Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur preview: team news, lineups, TV, kick-off time, referee & VAR

Here’s our preview for Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur this weekend. The Reds are looking to keep their incredibly slim title chances alive.

Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in what was supposed to be an enormous fixture. That was back when the Reds were in a title race, of course.

Now technically, they still are. It would take a ridiculous run of results to make it happen, though, and just about everyone has written off their chances.

And so instead, Liverpool will focus on ending the Jurgen Klopp era in good spirits. The best way to do that is by winning games - especially against top teams.

A win against Spurs would certainly boost spirits after the poor run in recent weeks. So here's what you need to know about it.

---

DATE, KICK-OFF, STADIUM, REFEREE & VAR

• Date: Sunday, 5 May 2024

• Kick-off time: 16:30 GMT / 11:30 ET / 08:30 PT

• Stadium: Anfield

• Referee: Paul Tierney

• VAR: John Brooks

LIVERPOOL VS SPURS HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

In competitive encounters, Liverpool have faced Tottenham a total of 182 times since their very first meeting in 1909 (Spurs won 1-0).

The Reds have come out victorious on 89 occasions, drawing 44 and losing 49.

Of course, we need to mention last time. Liverpool went down to nine men in North London after red cards to Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota - both of which now look unfair in hindsight (and did at the time to most, to be fair).

They held on valiantly but conceded a heartbreaking stoppage-time own-goal to lose 2-1. However, none of that was the story.

Instead, people talked about VAR. Liverpool became the first and thus far only team to have a goal wrongly disallowed for offside through VAR. Luis Diaz had the ball in the net but was flagged. A staggeringly incompetent VAR process failed to correct the decision - audio showed them reviewing things but never actually telling referee Simon Hooper what the correct decision was.

'Well done, boys, good process, carry on'.

But other than that, Liverpool's recent form against Spurs is very good.

Klopp's side have not lost at all against Tottenham since a memorably disastrous 4-1 defeat in 2017 and have won nine of the 12 clashes since – including, of course, the 2019 Champions League final.

Last season, Liverpool beat Spurs home and away, registering a 2-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in November, while the reverse fixture at Anfield is best remembered for Diogo Jota's dramatic stoppage-time winner to make it 4-3.

HOW TO WATCH LIVERPOOL VS SPURS ON TV AND LIVE STREAM

Fulham vs Liverpool is on TV this Sunday and will be broadcast on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

In Canada, the match is available on fuboTV as usual, while those in the United States can watch on various platforms such as NBC and Telemundo.

Optus Sport is the provider in Australia, with Star+ showing the game across the entirety of South America.

There are a huge array of broadcasters across Europe for this one, with Viaplay and DAZNamong the most prominent.

beIN Sports show the action in North Africa and the majority of Asia, while SuperSport is the main provider in the rest of Africa.

Liverpool team news

The same old names are out of this one - Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, and Ben Doak. Diogo Jota is expected to miss at least one more week, too.

We might finally see Stefan Bajcetic play, though. The midfielder hasn't played a Premier League minute this season but has recently had minutes at Under 21 level.

Conor Bradley is another 'maybe'. He's back in training after his injury but it remains to be seen if he's fit enough to play.

Liverpool should have a fairly full squad here, then. And one with a week's rest for once.

Tottenham team news

This is a little difficult to judge as Spurs face Chelsea on Thursday evening. The full extent of their injury report won't be known until after that one, then.

But there are still a few we do know about. Timo Werner, for instance, is out for the rest of the season and won't face Liverpool.

Ben Davies is also out for the campaign, while Detiny Udogie is out, too. So that does leave Spurs very light on the left side of their defence heading to Anfield.

LIVERPOOL PREDICTED LINEUP VS Spurs

Jurgen Klopp has something very rare to play with here - a full week of rest. It's been a long time since Liverpool properly had that and it might just make a difference.

Certainly, it makes a difference in that Klopp won't need to think much about rotation. He can instead play his 'best' XI - not that anyone could really tell you what that is.

Alisson Becker will certainly be in goal, with Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold certainties at the back. Ibrahima Konaté was dragged off for Jarrel Quansah against West Ham United but we imagine the Frenchman retains his place.

Midfield is a bit of a tricky one. Wataru Endo's form has dropped off, likely playing him out of a start. Ryan Gravenberch, however, was excellent against West Ham and surely deserves another start.

But we do think it'll be the 'trusted' midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones.

Up top, all eyes will be on Mohamed Salah and whether he gets the nod or not. We think he will, with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo making up the rest.

(4-3-3); Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz

Liverpool vs Spurs prediction

Well, this isn't an easy one to judge. Liverpool's recent form suggests they're losing this, if we're honest. They just haven't played well enough.

On the other hand, they have had a week of rest behind them. Spurs won't have that - they're playing Chelsea on Thursday evening.

We think that'll give them the edge here and make a big difference. Even if Spurs inevitably score first and force Liverpool to come from behind.

Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham