TEAM NEWS
Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele serves the fifth game of a six-match ban but Kevin Wimmer returns after injury.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris remains sidelined by a hamstring injury but should return at Stoke on 10 September.
Liverpool midfielder Emre Can is doubtful with an ankle injury, while Divock Origi will be assessed after suffering cramp against Burton.
Sadio Mane missed the defeat to Burnley last weekend with a shoulder injury but returned in midweek and is available.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
Steve Wilson: “Spurs’ start to the season has been quietly satisfying rather than spectacular, with Mauricio Pochettino juggling Vincent Janssen, Harry Kane and Dele Alli to establish the best means of scoring more goals.
“Some might wander what was wrong the plan of the last two seasons? The old ‘give it to Kane and let him score’ ploy seemed to work, but Kane may have to learn a deeper role.
“Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge seems less content at adjusting his game, hinting that he will be not content to wing it whilst Roberto Firmino or Dvicok Origi play centrally.
“Jurgen Klopp started his time at Liverpool with a game at Spurs – a fairly uneventful 0-0 draw last October. They’ve kept only seven clean sheets in 31 Premier League game since, suggesting that their most pressing issues are still in defence – exactly as they were when he took over.
“Klopp’s charisma is still encouraging Liverpool fans to take heart, though.”
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: “They [Liverpool] are quick, they have good organisation, they love to counter-attack.
“It’s different to us. We like to manage the ball, play in possession, play in the opposition’s half – we are a different team with a different philosophy.
“It’ll be tough – they come from a difficult loss against Burnley and they’ll want to give their best.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Daniel Sturridge’s role in the team: “I don’t want to play Daniel as a wide player but of course he can start there and play there but in the decisive moments he needs to be involved in all the finishing situations.
“I think both goals [against Burton] he scored inside the box so he was not on the wing in this moment – that is flexible football.
“That is how football works, it is not a fixed position [where you] stay outside and wait until you get the ball – especially not in Daniel’s case.
“Daniel is a very smart player in hiding himself in positions where it is not easy to defend and it is very often in a wing position.
“I know him and when we have talks there is no issue.”
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Tottenham are winless in their last seven league games against Liverpool, losing five of those matches and conceding a total of 19 goals.
- Both of last season’s meetings ended in draws – 0-0 at White Hart Lane and 1-1 at Anfield.
- Games between these sides have produced nine Premier League own goals – more than any other fixture.
Tottenham Hotspur
- Victory would give Spurs their best start to a league season since 2009-10 (when they won their opening four league games).
- Tottenham lost just six league games last season – fewer than in any previous top-flight campaign.
- Harry Kane is one short of 50 Premier League goals. He has failed to score in his last four top-flight games.
- Kane has never scored a Premier League goal in August, despite playing nine games and 545 minutes on the pitch in this month.
- Kane failed to score in his first six league appearances last season but still went on to win the Golden Boot.
Liverpool
- The Reds have only kept two clean sheets in their last 13 top-flight games, conceding 19 goals in total.
- Liverpool have scored the most Premier League goals in 2016 so far (45), but they have also conceded 33 (the sixth most).
- Sadio Mane has scored nine goals in his last nine appearances in the Premier League.
- Simon Mignolet has conceded the last five shots on target that he has faced in the Premier League since saving a penalty from Arsenal’s Theo Walcott.
(BBC Sport)
