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Tottenham host Liverpool in the final Premier League schedule before Christmas. The two sides clash in Sunday’s late kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with both looking for three points.
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs have have been under pressure in recent weeks with the manager accused of stubbornly sticking to the same game plan when things go wrong. Defeats to Bournemouth and Chelsea dropped Tottenham into the bottom half of the table before a confidence-building 5-0 win over Southampton, and 4-3 Carabao Cup win against Man Utd, he gave the team some momentum.
Liverpool, meanwhile, continue to impress below Arne Slott although there were a few stumbles. Consecutive draws against Newcastle i Fulham allowed their rivals to close the gap in the league table and Slott will want his side to get back to winning ways with a strong performance in London today.
Follow all the action from the Premier League on our live blog below:
What the table looks like
Liverpool go into this match at the top of the table, although they could start in the second leg if Chelsea win their match against Everton.
If the Reds win, they will go above Chelsea regardless of their result, and will be top on Christmas Day – should both sides win, Slott’s men would go two points clear with a game in hand.
Spurs are in 11th place with 23 points, and today they could climb to seventh place.
Chris Wilson22 December 2024 15:50
Tottenham’s sliding door moment where they lost control and embraced chaos
The manager Daniel Levy wanted has given his verdict Tottenham Hotspur‘s modern team. “They’re always a joy to watch,” he said. For years he was an interested observer, watching from abroad, seduced by the glamor of their players. “I watch a lot Match of the day and [with] David Ginola, Paul Gascoigne, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart. They have always been a certain brand and a certain identity,” he added.
It could have been his brand. Because the man who praised Spurs turned down the chance to coach them. He didn’t explicitly say that, because he didn’t Arne Slott‘s way. He prefers not to talk about the expiring contracts of his players, in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. Nor does he want to discuss Tottenham’s attempts to sign him in 2023. “I think I always give you the same answer about Mo’s contract situation and those things,” he smiled.
Slott is more comfortable celebrating the man they appointed a few weeks after deciding to stay at Feyenoord and signing a new contract. The grueling pursuit that Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino, Vincent Kompany, Roberto De Zerbi and Luis Enrique appeared to have ended Ange Postecoglou becomes manager of Tottenham.
Chris Wilson22 December 2024 15:40
Liverpool squad changes
Arne Slott returns to his strong Premier League line-up after making a host of changes for Liverpool’s Carabao Cup win in midweek.
The only change to the line-up that faced Fulham in the league last time out was that Curtis Jones was replaced by Alexis Mac Allister.
Mike Jones22 December 2024 15:32
Tottenham team change
Ange Postecoglou names an unchanged team from the one that beat Manchester United during the week in the Carabao Cup. Spurs won that match 4-3 and the coach believes that this line-up will be able to challenge Liverpool as well.
Mike Jones22 December 2024 15:25
Tottenham vs Liverpool
Tottenham XI: Forster; Pedro Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence, Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison, Kulusevski, Solanke, Son
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
Mike Jones22 December 2024 15:17
Liverpool manager Arne Slott hopes Ange Postecoglou can win trophies with Tottenham
Liverpool head coach Arne Slott hopes Tottenham colleague Ange Postecoglou’s bold attacking style will be rewarded with a trophy – just not the Carabao Cup this season.
The couple meets in Premier League on Sunday as a lead-up to their semi-final doubleheader in January and February.
Postecoglou’s brand of football has earned praise and criticism, sometimes at the same time, which was evident in Thursday’s 4-3 win over Manchester United when they almost squandered a 3-0 lead in the quarter-finals.
Chris Wilson22 December 2024 15:05
Dominic Solanke insists Ange Postecoglou’s style of play suits Tottenham
Dominic Solanke says the Tottenham side love Ange Postecoglou’s unique style of play and are confident it can end the club’s trophy drought.
Solanke starred for Spurs in their 4-3 win over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup double tie, but the dramatic final sparked more debate over Postecoglou’s bold front-foot philosophy and ruthless attacking approach.
Sky Sports pounds Jamie Carragher has repeatedly stated that Postecoglou has to change and cannot play the same way for 90 minutes, a point echoed by Jamie Redknapp, although injury-hit Tottenham have set up the last four matches with Liverpool in the middle of the week.
Chris Wilson22 December 2024 14:55
Head to head
These two teams have met 168 times, and the first meeting dates back to 1909. In total, Liverpool won 81 games, with Spurs winning 44 and 43 ending in draws.
Last season, Spurs won this fixture 2-1 before the Reds exacted their revenge in a thrilling 4-2 home win in May.
Chris Wilson22 December 2024 14:45
Tottenham vs Liverpool
Spurs could win back-to-back home league games against the Reds for the first time since a run of five between 2008 and 2012.
Liverpool have suffered just one defeat in five Premier League away games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, drawing one and winning three.
Mike Jones22 December 2024 14:40