Liverpool v Spurs – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Liverpool host Tottenham at Anfield on Wednesday evening in a top of the table clash. José Mourinho’s team have a great chance to confirm themselves as genuine title challengers if they can get a win at the home of the current champions. Liverpool have hit a slight dip in results and may be ripe to be picked off by a typical Mourinho performance if they have a makeshift backline.

Liverpool Form

After losing 7-2 to Aston Villa in October, Liverpool have lost just one of their last 14 matches in all competitions. The loss of Virgil Van Dijk was expected to derail them, but the side won six of their next seven matches.

Since a superb 3-0 win against Leicester, Jurgen Klopp’s team have played six times and won just twice. In the Premier League, their last three results have been a 1-1 draw at Brighton, a 4-0 home humbling of Wolves and a 1-1 draw at Fulham.

Aside from their penalty to equalise, Liverpool only created 1.0 expected goals at Fulham and ended up with two midfielders playing at centre back.

Liverpool Team News

Klopp has numerous injures to contend with for this match. In midfield, all of Thiago Alcantara, James Milner and Naby Keita are expected to be absent.

At centre back, Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk are out long-term and Joel Matip had a back spasm against Fulham and is a major doubt. If he can’t play, then Nathaniel Phillips may get the nod alongside Fabinho. Jordan Henderson played the second half there against Fulham but that would be a crazy risk against Harry Kane and Son.

Also missing is Diogo Jota in attack with a long-term injury. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was on the bench against Fulham and could get some minutes in midfield in this clash.

Liverpool Motivation

With 2,000 of their fans back in attendance, Liverpool will be very up for this match and are going to play for the win. However, teams have some fear when facing Spurs right now, knowing the counter-attacking threat that they carry. That could mean a slightly more conservative approach than usual from Klopp. A draw would not be a disaster in such a busy fixture period and with seven major players missing through injury.

Spurs Form

Spurs are in some excellent form have won seven of their last 11 league matches with four draws. This run of results has come largely because of a very solid defensive line with five clean sheets in their last seven matches.

Mourinho has had his Spurs side set up in a low block with massive counter attacking threat. Their last four league matches have seen wins against Man City (2-0) and Arsenal (2-0) and a goalless draw at Chelsea.

Their last league match saw a 1-1 draw away at Crystal Palace. Harry Kane put Tottenham in front but a Hugo Lloris error saw Palace level in the 81st minute. The expected goals count was 1.8 to just 1.1 for Mourinho’s team so they can hardly feel that they should have won that match based on chances created.

Spurs Team News

Spurs only have two injuries to deal with and both are on the flank. Gareth Bale is ill and missed the Palace match whilst Eric Lamela is still making his way back from a hamstring injury. Neither player is likely to have started this match anyway.

Mourinho’s only real choice is between Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele in the number ten position.

Spurs Motivation

The approach from Tottenham for this game is very predictable: let Liverpool have the ball, sit in a deep block and try to use Kane and Son to lead counter attacks. Klopp knows exactly how Mourinho will set up but that does not mean it will be easy to stop him nor break down the bus that Spurs will park. Mourinho will want a win but would almost certainly be delighted with a 0-0 draw.

Key Stats

Liverpool have won 2 of their last 6 matches in all competitions.

Liverpool have won 31 of their last 32 home PL matches

Liverpool have kept 2 clean sheets in a row at Anfield having gone 6 matches without one before that

Tottenham are on the longest unbeaten run in the PL – 11 matches

Tottenham have kept 4 PL clean sheets in their last 5 PL matches

Spurs are 9 away PL matches unbeaten

Prediction

This is a really difficult game to call but it does feel like one that could be low scoring with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino having dry spells and Spurs playing very defensively.

If Joel Matip is missing at the back, then Spurs can really fancy their chances so it may be worth additional bets once the lineups are announced an hour before kickoff.

Best Bet: Draw at 2.80

Alternative Bet: Spurs Draw no bet at 2.20 (if Joel Matip is out injured)

Correct Score Tip: Liverpool 0-0 Tottenham at 15.00 or 1-1 at 5.50.