clinched the title. Things haven't gone so well since then for the Reds and teams low down the Premier League have picked up points here this season. Does that give you any confidence that Spurs could pull off an unlikely result?

Not particularly, purely because of the huge list of players Spurs have missing. Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha managed to add themselves to it through concussion by competing for the same ball late on in the defeat at Atletico Madrid and clashing heads on Tuesday night.

That means young midfielder Archie Gray may have to step into central defence at a time when there are barely any midfield options. Tottenham are also lacking in creativity, so no, positivity isn't exactly rampant at Spurs right now.Amid all of Spurs' current problems, who should Liverpool be looking out for as the current danger men?

Dominic Solanke has scored in each of his three past Champions League matches and netted in his last Premier League outing, so he can cause problems, while Richarlison is Tottenham's top scorer this season and enjoys facing Liverpool.

Pedro Porro can cause problems with his delivery, while Xavi Simons, who has been marginalised under Tudor, can create something out of nothing if he's allowed to play.Similarly, who worries you most in the Liverpool team?

Pretty much all of the front line, but I'll always go into midfield to Dominik Szoboszlai, because he's just a terrific player. He's been a nightmare for Tottenham every time they have taken on Liverpool and he's just got so much quality.Finally, what is your prediction for not only this game, but the eventual outcome of this season for both Liverpool and Spurs?

I think Liverpool will win this comfortably against a makeshift Spurs side with various players out of position. I reckon 3-1 to the home side. At the end of the campaign, I think Liverpool will sneak into the top four, while I hope Tottenham sneak away from the very real threat of relegation.