Tottenham vs Liverpool

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In their customary style, Liverpool, in the 2023-24 season, started off their game against Leicester with an ominous vibe, leaving their fans somewhat disheartened. However, as has become their trademark, they managed to turn the tide in their favor, securing a 3-1 victory for the fourth consecutive match, this time against Leicester at Anfield during the third round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

The match had a rocky start for Liverpool, as Kostas Tsimikas suffered an early injury, and Leicester capitalized on the situation by taking an early lead through Kasey McAteer. Remarkably, Leicester maintained their unexpected one-goal lead until half-time.

Nonetheless, Liverpool once again displayed their resilience with a comeback, featuring goals from Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai, and a stylish finish by Diogo Jota. This victory marked yet another instance of Liverpool's ability to recover from a losing position, following similar come-from-behind wins against LASK Linz and Wolverhampton Wanderers after the international break, as well as their recent Premier League triumph over West Ham United, all with the same 3-1 scoreline.

Liverpool is currently riding a wave of success, boasting a seven-game winning streak across all competitions. They have ascended to the second spot in the Premier League table, just behind the undefeated Manchester City, and are heading into their next Premier League away match with an impressive eight-game unbeaten run on the road. Their overall unbeaten streak extends to an impressive 19 games.

Furthermore, Liverpool has a remarkable record against Tottenham, having not lost to them since a 4-1 defeat in October 2017. They have managed to maintain an unbeaten streak in the 12 fixtures that followed, including a double victory over Tottenham in the previous season. However, this upcoming match at the lively Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be a new challenge, as it will be their first encounter with the passionate atmosphere under the guidance of manager Postecoglou.

Brennan Johnson suffered a hamstring injury 60 minutes into his full debut for Tottenham, while James Maddison received a gut-wrenching knee jolt but managed to play for a short while before being substituted. As a result, Tottenham's battling point in the North London derby came at a significant cost.

Son is also expected to be fit to play against the Reds, and Spurs are optimistic that Maddison, the August Premier League Player of the Month, will be as well. Johnson, meanwhile, is confirmed to be out, but Richarlison will step in to fill in.

Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are gearing up for an eagerly awaited Premier League showdown, where their unbeaten records will be put to the test. In their recent encounter, Tottenham managed to secure a crucial point against their arch-rivals, Arsenal, in a thrilling 2-2 draw. Meanwhile, Liverpool's latest outing saw them emerge victorious with a 3-1 win over Leicester City in the EFL Cup.

Under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham achieved a feat that eluded their previous managers, namely Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho, and Nuno Espirito Santo, during their tumultuous reigns. Postecoglou's team departed from Arsenal's turf with a well-deserved draw, despite falling behind twice due to a Cristian Romero own goal and a Bukayo Saka penalty, both of which were mitigated by the brilliance of Son Heung-min.

Romero's handball in the second half resulted in yet another penalty for Arsenal, expertly converted by Saka. However, Son Heung-min, with an assist from James Maddison, netted twice to halt Tottenham's three-game losing streak at the Emirates Stadium. While fortune played a role in their draw, notably with Jorginho's lapse leading to Maddison's interception and Son's second goal, it is widely recognized that Postecoglou's squad earned at least a share of the points in this typically chaotic derby. Notably, they also maintained their remarkable record of scoring at least two goals in every Premier League match under Postecoglou.

Prior to this, only three previous Premier League managers—Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, and Craig Shakespeare—had witnessed their teams score twice in their first six games in charge. Nonetheless, despite their strong start, Tottenham slipped from second to fourth in the Premier League standings, following victories by both Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

Unlike some of their counterparts, Tottenham enjoyed the luxury of not participating in EFL Cup fixtures in recent days, owing to their penalty shootout disappointment against Fulham. This extended period of rest could potentially work in their favor as they prepare to face a Liverpool side in red-hot form. Nevertheless, they must urgently address their defensive vulnerabilities, having conceded five goals in their last three matches.

New Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou is facing a series of formidable tests early in his Premier League tenure. While his upcoming match on Saturday marks only his seventh game in charge, his managerial mettle will be truly tested as his team faces off against three of last season's top five contenders: Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool.

In their initial encounters with these formidable opponents, Spurs managed to secure four valuable points. Now, they are gearing up to host Liverpool, a team they have historically struggled against, and who arrive on the scene with an impressive Premier League unbeaten streak, having forgotten what it's like to taste defeat.

Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool squad is embarking on their visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the back of a remarkable 17-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. This streak outshines the competition, with the next best unbeaten run being a mere seven games, a record shared by Spurs and Arsenal, coincidentally.

Liverpool's resurgence has been fueled by accumulating 41 points since their last loss, a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in April. Their only Premier League rival in terms of points gathered during this period has been Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who have collected 43 points. Liverpool's strong finish to the previous season, coupled with savvy transfers in the summer, has breathed new life into their campaign.

However, Liverpool's recent habit of conceding the first goal has become noticeable. They have fallen behind in five of their eight matches across all competitions this season. It's worth noting that they've managed to secure victories in each of these instances, including the previous season. Their ability to come from behind is commendable, but it's also a precarious trend that Postecoglou's Tottenham will aim to exploit.

Tottenham, buoyed by their impressive start to the season, will look to defy this pattern. Their scoring prowess, with two or more goals in each of their first six Premier League games, instills confidence in their ability to challenge Liverpool. If they maintain this form over the weekend, Postecoglou will join a select group of managers in Premier League history, becoming only the second to witness his team score two or more goals in each of his first seven games in the competition. (The first being Craig Shakespeare with Leicester in April 2017.) However, it's essential to note that Liverpool has also demonstrated their attacking prowess by scoring three or more goals in six of their eight games this season.

If Tottenham can successfully stifle Liverpool's offensive prowess or outscore them in their upcoming match, they will achieve an undefeated streak in the first seven games of a Premier League season for just the third time in their history, with previous instances occurring in 2016-17 and the ongoing 2022-23 campaign. This feat would also mark a significant achievement for their current manager, Ange Postecoglou, who would become only the second Tottenham Hotspur manager to avoid defeat in his initial seven matches in the competition since Antonio Conte, who remained unbeaten in his first nine games.

Crucial to Spurs' chances will be their ability to contain the attacking duo of Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez from Liverpool. These two players have been exceptional this season, creating scoring opportunities for each other approximately every 29 minutes they share the field in the Premier League during the 2023-24 season. This partnership represents the most prolific chance-creating duo among those who have played together for over 100 minutes in the current season.

Furthermore, Mohamed Salah has been on a remarkable run of form, either scoring six goals or providing nine assists in each of his last 12 league appearances, including all six of Liverpool's league matches this season (contributing three goals and four assists). Should he register a goal or assist in the upcoming match, Salah would join an elite club as only the third player in Premier League history to record a goal involvement in each of their team's first seven matches of a campaign. The other members of this exclusive group are David Beckham for Manchester United in the 2000-01 season and Erling Haaland for Manchester City in the 2022-23 season.

Nevertheless, Tottenham boasts their own in-form forward in Son Heung-min, who enters the upcoming game with a remarkable record of five goals in his last three Premier League appearances. This is as many goals as he managed in his previous 17 games. Son's impressive early-season form has undoubtedly helped Spurs fans cope with the departure of their all-time top scorer, Harry Kane, who transferred to Bayern Munich in the summer.

Son's resurgence can be attributed, in part, to the arrival of English international James Maddison, who has seamlessly integrated into the squad. However, there are concerns about Maddison's fitness after he sustained a knee injury in last week's 2-2 draw in the north London derby. Additionally, Brennan Johnson is uncertain to play after suffering a hamstring injury in the same game, while Giovani Lo Celso is nearing a return. On the flip side, Rodrigo Bentancur, Bryan Gil, Ryan Sessegnon, and Ivan Perisic continue to be sidelined with longer-term injuries.

Liverpool might see the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold to action as he resumed training this week. On the other hand, Thiago Alcântara's return is not imminent, but his absence has been mitigated by the outstanding early-season performances of Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who joined the club from RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window.

As previously mentioned, Tottenham Hotspur's recent performance in matches against their upcoming opponent has been far from impressive. Over the course of their last 21 encounters in the Premier League, they have managed to secure victory on only one occasion (with 6 draws and 14 losses), a memorable 4-1 triumph at Wembley Stadium back in October 2017.

This statistic paints a rather disheartening picture for Spurs, who currently find themselves on an 11-game winless streak against Liverpool in the league, comprising 3 draws and 8 losses. To put this in context, only when facing Chelsea from December 1992 to March 2006 (a staggering 28 games), Manchester United from September 2001 to March 2012 (a daunting 22 games), and Arsenal from March 2000 to October 2009 (an enduring 20 games) have they endured lengthier spells without tasting victory in the Premier League.

To further emphasize their struggles, Tottenham has succumbed to defeat at the hands of Liverpool on 31 occasions in the Premier League, a number exceeded only by their 39 losses to Manchester United and 33 to Chelsea. What's more, Liverpool has managed to find the back of the net in every one of their 15 most recent meetings with Tottenham, illustrating the difficulty Spurs have had in keeping their illustrious opponents at bay.

Taking a deeper look, it's worth noting that, excluding one particular encounter, this fixture has consistently been a source of goals. On average, their Premier League clashes have produced an impressive 2.94 goals per game. Liverpool's most recent 4-3 victory over Spurs, just five months ago, stands as a testament to this high-scoring trend. Both teams have demonstrated their attacking prowess this season, suggesting that this upcoming match could be another exciting chapter in their storied rivalry.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, the vice captain of Liverpool, has rejoined the squad at Kirkby after missing time with a hamstring injury. Klopp is optimistic that the right-back will be available for Saturday's pivotal match.

The only other players in Klopp's squad who may be injured are midfielders Thiago Alcantara (hip) and Stefan Bajcetic (calf), but otherwise, the visitors are fully healthy and will start with their strongest lineup after giving a number of bench players a chance to play in midweek.