Arne Slot’s side will be in high spirits after they have begun to turn a corner, going unbeaten in their last five matches and recording back-to-back clean sheets for only the third time this season.
On the other hand, Thomas Frank is experiencing a sense of déjà vu, one that has accompanied Tottenham Hotspur managers in recent times: an unclear identity against a tidal wave of pressure.
Frank’s acquisition from Brentford with the intention of providing structure and organisation is fading game by game, but he may be offered some respite against a Liverpool attack making headlines for all of the wrong reasons.
Ekitike shines brightly among his shadowy peers
Liverpool’s £446 million spending spree has massively backfired, but for one transfer, Hugo Ekitike.
The Frenchman has scored four goals in his past two outings and looks to be his side’s only source of goals recently.
For reference, Ekitike is the first Liverpool player to reach 10 goals before Mohamed Salah since Sadio Mane during the 2019-20 season.
His relentless drive and resourcefulness on the pitch have been a breath of fresh air for Liverpool fans, who have been subjected to several abject displays up top by many of Ekitike’s teammates.
Despite his stature, the striker is comfortable dropping deep to link up play, while showcasing his brilliant composure in front of goal, something which their last big money forward, Darwin Nunez, lacked.
With Mohamed Salah away with Egypt at the AFCON and a nervous wait on the fitness of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ekitike will likely be partnered with Alexander Isak, with fellow big-money signing Florian Wirtz operating behind them.
As the Reds patiently await attacking returns on their club’s investment, they will be assured that Hugo Ekitike can be relied upon to lead by example.
Calamitous Spurs defence invites trouble
Spurs’ 3-0 thrashing by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground piled the pressure on Thomas Frank, who is desperately searching for his best lineup.
While injuries to Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Destiny Udogie have certainly not helped matters, their lack of organisation starts at the back.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was once again in the firing line against Forest, as his careless pass found Archie Gray shortly before it was swiped by Ibrahim Sangare to set up their first goal.
Spurs have struggled to play out from the back, and to make matters worse, their dismal home record of just two Premier League wins is one of the worst in England’s top flight.
While Frank’s Brentford were one of the best performing sides out of possession, his Tottenham Hotspur side is far too passive and seems to invite pressure from their opponents.
Lost in translation seems to be a massive understatement, and one feels that it is Spurs who need the win more, as a loss threatens a potential drop into 15th place in the Premier League table.
History beckons yet another goal fest before Christmas
In their last seven meetings in all competitions, only twice did the final score card record fewer than four goals.
With Liverpool expected to dominate possession, Spurs will want to stifle their press and take advantage of their tendency to overcommit.
As it stands, the Premier League champions are still far too easy to play through, despite the robust showings against both Inter and Brighton last week.
For Arne Slot’s side, perhaps this is the game that either Wirtz or Isak truly announce themselves to the top flight and delivers the travelling Reds an early Christmas present.
Six months on, and a contest between champions could not be further from reality for the respective Europa and Premier League champions, but this game will feel like a final for both sides.