The Liverpool Offside

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR VS. LIVERPOOL

| Saturday, December 20th |

Premier League | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur have been struggling for form this season, and Liverpool won’t be the only team in Saturday’s early kick-off glad to have had a bit of a mid-week breather. While the Reds have been inching towards improvement, though, Spurs are coming into Saturday off of a “bad performance” which “lacked energy” against Nottingham Forest.

Spurs have no new injuries to contend with, and (unlike Liverpool) will have spent the week without a mid-week fixture building on the positives and addressing the negatives with an almost fully-fit side — though Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are now away at AFCON, and Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke remain sidelined.

Spurs come into this one in 11th place on 22 points having recently lost 3-0 away at Forest following two home wins against Slavia Prague and Brentford. The form prior to this was worse, with an away draw to Newcastle and a home loss to Fulham rounding out their last five — though it’s perhaps notable that their 2-0 win against Forest is their last home league game. They have won just two of their last 25 Premier League games against Liverpool (D6 L17), with the last win coming at home in 2023 (and Liverpool having scored 11 total goals in the two dominant wins last season). Their loss to Forest last time out is their fourth Premier League loss by 3+ goals thus far in this calendar year.

Spurs aren’t the only team likely to concede, however. Per Opta, the Reds are behind only Bournemouth (16) when it comes to conceding two or more goals in more away games: Liverpool have shipped 15 away goals across the last two seasons, the second-most for teams who are still or currently playing in the Premier League. It’s been something of a pendulum, with Liverpool either keeping a clean sheet or conceding 2+ across the last 17 aways.

Richarlison is the player to watch for Tottenham here, as he’s consistently scored or assisted against Liverpool — though almost always at Anfield rather than at his home ground. He is their top Premier League scorer this season with six goals to his name, followed by Micky van de Ven on three. While 11 different Spurs players have scored in the league this season, no one has come close to double-digit goal tallies in fact or based on xG — indeed, fBref have Richarlison’s xG thus far this season on just 3.2. Though this is a positive in that he’s been clinical, that being the team high xG value speaks to some of their struggles.

As a team, they’ve conceded 21 goals in the league this season (xGA 21), which makes them comparable to the Reds. Much like last weekend’s match-up against Brighton, Liverpool will face opposition with issues that echo their own.

Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-3-3)

Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Ekitiké, Wirtz

Mohamed Salah is away at AFCON, and even if his absence feels less like a full-caps MISSING than we expected before the league kicked off he is a major option absent for the Reds. Jeremie Frimpong, himself apparently brought in with AFCON in mind, has returned to fitness, however, and may well feature on Saturday. Cody Gakpo’s scan was more positive than anticipated so he has an outside chance of featuring, but Joe Gomez will not be with the squad. Dominik Szoboszlai is also being monitored, and the Hungarian returned to training for the first time on Friday and may be fit enough to feature for Arne Slot’s men in London.

Hugo Ekitiké comes into this one on the back of two consecutive braces, and could become the first player since Luis Súarez to do so in three consecutive should he repeat the performance on Saturday. Given his strong form, he’s likely to start on Saturday, though the late fitness tests elsewhere will have a lot to say about who he plays with. While Slot praised his play in his pre-match press conference, he did softly suggest that the defensive side of his game has room for improvement.

Curtis Jones has likely done enough to earn himself a start in this one, and should Szoboszlai be fit we could see a similar line-up to the start of the last match in terms of Slot’s use of nominally midfield players. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister feel like easy calls, and Florian Wirtz is likely to start as well, both through good recent form and lack of other options. The fitness levels of Cody Gakpo, Jeremie Frimpong, and Dominik Szoboszlai are the big question marks, though if possible we’re likely to see all three.

Conor Bradley should hopefully be fit to do a full 90 minutes on Saturday, and Slot will have his pick of Andy Robertson or Miloš Kerkez on the other side.

That Liverpool, four points ahead of Spurs, have points level with 5th place and Spurs’ tally of 22 puts them at 11th also highlights how tight the league is thus far this year. With fourth place Chelsea facing a perhaps difficult trip to Newcastle, third-place Aston Villa hosting sixth-place Manchester United, fifth-place Palace traveling to Leeds, and Sunderland (in eighth but also on 26 points) traveling to Brighton, there could be some serious movement on the table after the weekend is up. If things take a particularly Liverpool-favored bounce the Reds could find themselves in the top four (though with a gap between fourth and the top three). Here’s hoping everything just…starts going Liverpool’s way.

The Managers Have Their Say

Arne Slot: ““We are getting closer and closer to the team I want us to be … We have to improve so that we are not so dependent on luck - make sure that this team gets to a level so that referee decisions do not influence results in a way that they have done in recent weeks.”

Thomas Frank: “he best teams create a stamina where they are very resilient to setbacks. That’s something we’re working hard on. That’s not a quick fix. The Fulham game was not a great start, tough 30 minutes - but we worked our way back. We didn’t get the fantastic comeback, but it was a good step - mentality, character wise. It’s bit by bit.”

The Officials

Referee: John Brooks Assistants: Simon Bennett, James Mainwaring Fourth Official: Anthony Taylor VAR: Stuart Attwell Assistant VAR: Adam Nunn

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Although Liverpool Women were finally able to get a goal in the Barclay’s Women’s Super League, they were still defeated on Sunday afternoon by hosts Tottenham Hotpsur, and still have yet to win a match in the league. The Women have been dealing with their own tragedies this season, in addition to the new manager imposing a new system, and an injury list that just keeps getting longer. Mia Enderby unfortunately looked to join that list in extra time after being stretchered off, and with two major injuries already, it doesn’t look great for the young forward.

“It’s not nice to see. Obviously [she was] stretchered off and I’ve not had an opportunity to speak to the medical department,” Gareth Taylor said following the match of Enderby’s injury.

“I think she has gone to hospital but hopefully she is OK. At one point I thought she was going to re-enter in terms of getting back up and start to play again but with those types of injuries it’s really crucial we take care of them.”

The game itself was a mixed bag, with Beata Olsson scoring for the first time, but goals from Bethany England and Toko Koga canceled out the excitement. Taylor also had use for two natural fullbacks for the first time but decided to switch positions for Ceri Holland and Cornelia Kapocs, and Kapocs wasn’t particularly effective in the midfield role. Even after scoring the first the Red Women were able to attack and looked ready for a second, but the advantage is lost when Lily Woodham gets a bloody nose from a ball to the face and Spurs are allowed to take a corner while she’s getting treated.

“I thought we started the game OK. We scored a good goal. I don’t think either team were playing at their best,” Taylor continued.

“We certainly could’ve exploited a bit more when we had those moments particularly at 1-0. But then we give away a really bad goal from a set play when Lily [Woodham] is off the pitch at that time which is frustrating.

“We just need to be tougher in those moments to see it out. It was just a little bit naive particularly from that set play and then you give a team like Tottenham, who have got good options to come from the sidelines as well, an opportunity to get a foothold in the game.”

There is no doubt that the club are in a tough period at the moment. With their only wins coming in the cup competitions, morale is understandably pretty low. Taylor also acknowledged that there have been really difficult things to deal with off the pitch, and unfortunately it is just a period to get through.

“It’s really tough. We all need support at the club because we’ve had a lot that’s obviously happened both on and off the pitch. On the pitch we’re not getting the necessary results that we want,” the manager explained.

“Of course, we don’t expect to be top of the league, we’re realistic and we know we’re at the start of a really, really long project. But, of course, you want to see some positive moments and I think we’ve seen glimpses. It’s just we’re not able to sustain it for long enough in a game of 90 minutes.”

The injuries certainly helping either, with the squad running thin and we’re barely in November. Taylor had previously hinted at wanting to do some business in January and though he didn’t mention it again today, he did also point out that we simply didn’t have enough talent on the bench.

“We didn’t have anything from the sidelines today unfortunately. It’s not ideal when you have to play a 21-year-old Hannah Silcock up on the right side. We just have to battle through it. The message is clear,” Taylor said.

“We’re working so hard as staff, players and everyone at the club to turn this into a better situation. But it takes a bit of time and a bit of support. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen at the moment, we’re getting knocked a bit - but we’ll keep fighting.”

The Barclay’s Women’s Super League returns from their international break this weekend, with Liverpool traveling south to Brisbane Road to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The long term injury updates are not new, with Marie Höbinger and Sophie Roman Haug suffering twin ACL injuries before the break, but there may be some better news from Gareth Taylor’s press conference on Friday. The manager did admit that they haven’t had a lot of time to see where the women are at physically, but was optimistic.

“We don’t get a lot of time, I think most coaches will tell you that, when you come back after the international break. You effectively have one or two days to prepare so it’s been a tight turnaround, but I think the girls have come back looking good today,” Taylor told the press.

“We’re still waiting on Leanne, she’s had an issue with her foot, bruising, and hopefully we can get her available tomorrow for training and then obviously travel with the squad because we’re a little bit light on numbers.

“Gemma Bonner will probably just come up a little bit short of the game and of course to go alongside the additional ones that you’re already aware of: Zara Shaw, Alejandra [Bernabe].

“Lucy Parry is getting a little bit closer and will possibly be back in training next week, which will help as well. So, outside of that, everyone from international duty has pretty much come back in good shape.”

Losing two such players like Roman Haug and Höbinger though will be a blow to the system that Taylor is trying to implement. Two attacking minded players losing their whole season is tough for for any team but especially for goal starved Liverpool who haven’t been able to win in the league yet. Taylor hinted at the possibility of doing business in January but that is still two months away.

“It does obviously limit us a little bit. Of course we can’t do anything until the transfer window opens again in January, but I think particularly the positions of those players – Sophie being a striker and Marie being an attacking midfielder – it’s not really an area of the pitch where we are stacked with players. So that’s really unfortunate,” the manager explained.

“The good news is we’ve got the plans together for them in terms of when the surgery will be, which is going to be soon, and hopefully get them on the road to recovery.

“But yeah, really tough – I think having that type of injury happen at any time of the season is not great, but where it sits, obviously it happened in back-to-back games, has been tough to take as well.”

Liverpool face Tottenham on Sunday at 12pm GMT/7am EST, and who knows, might even pull out a win.

LIVERPOOL VS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

| Sunday, April 27th |

Premier League | Anfield

This is the big one, folks. The one we’ve been waiting for. After decades of toil, watching helplessly as some bums for Manchester knocked us off our perch, we are back to take what is rightfully ours, and to do so in front of fans, in this case, a jubilant Anfield. Of course, there is the small matter of playing and not losing to Spurs, but that’s hard to imagine on a day like today. No, I don’t think this Spurs side can deny this Liverpool side.

Hopefully it is today, but if not, it is still only a matter of when, not if. The only unknown to us is what moment, or moments, of magic will clinch #20 for us.

PREVIEW & HOW TO WATCH

Full Match Preview: Liverpool vs. Spurs

Television & Streaming: Sky Sports Premier League & Sky Go Extra (UK); NBC & Peacock (USA); Optus Sport (Australia); FuboTV (Canada); Star Sports Select (India); Astro SuperSport 3 (Malaysia); SuperSport Maximo (Nigeria); 102 mio Stadium (Singapore); SuperSport Maximo (South Africa); other listings at LiveSoccerTV

Online Radio: LFCTV GO

LIVERPOOL

Teamsheets will be released one hour prior to the kickoff

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Teamsheets will be released one hour prior to the kickoff

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Liverpool FC will travel to North London to face Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. The second leg will be played at Anfield at the beginningof February.

Spurs head into this tie with a host of player absences. Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, and Wilson Odobert are all set to miss the match due to injury.

James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr are also ruled out through suspension, due to picking two yellow cards in the competition.

In better news for Spurs, Mikey Moore could return to the squad after a long lay-off while the club’s new signing, goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, is available for selection after completing a £10m move to Spurs from Slavia Prague on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Liverpool will be without the services of Joe Gomez, who is dealing with a hamstring issue. Dominik Szoboszlai is also unlikely to participate after missing the 2-2 draw with Manchester United due to illness. Head coach Arne Slot had this to say about his status:

TOTTENHAM VS LIVERPOOL

| Sunday, December 22nd |

Premier League | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Last year, Liverpool were the victims of football and/or braindead refereeing when they made the trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Despite losing 2-1, incorrectly sending off at least one Liverpool player, incorrectly chalking off a goal, and a last kick of the game own goal, Liverpool fans were correctly buoyed by the performance. The Reds could feel the same after their draw last week, when the 10-man Liverpool absolutely bossed it against Fulham.

However, if they are going to make last week a good point, they’ll need to get back on their winning ways. In their way is Tottenham, who have been a bit of a basket case this season. At no point today will a lead by either side feel safe. It will likely be an entertaining one for the neutral, and a stressful one for either set of partisans.

PREVIEW & HOW TO WATCH

Full Match Preview: Tottenham vs. Liverpool

Television & Streaming: Sky Sports Premier League & Sky Go Extra (UK); USA Network (USA); Optus Sport (Australia); FuboTV (Canada); Star Sports Select 1 (India); Astro Grandstand (Malaysia); SuperSport Maximo 2 (Nigeria); StarHub TV+ (Singapore); SuperSport Maximo 2 (South Africa); other listings at LiveSoccerTV

Online Radio: LFCTV GO

TOTTENHAM

Teamsheets will be released one hour prior to the kickoff

LIVERPOOL

Teamsheets will be released one hour prior to the kickoff

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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR VS. LIVERPOOL

| Sunday, December 22nd |

Premier League | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Spurs seem to be this season’s marathon team, and Sunday’s trip down to north London kicks off a stretch that will see Liverpool playing Spurs three more times after this, after they were drawn together for the semi-final of the League Cup. The Reds, off the back of a win against Southampton and a come from behind draw against Fulham on the weekend will be looking to add rather than subtract from their gap at the top of the table. It seems the worst of our own injury crisis is behind us (it would be nice to get Konate back), and with opponents closing in due to two draws back to back, getting three points and a chance to strike fear into Tottenham will be paramount.

Tottenham, to their credit, are in high scoring form, but have been unable to fully keep their opponents from doing the same, most recently barely holding on to a three goal lead against Manchester United in their midweek match. The injustice of last season’s debacle - yes it was last season - will be hard for Liverpool to shake though, and though it feels like the title is ours to lose at this point, Spurs would be a team that would like to put a roadblock up in those efforts.

Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Núñez, Diaz

Maybe one of the most important aspects is that Andy Robertson will be available for the match after serving his red card suspension against Southampton mid-week. The Reds are also still dealing with a number of impactful injuries, namely Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley still being unable to train with the rest of the squad, but the return of Diogo Jota (and the hopes that he can stay fit) bodes well for our scoring chances.

Spurs, on the other hand, are dealing with a number of injuries including high profile players like Richarlison, Ben Davies, and Micky van den Ven. They have a total of 8 players out through injury, and have been able to make the most of their squad - although questions about goalkeeper Fraser Forster have arisen after his performance against United. Their reliable attackers like Son Heung-Min and now former Liverpool player Dominic Solanke will be looking to cause plenty of problems for our visiting boys.

What the Managers Had to Say

Arne Slot: “They are consistent in their playing style and what they want. For me they are sometimes a bit unlucky as well because what happened [against Manchester United], they dominated the game. They always like to attack.”

Ange Postecoglou: “We are where we are and will progress because of the way we play and I don’t think we need to protect anyone in our team. I think if you go out there and play then you put your hand up to play our way.”

The Officials

Referee: Sam Barrott Assistants: Lee Betts, Wade Smith. Fourth official: Michael Oliver. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.