Sweaty palms, chewed nails and gnawing anxiety in the pit of your stomach, and that’s before the match has even started. If you are experiencing this as a Liverpool fan then I feel your pain.
With seven games to go, what’s at stake for both teams? Tottenham need to keep up enough momentum to cement their top four place. No Champions League football in Tottenham’s brand new stadium next season? I think that would give Mauricio Pochettino, Daniel Levy & the fans genuine cause for concern.
For Liverpool, it’s clear three points are desired and any other result will break everyone out into further anxiety and navel-gazing. Liverpool need to stay right with Manchester City who in all likelihood will have gone back to the top of the table after they have faced Fulham on Saturday.
Going into this weekend Liverpool have the better form of the two sides. Their blip of drawn games was slightly longer ago than Tottenham’s more recent dip in form. Liverpool were terrific against Watford and Bayern but not so great against Fulham, despite still doing what was required.
Tottenham now have Dele Ali back and Liverpool’s injured players are beginning to return. Although for Joe Gomez and Alex Oxlade-Oxlade-Chamberlain this weekend is likely to be too soon.
With so much at stake you’d think that this could be a cagey affair. Having said that both of these teams like to attack and have plenty of options going forward. Anyone for a 3-2 classic? As long as it’s a Liverpool win I’m sure no one on the red side of Merseyside will mind.
Liverpool will have to be on their guard in order to stop attacks from the likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Alli, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura.
The Reds have the defensive record this season that proves they can stop Tottenham. What Klopp and his coaching staff wouldn’t give for a clean sheet on Sunday.
With Mane being relied on to get the goals of late, a creative spark from Adam Lallana, Xherdan Shaqiri or Naby Keita either from the start or off the bench would be most welcome. A goal or assist from one of those three could make the difference in this game.
Excitement is building ahead of this big game as we approach the business end of the Premier League season, but can Liverpool keep their nerve?
