Liverpool vs Tottenham preview, team news, tickets & prediction

Liverpool will be looking to close-in on the top four with another win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds’ season looked to be virtually done and dusted after they took just two points from their four games against Bournemouth, Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal earlier this month. It left them cut off from the race for the top four and it seemed as though Liverpool would be without Champions League football next season.

However, Jurgen Klopp’s men have rediscovered their form in recent weeks. A superb comeback against Arsenal salvaged a 2-2 draw at Anfield and they have grown in confidence since that day. The Reds thrashed Leeds United 6-1 at Elland Road before beating Nottingham Forest 3-2 at Anfield. A narrow 2-1 win over West Ham at the London Stadium on Wednesday night has made it three wins in a row for the Merseysiders and rejuvenated hopes they can make a late push for a top four place.

Liverpool head into the weekend action sitting seventh in the table but are just one point behind fifth placed Tottenham with a game in hand. There are seven points separating them from fourth-placed Man Utd so Liverpool desperately need a win on Sunday to climb up to fifth and put the pressure on United – who entertain sixth-placed Aston Villa at Old Trafford. With the teams occupying 4th to 7th all playing each other, this is going to be a pivotal weekend in the race for the European qualification places.

Tottenham’s season has collapsed in recent weeks having lost at home to Bournemouth before being humiliated 6-1 away to Newcastle United. The players reimbursed the supporters who made the long trip to St James’ Park last weekend and they promised to respond against Man Utd.  It looked as though Spurs were heading for another painful defeat as they found themselves 2-0 at home. However, they maintained their slim hopes of coming fourth with a spirited comeback to hold Man Utd to a 2-2 draw in North London on Thursday evening.

Tottenham are now fifth in the table – a point above Liverpool and six adrift of United – but they have played more games than their rivals so they cannot afford any more slip ups if they want to make a late push to secure a Champions League qualification place this season.

Match tickets

The game will be played at Anfield on Sunday 30th April, kicking off at 4.30pm. The match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports, and subscribers can watch the action as it happens on their TV or via the Sky Sports app.

Tickets for the match have been on sale via each individual club’s website. However, the game is almost certainly going to be a sell out. Anfield is always packed to the rafters, and that will be the case once again on Sunday when Spurs come to town. Getting hold of Tottenham tickets may be a little easier than normal right now given the state the club is in. However, with this being a big away game, it’s unlikely there will be any tickets available via official channels. Supporters may have luck getting hold of a ticket via a ticket reselling site.

Team news

Liverpool will be without Roberto Firmino as the Brazilian international is nursing a knock that kept him out of the West Ham trip. Diogo Jota also picked up an injury in London and he’ll be handed a late fitness test to see if he’ll be fit to feature against Spurs this weekend.

Ibrahima Konate was rested for the West Ham game but he’s expected to be recalled in defence on Sunday. Naby Keita could also be back in the squad after returning to training but Calvin Ramsey and Stefan Bajcetic remain on the sidelines.

Tottenham will be without skipper Hugo Lloris as he’s not recovered from a groin injury that forced him off against Newcastle. Fraser Forster will continue between the sticks at Anfield. Emeron Royal is also still unavailable for selection after undergoing surgery on a knee injury while Yves Bissouma is out with an ankle problem.

Rodrigo Bentancur is another absentee for Spurs as the South American midfield is out with a knee injury and Ryan Sessegnon remains on the sidelines with a thigh injury.

Line-ups

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been excelling in a new inverted full-back role so he’s set to continue there this weekend. Klopp has also praised the contribution of Curtis Jones in midfield so he could keep his place along with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

We should see Konate recalled alongside Virgil van Dijk so Joel Matip could make way despite scoring the winner in midweek. Darwin Nunez is primed for a recall in attack if Jota isn’t fit.

Liverpool:  Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez

Interim Spurs boss Ryan Mason may be reluctant to make too many changes from the side that shown heart to come from 2-down to draw with Man Utd. Forster will deputise for Lloris in goal while the back three should remain as Christian Romero, Erid Dier and Clement Lenglet.

Pedro Porro scored a fine goal on Thursday so he should keep his place on the right with Ivan Persic on the opposite flank. Harry Kane and Hueng-min Son are certain to start once again for Tottenham as they remain one of the most potent attacks in the league.

However, we may see one change in attack for Tottenham with Dejan Kulusevski coming in for Richarlison – who was poor once again in midweek having endured a nightmare debut season in North London.

Tottenham: Forster; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Porro, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son

Prediction

Liverpool have rediscovered their form in front of goal in recent games but they are still giving opposition teams too many clear cut chances. With Kane and Son in attack, Tottenham are still a threat to any team and they’ll cause Liverpool plenty of problems going forward.

We usually see goals in this game and we could be in for another thriller on Sunday with both teams poor in defence but dangerous in attack. Being at Anfield, Liverpool are the favourites and we can see them being too strong for the Londoners in the end. We predict the Reds to ease to victory to keep alive their hopes of finishing in the top four. Whereas defeat will all but end Spurs’ chances of coming fourth this season. Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham