Liverpool–Tottenham

Two teams meet on Sunday, both of which must be said to be experiencing a strange season. Liverpool are the reigning champions in England, but there is not much to indicate that this year. Big money was spent, but it did not make the team any better. On the contrary, the talent of players like Trent and Diaz was not replaced. The honorable exception is Ekitike at his best. The Frenchman looks promising for an otherwise somewhat atypical Liverpool attack. They are used to fast players with great mobility, but right now Mane, Firmino and Salah seem like a vague memory. Yes, Salah is still there, but Salah in 2026 is not the same. Tottenham is a chapter in itself. Relegation is now a real possibility, and not just something written to generate clicks and sensation. The losses come like pearls on a string, and it all culminated in the Champions League in midweek. A crushing defeat, and 0-4 after 22 minutes played. Tottenham are not together, and both injured players and interim managers are at a loss. The sum of it all is a team that must try to salvage the remains of the season. Anfield demands a win from the Reds, so then the question is what we will get. The away team must try to find a way to contain it, without van de Ven available.

Liverpool – The season will depend on the next two games

A bit of a stretch, but Liverpool must beat Tottenham on Sunday, and they must beat Galatasaray next week. If they do that, the dream of both a Champions League place next season, and a possible finish in the same tournament in May, is still alive. Liverpool have the players, but do they have the tactics?

The team is more stable than it was before Christmas. The losses are few, but the performances fluctuate somewhat wildly. They depend on a handful of players delivering the goods, and almost pulling the rest towards victory. These players are largely Ekitike, Szoboszlai, Wirtz and van Dijk. Without these four firing, things will become tame. It is terribly disturbing for Arne Slot that the very trademark of Liverpool over the last ten years, the attack, has now become so predictable. Salah has been one of the world's best players during this period, and with him on the team you could always expect magical moments. The Egyptian should not be completely written off, all the while he had about his best season of his entire career last season, but the x-factor is not present this year. Then a lot falls on Ekitike's shoulders. The young Frenchman has impressed, but you see the need for two wings who can relieve the load and contribute in the same class. If it is not Salah and Gakpo, then you have to go out and shop in the summer.

Liverpool loves to face Tottenham. The goals are coming in, and one big win follows the next. An ever-so-small dream opponent for the Reds, and especially at Anfield it has been tough for the lily-whites. Here the home team must exploit the good statistics, and ensure more buzz on the net. A good experience now will do wonders ahead of the meeting with the Turks in the Champions League next week. It ended 5-1 at Anfield the last time these two met, and if you don't expect the same now, there are several things that indicate that you can get a home win of that magnitude. All the injuries to the guests are an important reason for the assumption, and then the fact that van de Ven is serving a suspension for a red card doesn't help. The Reds should win this match. Everything else is a huge letdown.

Tottenham – It may be a long time before we see Spurs again

Because now there is a crisis. Yes, but you use crisis for so many things, but if this is not a sporting crisis, then nothing is. The losses are many, and the losses are enormous. They were downright ridiculed against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, and with that they have six losses on their record. Matches seven to ten ended with two wins and two draws, while they again find a series of three straight losses. There should be nine losses in the last 13 matches. The result of this is a team that is heading towards the Championship, and that is practically out of the Champions League. Tottenham is just a shadow of its former greatness.

Firing the manager didn't help. Tudor has come in, but he's just losing. And there aren't any bright spots either, nothing is working, and no one is fit. As we know, there are many injuries, and that means there's wear and tear and players who have to play out of position. The offensive pieces aren't particularly fearsome either, and those with the slightly more gifted talent packages aren't available. Tottenham is thus becoming a tired, grey mass. If this continues for a few more games, they'll be among the bottom three in the table. Maybe even then for good.

Tottenham are conceding an average of about three goals per match now. Atletico scored five, while Arsenal had four goals in the match against Spurs. It is clear that the points are a long way off with such defensive numbers. Facing fast Liverpool legs without van de Ven available is not ideal either. There is a lot to be considered if Tottenham goes home to London on Sunday with a good experience in their suitcase.

Conclusion – Even a parked bus is not the solution

Liverpool will have possession on Sunday. Tottenham will have to try to go for transitions with Tel, Kolo Muani and Solanke, but if that doesn't work immediately, they will have a lot to deal with the other way around. Wirtz, Salah and Ekitike will have a lot of space to play on, and I'm afraid that if this cracks first, they could find themselves in a situation where the ball frame has to come forward again.

Liverpool are stitching their attack around the Frenchman at the top. Ekitike will be the one to pull and pull, and with his insane top speed it is him that Spurs must stop. It will be tough. He gets loose repeatedly in most matches, and against a generous defense, and a sometimes porous goalkeeper, it can be a lot to ask of him to be kept from life. If the combinations with Salah and the deep runs from midfield are good, the finishes will be many.

So which bet do we choose to get some back for the current situation. Over 2.5 goals for the home team can be tried. Likewise, a home win by at least two goals. What we have landed on, however, is that Liverpool's spearhead is in the running. The man is in form, he recently scored in the thrashing win against West Ham, and he also noted for his net in the opposite match against Tottenham. He is fast, he is strong, and for a defense that is not coherent, while they are missing their best cards, this is the match where everything is in place for his expertise. Liverpool scores on Sunday, and so does Hugo Ekitike.

England at 17:30: Liverpool - Tottenham: Ekitike two scores (1.78)

Alternative game

England at 17:30: Liverpool - Tottenham: Liverpool over 2.5 goals (2.05)

England at 17:30: Liverpool - Tottenham: Over 10.5 corners (1.77)