Liverpool Echo

Liverpool vs Tottenham predicted by seven pundits as damning call made

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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."

Dominik Szoboszlai makes 'angry' Liverpool admission as Tottenham point made - 'huge difference'

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Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has been talking ahead of the Premier League clash at home to Tottenham Hotspur

Dominik Szoboszlai admits he was left "pretty angry" by the manner in which Liverpool let themselves down in the Champions League in midweek.

The Reds delivered an underwhelming display when losing 1-0 against Galatasaray in Istanbul on Tuesday evening in their round of 16 first leg.

The teams meet again at Anfield next Wednesday, with Arne Slot's side first having to negotiate a Premier League clash at home to strugglers Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

And Szoboszlai is eager to make amends for the disappointment in Turkey and help Liverpool keep alive hopes of a seventh European crown.

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"I was pretty angry after the game because of the result but not only about that," said the Hungary international. "Because I feel that we didn't play in a way like we should and we can.

"Because we showed it so many times that we are able to win against any team actually or compete against any team in the league or in European football.

"We have to really focus on the upcoming games because now it's Tottenham on Sunday and next week on Wednesday is going to be a big game – I can't wait for it."

Liverpool are currently in sixth place in the Premier League and outside the top four automatic Champions League qualification places, although it remains likely that fifth spot will be sufficient to secure a berth.

Tottenham go into Sunday's match just a point above the relegation zone, while missing a host of players and recovering from a dismal 5-2 Champions League loss at Atletico Madrid in midweek.

And Szoboszlai said: "To be honest, I'm not thinking about them. I'm thinking about us because also we have some things to fight for. We want to play next year in the Champions League, so there is a spot to go for.

"But first of all, we have to focus on ourselves and do the right stuff, do the right things and then everything is going to be alright."

Joe Gomez admitted Liverpool were affected by the noise in Galatasaray's Rams Park on Tuesday, but Szoboszlai is confident the Anfield crowd can step up over the next few days.

"It's a huge difference," the midfielder said to liverpoolfc.com. "We need them on Sunday, for sure, Everybody who is able to come should come.

"I think that's never a problem but also we need them as loud as they can be, especially next week on Wednesday.

"We felt in Istanbul how it is to play in such a loud stadium with such great fans, but I think we can show the same at home. We're going to need each of them."

19 players could miss Liverpool vs Tottenham as Arne Slot gives injury update

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Liverpool face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League this weekend and will have several players on the sidelines with injuries

Both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur will have players on the sidelines when they meet in the Premier League this weekend. The Reds will host Spurs at Anfield on Sunday as they look to return to winning ways.

Liverpool were beaten 1-0 by Galatasaray in the Champions League in their last match, and also lost to Wolves in their previous Premier League match.

Arne Slot’s side go into the game in sixth place in the Premier League table and could find themselves even further behind in the race for a top four finish by the time kick-off arrives on Sunday afternoon at Anfield.

Liverpool have been forced to deal with several injury concerns throughout the season, and that will continue when they face Spurs this weekend.

Alisson Becker remains a doubt for Liverpool after missing the defeat to Galatasaray in midweek with a muscle injury, but Slot explained that he hopes to have the goalkeeper back in training ahead of the match.

"He [Alisson] has been with the physios and rehab until now and we are training today, so let's see if he can join today [Friday], that is something I expect but not 100% sure yet,” Slot said. “I've not spoken to him. I'm hopeful."

Federico Chiesa could also return for Liverpool after the Italy international missed the midweek trip to Turkey through illness.

"I expect he [Chiesa] feels better now, because he felt unwell the day before the game and we are now three or four days further ahead, so I think he's able to train with us today again,” Slot said.

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Liverpool are expected to be without Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni for the remainder of the season, while Alexander Isak is continuing to work on his recovery after suffered a fractured fibula and an ankle injury in December.

For Tottenham, they have a lengthy injury list as they prepare to face Liverpool.

Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha will both miss the match as they enter the concussion protocols after a collision during Tottenham’s 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in midweek.

Micky van de Ven is sidelined with a suspension, while there are also doubts over the availability of Yves Bissouma and January signing Conor Gallagher.

"Micky [Van de Ven] is out,” Spurs boss Igor Tudor said. “[Yves] Bissouma has a problem and Conor [Gallagher] has a fever but we hope he will be ok. Always something happen. Very rare and I've never seen this in my career."

Tottenham will also be without James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies and Lucas Bergvall who are all on the sidelines with their respective injuries.

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Tottenham could be without 13 players for Liverpool after new triple injury blow

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If Tottenham Hotspur were hoping for good news on the injury front for Sunday's Premier League trip to defending champions Liverpool, then they haven't got it

Crisis-club Tottenham Hotspur will head to Anfield on Sunday to take on defending champions Liverpool in the Premier League with potentially up to 13 first-team players missing.

Attackers Wilson Odobert, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski andMohammed Kudus were already sidelined along with midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur andLucas Bergvall and defenders Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie.

Another defender, Micky van de Ven, will also miss the match. He is suspended after being sent off in the 3-1 home loss to Crystal Palace, which left Tottenham just one point above the Premier League relegation places and in very real danger of going down for the first time since the English top flight was rebranded in 1992.

And to make matters worse, captain and centre-back Cristian Romero and midfielder Joao Palhinha are also out after they clashed heads toward the end of the 5-2 Champions League loss at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

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Under-fire Spurs boss Igor Tudor confirmed at his press conference today (Friday) that the key pair, who are undergoing concussion protocols, would not be able to face Liverpool.

But it does not end there. Yves Bissouma is also rated as doubtful and while fellow midfielder Conor Gallagher is expected to play, he has been feeling unwell.

"No, no, no, they (Romero and Palhinha) are out," Tudor said. "Micky is also out, Bissouma is out, for the muscles. Conor has some fever but probably will be in.

"So, we have again a lot of problems to make first 11. This is how it is in this club. This happen all the time. We start to build something, then happens something, or a red card, or last game, or three or four injuries.

"This is very rare that happens in my career. I never see these situations. Every game, missing two players. The next game and a red card. It's very rare, very unusual, but we need to accept this. And try to change the things you can change. On these things you cannot do nothing."

Tottenham have lost their last six matches in all competitions including the first four of Tudor's reign.

With calls for the Croatian to be sacked already, he said: "Tough, for sure. Not just because of last game, but because of the period and the past.

"Not easy situation, not an easy moment and from other side a big challenge to change things. Like everything in life, you can choose how to see the situation.

"So, you can stay and cry or you can fight. You can be the victim or you can say I can change something. This is the message I want to start and what I told to the players.

"Everyone speaking, everyone has opinions and the life is always how you see it. The bottle is always half empty or half full. Here there is nothing full, there is a lot of empty things but difficult moments don’t last forever.

"It will pass and I believe the players who will take this as a challenge, as an opportunity will stand up with the courage to change things, after this period they will become better people and better players.

"So, in tough moments it’s always about that, it’s always about us. In the last period, a lot of things about what is the club, the problems, no-one can do nothing and this like victim-ism, like we were victims.

"I said this morning to the players totally opposition things. We are the team and we are the staff.

"It’s all about us. All the bulls***, all the other things are bullsh*** and sorry to use this word, but it’s on us."

Tottenham told to sack Igor Tudor before Liverpool clash - 'Needs to be today'

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Tottenham Hotspur head to Anfied on Sunday to take on defending champions Liverpool in the Premier League with pressure growing on their manager Igor Tudor

Igor Tudor's tenure at Tottenham is a "car crash" that needs to be brought to an end, according to former England defender Gary Neville.

Tudor's position is under intense scrutiny after four straight losses and in the aftermath of Tuesday's debacle against Atletico Madrid, where the Spurs boss selected reserve keeper Antonin Kinsky only to substitute him after 17 minutes with his side 3-0 down.

Tottenham went on to lose 5-2, all but ending their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals, and, speaking to The Overlap's Stick to Football podcast, Neville said of the treatment of Kinsky: "I thought it was brutal. I thought the whole thing of the last few weeks and then that, the whole thing is just a car crash, a shambles.

"The problem I had was Tudor's interview. I think he's got to come in there and say, 'Look, I got this wrong, I should have left (Guglielmo) Vicario in net', but he didn't, he doubled down."

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Tudor was only appointed four weeks ago following the sacking of Thomas Frank but Neville believes Spurs, who head to Liverpool on Sunday (4.30pm kick-off), must act again immediately to have any hope of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

"If you're going to make another change, that for me needs to be today or tomorrow, because you don't wait," the ex-Manchester United defender added.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright agreed that Tudor is not the right man for the role, saying: "You don't want to see anybody get sacked but, when you see somebody who's blatantly out of their depth, it's uncomfortable.

"For him to make that decision, for that poor goalkeeper, for him to go into a game like that at a club like that to start, I don't know what he's seen in training. For me, Vicario is the number one, he plays in that game.

"You do that in another game for him because now, look at this guy Kinsky. That's the biggest nightmare since the Liverpool goalkeeper."

Wright was referring to Loris Karius' horror show in the 2018 Champions League final, and Tudor's treatment of Kinsky drew mixed reviews.

The Croatian did not acknowledge the 22-year-old after hauling him off, but Roy Keane described the outcry as an overreaction, with the ex-Manchester United midfielder saying saying: "He's made a couple of mistakes, huge mistakes."

Former Everton and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney added: "He's tried to protect him but it looks horrendous. I think the biggest issue was starting him. I've no problem with him taking him off.

"Should he hug him? If I got brought off after 20 minutes, I wouldn't want a hug off my manager. He can speak to him after the game."

Ex-Tottenham and Liverpool striker Robbie Keane, who is currently in charge at Hungarian side Ferencvaros, was cited as a possible replacement along with former Everton boss Sean Dyche, who recently lost his job at Nottingham Forest.

Rooney reserved his strongest criticism for the Spurs squad, saying: "Those players need to look at themselves because I think they've been an absolute disgrace. The performances, the attitude, the lack of desire, the lack of fight, lack of anything in them.

"I think they need someone to go in and absolutely batter them. They need some fear put into them."

Alisson Becker, Alexander Isak and Liverpool injury latest

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Arne Slot press conference LIVE - Alisson Becker, Alexander Isak and Liverpool injury latest - Liverpool Echo
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To jump to a conclusion after one game day is such a small sample size, not the smartest thing to do. Maybe after next week it is a different conclusion. In general it is not smart not to have a winter break. In Europe now, you face top teams. So to merely jump to conclusions, lack of winter break, PL not as a high a level as we think, they are not the right conclusion to make. Let's judge after next week and then maybe it is still too early to say. If you are in CL last 16, all teams are very good and strong. Four out of five away from home, margins were quite small from what I saw, Arsenal margins were small and maybe it's weirdly but I didn't see 3-0 coming for Man City v Real Madrid. PSG v Chelsea, people told me Chelsea were involved in that game, so jumping to conclusions after one game usually not what I wanted to do."

I see his form as 2 weeks ago, he played a good to decent game v Gala but also received a yellow card in an environment where we conceded a lot of soft free-kicks and yellow cards and the other team were really smart in addressing that. So it was too much of a risk to leave him on for a second yellow because he is always aggressive in his duels and some teams can be really smart if a player is on a yellow to create an atmosphere where he can get a second. So we had Robertson so we didn't risk it. I am trying to take things into account with the decisions I make, Milos didn't play badly. But he had a problem on a yellow with a referee who gave a lot of free-kicks to Gala."

I believe that a good individual performances comes from a team performance. We were on it first 15 mins and then there was a moment that changed the momentum of the game, conceding a set piece, not for the first time, that is not what we are accepting. We don't think everything should be much worse than it was before but we didn't play our best game of the season. I also saw for an away leg in Europe we were able to generate enough chances to score a goal. More than another team might do away in CL, but we have struggled with converted the chances we have and we have a bad cocktail of conceding chances and goals. If we cannot repair that every game will be difficult. But I have confidence we have quality players and the next 2 games are at home.

I am really looking forward to playing twice at home now with the support from the fans that can make a massive difference.

What I want is that I am able that every single player gets the maximum out of everything until the end of the season. That is the aim for me and the players, I am sure. It's the only way to get the maximum of what is in it for us. Sometimes we need a bit of luck, like the last-16 last year, penalties, so close to beating PSG adn they went on to win it. So the margins are small and we have to fight for them to make them bigger and bigger every day."

We don't know what is going to happen between now and the end of the season. We could win two trophies, you just don't know. I'm not in agreement that this guy should be under pressure.

When you see stats like that, please just realise what we have enjoyed. We have won a trophy. If we'd have been in the position in the second season and finished maybe fifth [last season] everybody would have said: 'Yeah, give Arne Slot a bit of a go'.

He has done well. I'm not saying it's been perfect this year, I'm not trying to wax lyrical that we have had some great performances and it's been good. No, it's been difficult.

I was not expecting anything different from this, from what's happened. It's both things, the players that have left, the players that have come in. God bless him, what happened to Diogo Jota you can't quantify that enough; players, feelings, mates, young men."Thompson added: “So all the things that have gone on have been difficult, it has been quite traumatic. I'm thinking where we are, I do think we'll finish in the Champions League [places].

I'll predict something now: I don't care what happens, we will win the league next year. Because I think once this is all settled down, this team will win the league

It's a bold claim maybe but once all these players have settled and all the injuries are back... what Arne Slot has done, I think he's done very well. To get that amount of wins [in 100 games] is quite astonishing.

Liverpool to miss meeting with 'obvious choice' for summer transfer as 11 could be absent

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Liverpool take on troubled Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday, and the visitors could be missing as many as 11 players

Tottenham Hotspur could be without as many as 11 players for Sunday's visit to Liverpool, with the man dubbed "the obvious choice" for a summer move to the Reds amongst them.

Struggling Spurs will arrive at Anfield having lost their last six matches in all competitions and in real danger of becoming the highest profile relegated side in Premier League history.

Interim boss Igor Tudor has overseen a dismal four matches in charge thus far, losing all of them, and on Tuesday he attracted criticism for substituting goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky just 17 minutes into a 5-2 defeat at Atletico Madrid after he was at fault for two of the first three goals.

Micky van de Ven had slipped for Atletico's second goal, scored by Antoine Griezmann, and the Dutch defender won't play at Anfield this weekend as he serves a one match ban for his red card in Spurs' last Premier League match, a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.

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Former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood believes that Van de Ven should be eyed by Liverpool for a summer move, with the Reds expected to be in the market for a centre-back with Ibrahima Konate's contract expiring this summer and Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez only having one year left on their deals come the end of the seaon.

“Micky van de Ven is the obvious choice for Liverpool this summer in that left centre-back position," Sherwood told BOYLE Sports and Footy Accumulators’ podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football.

"There’s not many other options for Liverpool; there’s Jarrad Branthwaite, but there’s no way he’s joining from Everton, so I think that opens the door for Micky to become a Liverpool player, and I think he’d do really well for them.

“He’s got all the attributes to become a top player, but he needs someone like Virgil van Dijk next to him. I think that proven, experienced players by his side would make him feel more comfortable and improve his leadership skills, because I don’t think he’s the leader everyone thinks he is just yet.

“It’s a learning curve for Micky, and he could really benefit from the experience of winners around him, but I still think he’d be a good fit for Liverpool.”

As well as the suspended Van de Ven, Spurs could also be without Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha after the pair clashed heads in Madrid, while Destiny Udogie is another serious doubt with a hamstring injury.

Long-term injury absentees Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are all out.

Liverpool latest: Arne Slot handed sack verdict and Tottenham confirm update before Reds clash

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Liverpool need to stage a comeback of old in order to turn their fortunes around this season

With every Liverpool loss, Arne Slot's position as manager appears increasingly precarious. The Dutchman watched his team succumb to a 1-0 defeat against Galatasaray on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase encounter.

It marks the second occasion this campaign the reigning Premier League champions have been beaten by the Turkish side and, given it represents the 14th loss of the season across all competitions, frustration is mounting on Merseyside.

With a vital fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday looming, we examine Jamie Carragher's assessment on dismissing Slot as well as an update confirmed by the north London club before their journey to Anfield.

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Arne Slot's wake-up call

Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Galatasaray on Tuesday represented the Reds' 14th defeat of the campaign across all competitions. It was a result and display that left Jamie Carragher - and Liverpool supporters - completely exasperated about the club's dramatic decline this season following their title-winning campaign

The former Reds defender was fulfilling his CBS Sports commitments while watching events unfold in Turkey as Carragher cautioned Slot that he risks being sacked at the end of the season if he's unable to reverse his team's fortunes.

"I think the performances from Liverpool this season are a big worry for the manager," Carragher said. "I think I said on this show in the group stage he's got to do something, he's got to change something.

"He's tried everything really, in lots of different ways, but nothing seems to be able to work and it's just at no stage this season have I ever felt Liverpool were in control of a football match. It's either end-to-end basketball, so he wanted to stop that and change that, and then it becomes slow and boring and predictable.

"Do I think another manager could come in straight away, or any manager, say you give him that squad? I don't think it dramatically changes. I really do think the makeup of the squad, how it's been put together, the lack of options in certain areas, is a big problem as well. So it's not just all about the manager but as we know, managers carry the can."

Tottenham update confirmed

While Liverpool are enduring a difficult season, it pales in comparison to Tottenham who find themselves in an unlikely relegation battle despite splashing out £223million in the past two transfer windows.

The north London team are next up for the Reds at Anfield on Sunday, with the visitors expected to be managed by Igor Tudor despite losing his initial four matches at the helm.

Currently on a six-match losing streak across all competitions - the first time in the club's lengthy 144-year history they've experienced such a run - the Croatian boss is already under severe pressure.

However, in a subtle indication of Tottenham's plans regarding who will be at the helm this weekend, Tudor will conduct the club's pre-match press conference at Hotspur Way training ground on Friday afternoon to discuss the crucial match. With their last five league games ending in defeat, securing their first domestic win since December will be a significant challenge.

Tottenham poised to have 11 stars out of Liverpool game after duo suffer sickening injuries

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Liverpool face Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday afternoon and the north London side have no shortage of issues heading into the Premier League clash

Tottenham could be without 11 players for their pivotal Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday. Spurs are in free fall with interim manager Igor Tudor having lost his four opening matches, and the Croatian is only seeing his injury list continue to pose problems.

The Lilywhites endured a first-half collapse against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League as they fell to a 5-2 defeat, but also saw their domestic problems multiply. Joao Palhinha and Cristian Romero were down for several minutes after a sickening clash of heads that left Tudor's side down to nine men at the end of the game.

Palhinha was taken off with a concussion, while Romero initially continued but had to withdraw soon after. Speaking following the game, Tudor said he didn't know if they would be out moving forwards.

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"It looks like everything is against us," he said. "Incredible things."

Spurs have plenty of other problems to contend with too. The 16th-placed side will be without Micky van de Ven, who has been linked to Liverpool, following his red card against Crystal Palace.

There is also no shortage of long-term injuries in north London. Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have not played for the club this season.

Kulusevski is on his way back from a patella injury suffered last May, while Maddison injured his ACL during pre-season. Neither is guaranteed to feature before the end of this term.

Wilson Odobert is also rehabilitating from an ACL injury and is not expected back until next season, while the club's options on the wing are further limited with Mohammed Kudus out due to a thigh injury. He is expected back in April.

Rodrigo Bentancur is out with a thigh injury for an unknown period, and young midfield star Lucas Bergvall underwent an operation after picking up an ankle injury.

Similarly, veteran defender Ben Davies has undergone surgery on his ankle and will not be back for another month.

Destiny Udogie could be in contention to return from his hamstring injury, but did not appear in Tottenham's Champions League squad to face Atletico.

While the visitors are in desperate need of three points, Liverpool will also be looking to return to winning ways. The Reds will be required to bounce back quickly from a disappointing loss to Galatasaray to keep in Champions League contention as they currently sit in sixth.

Tottenham make Igor Tudor Liverpool decision as pressure mounts after Atletico Madrid debacle

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Tottenham make Igor Tudor Liverpool decision as pressure mounts after Atletico Madrid debacle - Liverpool Echo
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Igor Tudor is huge under pressure after Tottenham were beaten 5-2 by Atletico Madrid in their Champions League last-16 first leg tie on Tuesday night

Igor Tudor is set to take charge of Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League game at Liverpool on Sunday. Tudor’s position as Tottenham boss is under intense pressure after another awful night for the Croatian in the Champions League.

However, he looks set to take charge of Sunday’s game at Anfield after Spurs confirmed on Wednesday that Tudor will speak to the media on Friday afternoon. Tudor will hold his pre-match Liverpool press conference at 1.30pm on Friday, in the biggest indication yet that he looks set to avoid the sack for now.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust called for 'emergency action' after a chaotic 5-2 loss at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night. More records tumbled for Spurs on an extraordinary night at the Wanda Metropolitano, where goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was withdrawn after 17 minutes due to two terrible errors.

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Defeat made Tudor the first Tottenham boss to lose his first four games in charge, while the club have lost six games in a row for the first time in their history. But speaking after the game, he vowed: "I need to keep working. Not speaking too much, stay focused on the things we can do.

“It's unbelievably difficult to explain all these things, the first time in my career that I saw these things, 15 years. I'm focused on the problems and the players also. We need to stay positive."

Before he added: "It's not about me. We need to stay calm. Less talking. Better less talking. Now is not the moment to try and give a big explanation."

Spurs are currently 16th in the Premier League table, while Liverpool head into Sunday’s game looking to return to winning ways after being beaten 1-0 by Galatasaray on Wednesday night.

“I think we started the game really well, even better than three months ago," said Reds boss Arne Slot post-match.

“We were having three or four great moments, with, of course, the biggest moment when Florian [Wirtz], I didn't see it back, but it came across as almost an open goal where he could finish that ball.

“We weren't able to score. Like last time, when we had our chances they five seconds later got their first attack, led to a corner.

You have to give credit for the way when they get a chance they play as if it is the last chance of their lives.

“That is definitely something we can learn from them because we sometimes get our chances and it comes across as if we think we get 10 more.

“So we were 1-0 down and it's already a difficult place to go if you're 0-0, but if you are one goal down, it makes it even harder for us, for everyone who's on the pitch, except for their own players. Yeah, a 1-0 loss.”