Tottenham Hotspur are bidding to avoid a 19th defeat of the Premier League season away to Liverpool on Sunday.
Spurs will know Arne Slot’s men will be hungry to secure the point that will seal their title triumph. The game at Anfield will kick off at 4.30pm on Sunday and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs Liverpool
Tottenham (4-3-3): Vicario; Spence, Romero, Danso, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Kulusevski; Odobert, Richarlison, Tel
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Tottenham team news vs Liverpool
Tottenham are in a tricky spot as they build up to the biggest game of their season in the Europa League semi-finals against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night, meaning they can’t afford to risk all their top players at Anfield.
You can expect Ange Postecoglou to ring the changes as he looks to keep his squad as fresh as possible for two legs that will define his Tottenham tenure, with Guglielmo Vicario likely to stay in goal but Djed Spence switched to right-back to allow Pedro Porro a rest.
It is likely Micky van de Ven will also be rested, meaning Kevin Danso could be drafted in to play alongside Cristian Romero, with Destiny Udogie coming in at left-back after being left out of the matchday squad for Nottingham Forest. Even if he only plays the first half, Udgoie will still need to be kept ticking over if he’s going to start against the Norwegian side.
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In midfield, Postecoglou could pick Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr — a duo he’s often gone with before important European games previously — seeing as we know Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall are his first choice midfield partnership. We could also see Dejan Kulusevski continue to build up his minutes as he racks up more game time following a long-term injury.
Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tels should continue on the wing with Richarlison up top, which would allow Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson to pace themselves and rest up before facing Bodo/Glimt.
The main fitness concern is surrounding forward and captain Son Heung-min, who is still struggling with a foot injury and is not expected to be risked against Liverpool.
Son has not played for Spurs since the first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt, which the team drew 1-1, and did not travel for the crucial away leg.
Postecoglou will give the South Korean all the time he need to recover in the hopes he can play Thursday’s home game against Bodo/Glimt.
Tottenham’s only other notable injury worry is Radu Dragusin, who has been ruled out for a lengthy spell after picking up an ACL blow.
Postecoglou’s defining moment
Before Tottenham reached the Europa League semi-finals, all the talk was about how if the Australian boss couldn’t find a way past Frankfurt in the quarter-finals, he might have to find a new job.
Postecoglou has managed to put that talk to bed – for now – but reality has quickly sunk in again after yet another Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest last time out.
Tottenham have now lost more than half their league games and currently lie 16th in the table. It’s a shocking position for a club like Spurs who have ambitions of competing regularly for the trophies and qualifying for the Champions League every season.
Liverpool will be huge favourites to inflict a 19th defeat on them this weekend and after that, Tottenham still have to travel to West Ham United and Aston Villa – meaning the team’s rotten run could yet be extended further. Should they lose against the Reds and then put in an unsavoury performance against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday, the ground could start disappearing beneath Postecoglou’s feet.
Certainly, it looks to be a case of win the Europa League or bust – and even that might not be enough to save his job.
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