Liverpool vs Tottenham news: Harry Kane and Heung-min Son could threaten quadruple bid

Dave Tindall
7 May 2022

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Harry Kane pats team-mate Heung-Min Son on the back

Jurgen Klopp’s men are on a high after reaching the Champions League final but Spurs may be dangerous opponents at Anfield on Saturday evening.

Liverpool had a rare poor 45 minutes against Villarreal on Tuesday evening but they recovered in emphatic style to win 3-2 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate to book their place in the Champions League final later this month.

After a dramatic ending in the Bernabeu, their opponents in Paris will be Real Madrid after the Spaniards produced an incredible late turnaround against Manchester City.

If the shock of defeat affects City in the Premier League, Liverpool - a point behind with four games to play - know they have to be ready to pounce if Pep Guardiola's men slip up.

That means winning all their remaining matches and Saturday evening's showdown against Tottenham could well prove the Reds' hardest game in the run-in.

When: Saturday, May 07, 19:45 BST

Where: Anfield

How to watch: BT Sport 1

Follow this game via our score centre

Who is the ref for Liverpool v Tottenham

Michael Oliver is the man in the middle at Anfield.

The Northumberland official took charge of Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City earlier this month, booking five players including Fabinho, Naby Keita and Sadio Mane.

On his last trip to Anfield he didn't show a single yellow to a Reds players in their 6-0 thumping of Leeds.

This is his first Tottenham game of the season.

Season stats 2021/22: All matches (38), yellows (125), red (7), penalties (12)

Recent form

Liverpool had won 10 and drawn two of their previous 12 games before going into the break at Villarreal 2-0 down.

But three second half goals restored normality so that's now 11 wins in the last 13.

Starting with the 3-2 triumph over Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final, they've now won six matches on the spin, scoring 15 and conceding four.

The Merseysiders have won every home Premier League at Anfield since the turn of the year.

Tottenham reeled off four straight top-flight wins to get back into the race for a Champions League spot but they've rather gone Jekyll and Hyde again.

In the last three games they've lost 1-0 at home to Brighton, played out a tepid 0-0 draw at Brentford when not having a shot on target and beaten Leicester 3-1 at home.

Antonio Conte's men have kept clean sheets in four of their last five away games so have been well drilled at the back.

Liverpool and Tottenham players in form

Sadio Mane continued his excellent run of form by scoring Liverpool's winner at Villarreal.

That made it seven goals in nine games for the Senegalese frontman.

Luis Diaz helped change that game in Liverpool's favour and nodded in the second goal to continue his fantastic early impact since signing from Porto in January.

As well as breaking up play and helping the Reds midfield dominate games, Fabinho chipped in with another goal on Tuesday night and now has eight for the season.

Tottenham's Heung-Min Son is making a late push for the Golden Boot and has seven in six games after a brace in the 3-1 win over Leicester.

Mo Salah still leads the race with 22 goals to Son's 19 although the Korean has actually scored more if taking out penalties.

After a poor start to the season, Harry Kane now has 13 Premier League goals after scoring against Leicester last week while the England striker has five assists in his last six top-flight games.

Previous meetings

Tottenham 2-2 Liverpool (December 19, 2021)

A pulsating contest ended with a share of the spoils and a red card for Andy Robertson as the Reds fell three points behind Manchester City in the title race.

Kane put Spurs in front on 13 minutes before Liverpool fought back to take a 2-1 lead thanks to Diogo Jota (35) and Robertson (69).

But Alisson's mistake allowed Son to equalise soon after and Robertson completed an eventful display by being sent off three minutes later after a wild challenge on Emerson Royal.

Tottenham 1-3 Liverpool (January 28, 2021)

The Reds came into this one on a run of five games without a win and their grip on the title vanishing fast.

But they took control of the match with goals from Roberto Firmino in first-half injury time and a thumping Trent Alexander-Arnold strike two minutes after the re-start.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg pulled one back soon after but Liverpool remained in control and Mane sealed the points with a third on 65.

Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham (December 16, 2020)

Klopp v Mourinho. 1st v 2nd. That was how this one was billed and it went the way of champions Liverpool thanks to Firmino's injury-time header.

Salah's deflected shot gave the Merseysiders a 1-0 lead after 26 before Son raced clear to level the scores seven minutes later.

Spurs had the better chances in the second half before Firmino nodded home Robertson's corner.

Past 10 meetings

Liverpool wins: 7

Draws: 2

Tottenham wins: 1

Liverpool scored: 19

Tottenham scored: 13

Manager's thoughts

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on the threat posed by Spurs: "It's a massive test. People from the outside will say it's difficult for Liverpool and we think that too. Tottenham have massive quality and are not too much bothered away from home about having the ball all the time and are compact and play on counter.

"Speed like crazy up front, Harry Kane, what a player, they have a blind understanding (Kane and Heung-min Son). It's probably the biggest challenge for protection we've faced in a long time. We have to find a way to keep them calm as often as possible."

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte on how to beat the Reds: "We are trying to have a good idea. I hope not the same idea as Liverpool. We know that in this moment it is very difficult to play against Liverpool because they are in really good form and I watched the game against Villarreal and it was incredible the composure and calm, they faced a difficult situation.

"After the first half they were 2-0 down and the atmosphere was very difficult for Liverpool. I saw great composure and calm from them, now they know they are strong, they are one of the best teams in the world with Manchester City, they are very good. At the same time it will be a good game for us."

Predicted Liverpool v Tottenham teams

Klopp has got the rotation game off to a fine art and whether it's the starting XI or the subs bench, Liverpool always seem to find something.

Joel Matip could come back in to central defence in place of Ibrahima Konate although the latter's speed could be a useful weapon to have against the pace of Son.

Liverpool play away to Aston Villa on Tuesday night but Mane and Salah still seem likely to start this one although Diaz may replace Jota in attack.

Jordan Henderson and James Milner are other options in midfield, the skipper perhaps coming in for Keita.

Possible Liverpool starting line-up: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Diaz, Mane, Salah.

With no European involvement, Tottenham have four games to play and that includes the crunch home game with Arsenal on Thursday night.

Conte is without Matt Doherty, Oliver Skipp and Sergio Reguilon so is likely to play a similar team to the one that beat Leicester.

Dejan Kulusevski may start ahead of Lucas Moura.

Possible Tottenham starting line-up: Lloris, Romero, Dier, Davies, Royal, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon, Kulusevski, Son, Kane.

Liverpool v Tottenham prediction

Liverpool have edged this fixture 2-1 for the last three seasons at Anfield while it was 2-2 in the meeting before that.

Tottenham's counter-attacking style could be a big threat to Liverpool and Kane and Son both scored against the Reds when the teams shared four goals in London earlier this season.

Don't be surprised to see both heavily involved again and this could be a tense afternoon for the quadruple-chasing hosts.

If they can keep Kane and Son fairly quiet, Liverpool win. If not, Spurs are very capable of pinching a point and putting a real dent in the hosts' title/quadruple hopes.