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Tottenham Hotspur will take on Liverpool this weekend, so it is time to take a look at which players would make a combined XI between the two teams.

Who starts in a Tottenham and Liverpool combined lineup?

This combined Tottenham Liverpool XI only includes players who are currently available. Those who are injured, suspended or have dpearted their club to compete at AFCON will not be included.

Alisson Becker: Liverpool were dreadful when Girogi Mamardashvili was playing in goal, but the side have looked more secure since Alisson returned from his injury. The Brazilian is still a top class keeper and is certainly a level above Guglielmo Vicario.

Pedro Porro: Tottenham’s first choice right back has not covered himself in glory recently and he could really use a good performance on Saturday. However, Porro is a great player on his day, often impressing with his attacking abilities and he can be quite good in defence too when he actually sorts his positioning out. Arne Slot has been experimenting with the right back position at Liverpool since Trent Alexander-Arnold, but no player seems to have started consistently there for long. Joe Gomez was beginning to build a run, but he is now injured.

Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool’s captain has come under some harsh scrutiny this season, but the 2019 Ballon d’Or runner-up is still a top, top player. Cristian Romero is not far behind, but he needs to be performing week-in, week-out. It feels all too often that the Argentine defender has a dodgy game and proceeds to avoid the media until his next good display.

Micky van de Ven: Ibrahima Konate has been at fault time and time again for Liverpool this season, so this was an obvious choice. van de Ven is among the top defenders in the Premier League and he always gives 100 per cent. Some Liverpool supporters have already been fantasing about what it would be like to sign the flying Dutchman and it is not hard to see why.

Djed Spence: Tottenham’s lone England international has definitely not reached the standards of Andy Robertson in his prime, but these days the 31-year-old has to share his position with Milos Kerkez. Based on the here and now, Spence would start in the combined XI. However, if Destiny Udogie was available, there would be an argument to include him ahead of his Spurs teammate.

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Ryan Gravenberch: It was tempting to include Joao Palhinha in this team, but Gravenberch is more dynamic in what he offers. The midfielder was one of Liverpool’s best players last season and he appears to have rediscovered his form in recent weeks.

Curtis Jones: Essentially a far more complete version of Rodrigo Bentancur, Jones makes the team ahead of the Uruguayan without any need for deliberation. He also gets in ahead of Alexis Mac Allister, who might be considered a better player overall, but his form this season has been a bit off. Lucas Bergvall has a high ceiling and could reach this kind of level one day, but he is not there yet.

Dominik Szoboszlai: Liverpool’s Hungarian has been declared fit to face Spurs and so including him is a no-brainer. Xavi Simons will hopefully become as influential for Tottenham as Szoboslazi has been for the Reds, but the 22-year-old still has room for improvement.

Mohammed Kudus: If Mohamed Salah played for Spurs, he would be making the starting lineup regardless of his form. The Egyptian is a Liverpool legend and it is important to remember that he bagged 29 goals and 18 assists in the Premier League only last season. However, Salah is away at AFCON and Kudus is the next best option. The ex-West Ham winger has been one of Tottenham’s best summer signings and his best may still be yet to come.

Hugo Ekitike: Richarlison has a decent goal tally this season, but Ekitike is in a different league. Despite coming from the Bundesliga, the 23-year-old Frenchman has been a far better signing for Liverpool than Alexander Isak.

Heung-min Son has opened up on his decision to leave Tottenham in the summer and has explained why he did not join another Premier League club.

The South Korean called time on his decade-long stay at Tottenham in the summer and decided to sign for LAFC in the MLS.

Son got a rousing reception at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when he returned to North London last week for the first time since departing the club.

The 33-year-old’s legacy at Spurs has been honoured with a mural on the Tottenham High Road, and there is no doubt that he will be associated with the Lilywhites for life.

Heung-min Son never considered playing for another Premier League club apart from Tottenham

The forward has now admitted to the club’s media that calling time on his career at N17 was a very difficult decision.

Son confessed that playing for another Premier League club apart from Spurs was never an option for him.

He said on the SpursPlay documentary: “It was very hard to leave this club, because I love the club, but, in the end, I was thinking, if I stay, that will not be good, either for the club or from my point of view.”

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“I definitely don’t want to go to another Premier League team, because I respect the club so much. I never want to face Spurs again. I’m only going to play for Spurs, I’m not going to play against Spurs.”

Son left Spurs at the right time

The infamous line from the movie Dark Knight: ‘You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain’ is extremely applicable to top-level sport.

We have seen recently in the case of Mohamed Salah and Liverpool that players often outstay their peak and see a section of the fan base turning against them.

One’s legendary status at a club is not just defined by what they achieve but also by leaving at the right time.

Even while deciding on the timing of his exit, Son showed that he is the ultimate team man by putting the needs of the club above his own individual career, and for that reason, he will arguably go down as Tottenham’s biggest modern-day legend.

Tottenham Hotspur will wear a different shirt to the one they have so far this season when they take on Liverpool in the Premier League.

Spurs face a crunch game as the Reds visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tomorrow, looking to further add to Thomas Frank’s misery.

The Lilywhites can take heart from the fact that they have won their last two home matches against Brentford and Slavia Prague, but the 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest has stalled the momentum they had built.

The one thing Tottenham can take heart from is the fact that Liverpool have fallen well short of the standards they set last season and have looked extremely susceptible at the back.

AIA logo will be replaced on the Tottenham shirt against Liverpool

The club have now confirmed on social media that the logo on the front of their shirt will be replaced to support a charitable cause.

Instead of the ‘AIA’ logo, we will see a ‘Sharing A Life: For Children Cancer’ logo at the front of Tottenham’s shirt as a show of support to children battling cancer in Thailand.

The club are undertaking this in partnership with AIA to raise awareness for paediatric cancer.

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Spurs have also confirmed that all the matchday shirts will be auctioned off after the game, with the proceeds going to the Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital foundation.

What does Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital do?

On their official website, Spurs have explained that the Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital, which is located in Bangkok, supports children from newborns to 15 years old, including those living with cancer, admitting up to 2,000 admissions annually.

The foundation helps to build sterile isolation rooms for children undergoing cancer treatment.

Speaking on the initiative, Tottenham’s Chief Revenue Officer, Ryan Norys said: “We are proud to continue our work alongside AIA to provide a unique platform to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes from across the Asia-Pacific region every season.

“We know the funds raised from the auction of shirts worn in our match with Liverpool will make a huge contribution to the incredible work of Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital Foundation.”

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has revealed what he has heard from Tottenham Hotspur about Yang Min-hyeok’s future, amidst speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid.

Yang has been a livewire down the wings for Pompey this season, with the 19-year-old looking more and more at home in English football with each passing game.

His performances have not gone unnoticed across Europe, with one of the biggest clubs in the contient reportedly expressing interest.

It was reported in Spain earlier this week that Real Madrid are plotting a shock £6.1m move for Yang in January, with Los Blancos impressed by his potential.

John Mousinho reveals what he has heard from Tottenham about Yang Min-hyeok

Mousinho has now admitted that he has seen the speculation linking the South Korean with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

He revealed that Tottenham Hotspur do have the option to recall the winger from Fratton Park in January, but insisted that the North London club have not given any indications they are going to cut short his loan.

When asked about the rumours over Yang’s future, the Portsmouth boss told The News: “I’ve heard the story (about Real Madrid), but there’s nothing I have heard from Tottenham or Real Madrid.

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“I think Min-hyeok will be here for the rest of the season. Spurs have a recall, as most of these loan contracts. Spurs have a recall if they want to recall him.

“I think he’s been a really bright spark in a lot of the performances we’ve had, particularly in the early part of the season.

“At times, you have probably seen what you can sometimes expect from young players, but, as a 19-year-old coming into a struggling side, he has done very well. He will be staying until the end of the season.”

Spurs have a clear plan for Yang

Despite the interest from Madrid, the Lilywhites have no intention of cashing in on their young starlet.

This is according to a recent update from Football Asian, who suggested that Yang is not short of suitors, but Tottenham will not be selling the Korean.

However, the outlet suggested that Spurs could end the teenager’s spell at Pompey prematurely and send him on loan to a stronger side in January.

Roy Keane and Gary Neville do not think there will be a lot in it between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool on Saturday.

Both Thomas Frank and Arne Slot are under pressure ahead of Saturday’s game, with both the Lilywhites and the Reds underperforming so far this term.

While Spurs did win their last two home games against Brentford and Slavia Prague, they were brought crashing down to earth with a 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest last Sunday.

Frank is thought to be losing support among the Tottenham board, and a heavy defeat against Liverpool might really make it an insurmountable task for him.

Gary Neville and Roy Keane expect a close encounter between Tottenham and Liverpool

The Tottenham boss would be aware that he needs to turn things around quickly, and he cannot afford another poor showing in front of the home fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Neither Neville nor Keane thinks there will be much in it on Sunday, but both pundits expect Liverpool to edge out Spurs.

When asked to predict the result, Neville first said on The Stick to Football podcast: “It probably is a 1-1 match”, before eventually claiming the Reds will win 2-1.

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Keane responded by saying, “Do something a bit crazy with that,” alluding to the fact that the result could be unpredictable, but he, too, eventually agreed with his former Man United teammate that Slot’s men will win 2-1.

Spurs have started searching for Thomas Frank’s replacement

Following his side’s defeat to Forest, Frank urged the Tottenham board to give him time to turn things around, insisting that the team’s issues are not an easy fix.

However, it is unclear if he would get that time as reports indicate Spurs have already exploring alternatives to Frank, including Mauricio Pochettino, Oliver Glasner and Marco Silva.

With pressure mounting on Thomas Frank, the Tottenham boss has a chance to deliver an early Christmas present against Liverpool on Saturday.

Following last weekend’s 3-0 defeat away to 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, scrutiny around Thomas Frank intensified, with sections of the fanbase openly questioning whether he should remain in the job.

That result felt like a tipping point, even if any immediate talk of change was quickly played down once it emerged that the Spurs hierarchy decided to back their head coach.

Sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table, Tottenham have managed just 1 league win in their previous 7 matches, with their inconsistency continuing to undermine any momentum they try to build.

Liverpool arrive in North London with their own storylines this season, but crucially for Spurs, they are already finding their rhythm again.

Last season’s Premier League champions are unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions and sit 7th in the table, after a routine 2-0 victory over Brighton their last time out.

What time does Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool kick off?

Location: London, England

Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Date: Saturday, 20 December 2025

Kick-off Time: 5:30 pm BST

Referee: John Brooks

VAR: Stuart Attwell

Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool: Head-to-head record

The two sides met four times last season, including a dramatic Carabao Cup semi-final. Tottenham edged the first leg 1-0 in North London, only to be comprehensively beaten 4-0 at Anfield in the return fixture.

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In the league, Liverpool completed a double over Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, winning 6-3 and 5-1 in two one-sided encounters.

Overall, Tottenham’s recent record against Liverpool makes grim reading. Spurs have won just two of their last 25 Premier League meetings with the Reds (D6 L17).

Tottenham team news

Tottenham will be without both Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma, who have departed for AFCON duty with Senegal and Mali, respectively.

Injuries continue to bite, with Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski all ruled out for this weekend’s clash.

Liverpool team news

Speculation surrounding Mohamed Salah’s future briefly dominated headlines following a fall out with Arne Slot, but the Egyptian silenced much of that noise with an impressive display against Brighton, providing an assist and threatening throughout. However, he will now miss this fixture after departing for AFCON.

Joe Gomez was forced off with a hamstring issue just 25 minutes into that same match, a significant blow given Liverpool’s lack of depth at right-back, especially with Jeremie Frimpong also sidelined.

Dominic Szoboszlai is a doubt after being substituted against Brighton with what appeared to be an ankle problem.

Confirmed absentees for Liverpool include Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo and Cody Gakpo.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bergvall; Simons, Kudus, Richarlison; Kolo Muani

Our prediction

Richarlison is one to watch here, having developed a habit of delivering against Liverpool in the past, while Xavi Simons is beginning to look increasingly at ease in a Tottenham shirt. The duo could pose real problems for a Liverpool defence that has shown signs of vulnerability, particularly through the middle.

From Spurs’ perspective, the absence of Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo will come as a relief, given the damage they inflicted last season. Even so, Hugo Ekitike arrives in strong form and remains a threat Tottenham cannot afford to ignore.

Few Spurs supporters will expect a result on paper, but the mood around the stadium will hinge heavily on performance and how many chances Tottenham can create. Thomas Frank knows that a win, or at the very least a genuinely competitive display here, would go a long way towards easing the pressure once again.

Tottenham Hotspur are no longer the front-runners to sign an exiting South American starlet who they have been tracking for several months.

Regular readers of Spurs Web will be aware that there have been plenty of reports over the last few months suggesting that Spurs have been scouting a 19-year-old wide-forward, who is turning a lot of heads in Brazilian football.

Sources from Brazil have suggested that Tottenham have allegedly explored getting a work permit for Vasco Da Gama starlet Rayan ahead of the January window.

The youngster is expected to be the next big export from the South American country to Europe, but the Lilywhites sustained a blow a couple of days ago when it emerged that Rayan signed a contract extension with Vasco Da Gama.

Crystal Palace overtake Tottenham in the race for Rayan

ESPN Brazil have now revealed that Spurs have been joined in the race for the teenager by London rivals Crystal Palace.

It is claimed that Palace have moved to the front of the queue after contacting Rayan and his representatives over a transfer to Selhurst Park and are now assessing whether to formalise their interest.

The Eagles will only be able to land the forward next summer, but they want to structure the deal in advance.

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Oliver Glasner’s men are hoping they can tie up a deal in January to steal a march on other clubs and start planning around Rayan’s development.

How much would Spurs have to pay for Rayan?

According to reports, Rayan’s release clause in his new contract is worth £70m, and the high value has been put in place by Vasco to strengthen their negotiating position.

However, it was previously claimed by O Globo that Vasco would be willing to sell Rayan for €25m to €30m (£21.8m-£26m).

It will be interesting to see whether Palace’s approach for the Brazilian jolts the North London club into accelerating their pursuit of the young forward.

A big-name Barcelona star could be on the move in January, and he prefers joining Tottenham Hotspur over three other European clubs.

As the January transfer window draws closer, one Tottenham Hotspur star’s long-term future at the club appears to be up in the air.

Reports indicate that Spurs have started looking for potential replacements for Guglielmo Vicario, although the Italian is more likely to be replaced next summer rather than in January.

Back in October, it emerged that Tottenham were eyeing a move for Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and there has now been an update on his future.

Tottenham plotting January move for Marc-Andre ter Stegen

A new report in Sport has now revealed that Hansi Flick has communicated his plans to the Barca goalkeeper.

Ter Stegen made his first appearance of the season in the club’s 2-0 Copa del Rey win over CD Guadalajara yesterday after recovering from his back injury.

However, the German has been informed by Flick that Joan Garcia is his number one, and he will have to make do with a place on the bench.

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Ter-Stegen is thus looking for an exit route from Barca in January, and Tottenham may be ready to pounce on him.

The report says that ‘tension is palpable’ at Spurs due to Vicario’s struggles, and they may seize on the opportunity to sign the six-time La Liga winner.

Ter-Stegen is waiting for an approach from Spurs

Tottenham are not the only ones who want the experienced Barca star, with Besiktas, Bologna, and Ajax having all contacted the Catalan club about the goalkeeper.

However, Ter Stegen is not keen on joining any of those clubs and is thought to be keener on a switch to North London.

It is revealed that Man United have also contacted the German through intermediaries, but their interest is not serious at this stage.

The outlet adds that Tottenham could sign Ter Stegen on loan with an option to buy if they decide to make a move next month.

An England international, who has been approached by Tottenham Hotspur, has now made a final decision on his future.

According to reports, discussions are ongoing at Spurs about adding another central midfielder to their squad in January.

Some sources have reported that Tottenham have made advances towards Conor Gallagher, who has fallen out of favour at Atletico Madrid this season.

Last month, Gallagher admitted that he is not happy with his game time at Atletico, and it has now emerged that the midfielder has made a decision on his future ahead of January.

Tottenham target Conor Gallagher is ready to leave Atletico Madrid

TEAMtalk now say that several Premier League clubs, including Tottenham, have spoken to the former Chelsea man’s representatives about a move to England in January.

The 25-year-old has started just four league games and three Champions League matches for Diego Simeone’s men this season.

It is revealed that Gallagher is now ‘ready to move in January’ in order to give himself the best chance of making the England squad for next summer’s World Cup.

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The midfielder’s camp have been in contact with Thomas Tuchel and the England coaching staff, who have told the player that he is in contention for the World Cup squad, but needs to play regularly to get into the final 26-man list.

Spurs face Gallagher competition as a loan move on the cards

TEAMtalk say that Gallagher still believes that he has a future at Atletico over the long term and is happy at the Spanish capital.

He is open to a loan move away from the club in January so that he can get regular game time during the second half of the season.

One senior Tottenham defender is walking a disciplinary tightrope ahead of Spurs’ clash against Liverpool at home.

Normally, one would say that the Spurs players will be desperate to bounceback after the shambolic performance they delivered at the City Ground last week.

However, the reality is that Thomas Frank’s men have delivered many such displays this season, and the Tottenham fans have become accustomed to seeing their side struggle to create any chances of note.

That has particularly been the case in big matches, which is why the pressure is immense on Thomas Frank ahead of Liverpool’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Pedro Porro is one yellow card away from a Tottenham suspension

Cristian Romero served a suspension against Fulham a few weeks ago after accumulating five yellow cards in the Premier League this term.

Another Tottenham player is now very close to suffering the same fate, with Pedro Porro now on four cautions, as per FotMob.

That means that the Spaniard needs to avoid a booking for the next three matches (until gameweek 19) to escape a suspension.

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Spurs also have six players sitting on three yellow cards each: Joao Palhinha, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Why the prospect of a Porro suspension is a major worry for Spurs

Normally, one would say that Frank would not be too worried about the prospect of losing Porro for one match, since he has a readymade right-back option in Djed Spence.

However, with Destiny Udogie out of action until January with a hamstring injury, Spence is needed to play at left-back.

That means that Thomas Frank would likely have to hand Ben Davies his first start of the season if Porro picks up a yellow card within the next three matches.