Liverpool and Tottenham’s seasons have nose-dived at just the wrong time, but a game between two cavalier sides with their share of defensive problems promises entertainment.
The two teams produced a thrilling 4-3 game at Anfield last year, and revenge is in the air for Liverpool who were wrongly denied a Luis Diaz goal at Spurs earlier this season in a calamitous VAR debacle.
The title has now gone after defeats to Crystal Palace and Everton as well as a draw at West Ham, but Liverpool surely cannot let Jurgen Klopp depart on the back of further disappointment. This is his penultimate home game in charge before Wolves on the final day.
Tottenham’s hopes of a top-four finish have also receded following a brutal week which saw them lose derbies against Arsenal and Chelsea. Spurs were certainly in the game against Arsenal, but their limp display at Chelsea had Ange Postecoglou raging on the touchline. There has been enough to encourage Spurs fans in Postecoglou’s first season, but his pre-match words suggest thoughts are already turning to his second campaign.
Postecoglou said: “Will we be ready in 12 months’ time? That’s the challenge I’ve got.
“What I keep trying to emphasise is that for a club like this, wherever you think you are in your rebuilding cycle, you have to try and win something every year. That’s part of the responsibility.
“I can’t sit here and say we’re going to finish fourth, fifth, sixth and then in the third or fourth year we’re going to win something. I’m not built that way.
“I want to win things all the time. We start next year trying to have success, but the underlying thing is growth. We’ve got to have growth.
“Belief is the word. I want people to believe we can be successful.”
Full team news on the way shortly.
