Liverpool welcome Tottenham to Anfield on Sunday in what is another crucial game in the Premier League title race.
Ahead of the game, we’ve taken a look at the key battles that could play a key role in deciding who gets all three points on the day.
Virgil van Dijk vs Harry Kane
Two shoe-ins for any Premier League first XI. Van Dijk has been instrumental in the tightening up of Liverpool’s defence this season and their tilt at a long-awaited Premier League title. He has a superb all-round game and is a calm and assured leader.
Kane is a consistent scorer for club and country. The Tottenham man is lethal in front of goal and is rarely flustered or fazed by what is taking place on the pitch. Not only does he score with regularity but he can chip in with assists for his team-mates too.
Winner – Too close to call. Both are indispensable to their respective teams, domestically and internationally.
Sadio Mane vs Jan Vertonghen
Mane is the man in form up front for Liverpool. He’s a real live-wire and is always looking to get forward and make something happen. He has a better than one goal every two games ratio this season for Liverpool.
Belgium and Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen has had a great season so far. When alongside Toby Alderweireld they form one of the best centre-back pairings in the league. Vertonghen excelled recently in the home leg of Tottenham’s Champions League tie against Dortmund at both ends of the pitch.
Winner – A narrow win for the man from Senegal based on his red hot scoring form of late.
Fabinho vs Eric Dier
Both of these men do not shirk a challenge and will back out of the physical stuff on Sunday if the Tottenham man is fully fit.
Fabinho, after an understandably slow start in his new surroundings, has become a regular on Liverpool’s team sheet. His performances have improved as the season has gone on. As well as being a good screen for the back four he has a good range of passing.
Dier is more defensively minded than Fabinho and doesn’t quite offer the options going forward that the Brazilian does. Both are strong in the air and although they are only in their mid-20s, both men have plenty of experience.
Winner – Fabinho’s versatility gives him the nod ahead of Dier.
