Tottenham vs Liverpool: How Harry Kane will relish facing Dejan Lovren and all the key battles ahead of Sunday’s game
Jurgen Klopp's men will be brimming with confidence after beating Maribor 7-0 in the Champions League
TOTTENHAM will be out to prove they have finally lifted the Wembley hoodoo when they host Liverpool on Sunday.
The north Londoners edged past Bournemouth 1-0 last weekend to claim their first Premier League victory at their temporary home.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have flattered to deceive under the arch this season but still find themselves nestled in third, thanks largely to their away form.
Spurs were able to keep up their fine start to the Champions League group stages on Tuesday with a 1-1 draw away to holders Real Madrid.
But Liverpool would have been similarly chuffed to leave Slovenia having stuffed seven past Maribor to rediscover their goalscoring form.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have come in for criticism from all quarters in recent weeks with the backline leaky and the forwards proving wasteful.
But it all fell into place on Tuesday night and that sets Sunday’s encounter – which kicks off at 4pm and is live on Sky Sports – up nicely.
Our friends at Football Whispers have previewed the game with all the team news, information and statistics you need to know.
Key battle: Harry Kane v Dejan Lovren
Spurs star Kane will be relishing the prospect of coming up against the unreliable Lovren at Wembley.
After bagging 13 in September, the England international has two goals in October but both are for England. The 24-year-old will fancy his chances of changing that on Sunday.
Liverpool latest news
With six goals from just eight Premier League starts, Kane is chasing down another Premier League Golden Boot and average 6.3 shots per game this term.
Croatian defender Lovren has been a figure of fun since arriving at Anfield from Southampton in a £20m deal four seasons ago.
The former Lyon centre-back shone on the South Coast but has failed to carry that form to Merseyside.
He has made more clearances, with 4.5 per game, than any other Reds player this season but averages just 1.3 tackles and one interception per game.
Potential match winners: Christian Eriksen and Mo Salah
Signed with a chunk of the Gareth Bale money in 2013, the £12.5m Spurs spent to bring Eriksen to White Hart Lane has proven a bargain.
The unassuming Dane, 25, has six goals for club and country this season and has weighed in with a further two assists in the Premier League this season.
Eriksen is also contributing three shots, 2.4 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game this season, making him one of Tottenham’s most important creative forces.
From a Liverpool perspective, Egyptian wideman Salah is every bit as important to Klopp’s side.
Many would have raised eyebrows when the Reds spent a then-club record £37m to bring the former Chelsea flop to Anfield but he has proven to be worth every penny.
Blessed with searing pace, Salah has quickly slotted into Liverpool’s front three, scoring four and assisting another in his first seven starts.
The 25-year-old takes 3.5 shots per game, on average, makes 1.3 key passes and attempts 2.3 dribbles too.
Managers’ tactics
Pochettino and Klopp both set their sides up to press intensely and high up the field. They move the ball quickly when they turn over possession with swift, passing football.
The Reds have moved away from Klopp’s patented gegenpressing style this season but still play at a high tempo with the fluid front three of Salah, Roberto Firmino and Barcelona transfer target Philippe Coutinho causing havoc.
Spurs have settled on a 3-4-2-1 system with their wing-backs pushing high and providing the width while the two central midfielders dictate the play from deep.
However, Pochettino sprung a surprise at Real Madrid with former Chelsea transfer target Fernando Llorente starting alongside Kane in a 5-3-2 system.
Predicted line-ups
Spurs’ injury worries are gradually diminishing with Danny Rose, subject of Manchester United transfer rumours in the summer, returning to the bench at the Bernabeu in midweek.
He could start at Wembley on Sunday with Ben Davies suffering from illness. Pochettino will have Dele Alli back from his European ban and Spurs should revert to 3-4-2-1. Kieran Trippier may replaced Serge Aurier on the right.
Liverpool boss Klopp utilised Emre Can in a defensive midfield role in Slovenia to great effect and could be tempted to repeat that on Sunday. That would mean Jordan Henderson playing slightly further forward.
At the back, the big decision is over whether to start Trent Alexander-Arnold or Joe Gomez at right-back in the absence of Nathaniel Clyne (back).
Adam Lallana (thigh) and Sadio Mane (hamstring) are also out for the Reds.
Key stats
After scoring the winner against Bournemouth last weekend Eriksen has three goals in his last five Premier League games, as many as he had managed in his previous 24 league outings.
Meanwhile, Kane has had 28 shots, 10 on target, in Premier League matches this season without scoring.
Reds attacker Coutinho has scored 17 goals from outside the box in the Premier League since joining in 2013, more than any other player in the top flight.
