Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur face off in Sunday’s headline Premier League showdown at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp’s trophy-laden tenure at Liverpool coming to an end with a whimper.
Having exited FA Cup and Europa League following losses to Manchester United and Atalanta, respectively, Liverpool are effectively out of the top-flight title race after winning just one of their last five Premier League games, including a 2-2 draw with West Ham last Saturday.
As for Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou’s side are chasing Champions League football for next season and are seven points from Aston Villa in fourth with a game in hand.
Spurs are in the midst of a very tough run-in, as they followed up a 3-2 North London derby loss to rivals Arsenal with an equally disappointing 2-0 defeat against a very beatable Chelsea side in midweek.
The Sporting News takes a look at both teams and tries to predict the formation and personnel they could put to use on Sunday.
MORE: Premier League table 2023/24
The spotlight will be on whether Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp picks Mohamed Salah to start after the duo had a clash on the touchline during last week’s 2-2 draw against West Ham.
The Egyptian star, who has been putting up excellent scoring numbers for Liverpool this season once again, has been out of form for some time and started on the bench at the London Stadium before being introduced as a 79th-minute substitute.
There’s hope that Virgil Van Dijk will be fit, along with Conor Bradley and Cody Gakpo. Although, the game may come too soon for Diogo Jota as well as Stefan Bajcetic, who is working his way back after a long-term injury.
Joel Matip, Ben Doak and Thiago Alcantara have already been ruled out for the season.
Liverpool predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Alisson (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson — Endo, Mac Allister, Gravenberch — Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.
Liverpool subs (9): TBC
As for Spurs, Fraser Forster, Manor Solomon and Ryan Sessegnon remain long-term absentees.
Having already lost defender Destiny Udogie for the season, Ange Postecoglou has been dealt a big setback as defender Ben Davies (calf) and RB Leipzig loanee Timo Werner (hamstring) have suffered the same fate and will miss the remainder of the campaign.
James Maddison’s demotion to the bench against Chelsea may have come as a surprise to many fans, but given his recent form, Postecoglou opted to take him out of the firing line.
The England international should return to the attack here, serving as the playmaking No. 10. Fellow attackers Son Heung-min and Richarlison will be tasked with making sharp darts in behind to exploit Liverpool’s high defensive line.
Tottenham predicted XI (4-2-3-1 right to left): Vicario (GK) — Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Bissouma — Bentancur, Sarr — Kulusevski, Maddison, Son — Richarlison.
Tottenham subs (9): TBC
This Premier League clash takes place at Anfield in Liverpool, U.K. and kicks off on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. BST (local time in the U.K).
Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories:
Here’s how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
