Following a rather disappointing performance at the Craven Cottage which saw Liverpool salvage a point from a late Salah penalty, Liverpool now prepare for Tottenham. Mourinho has refused to admit his side as title contenders but he must be looking at this trip to Anfield as a perfect opportunity. Liverpool’s injury crisis has been compounded by the recent additions of Kostas Tsimikas and super signing Diogo Jota to the list.
Both the players will be out for around two months after sustaining knee problems in last week’s Champions League game. They join the likes of Thiago Alacantara, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, James Milner and Shaqiri on the never-ending injury list. Naby Keita remains doubtful along with centre back Joel Matip who had to be taken off at half time in the weekend against Fulham.
Let us now have a look at how Jurgen Klopp might set up his Liverpool side against Mourinho’s Tottenham.
THE 4-3-3
The 4-3-3 has been Jurgen Klopp’s favoured system for his style of football with relentless pressing and attacking play from either flanks. Alisson returned from a hamstring injury in the weekend and is a huge boost for the shaky Liverpool defence. But the availability of Matip is still questionable.
With Jota out with an injury, the front three will be the famous trio of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. Firmino has struggled this season to find the back of the net and needs to up his game against a Spurs defence which has conceded the least number of league goals this season. So, most of the attacking responsibility falls on the shoulders of wingers Salah and Mane.
Sadio Mane hasn’t been prolific this season but has always delivered in big games for the Reds. On the other hand, Salah is having an excellent season and is the top scorer for his team with 10 league goals. Jordan Henderson will lead the midfield in the defensive midfield role providing defensive cover for the attacking runs of full-backs Robertson and Alexander-Arnold.
At the back, makeshift centre-back Fabinho and Joel Matip will need to be alert to the fast counter attacks led by the in-form Harry Kane and Heung Min Son who have developed into one of the most formidable attacking duos in Europe.
THE 4-2-3-1
The 4-2-3-1 is the only other system that Klopp has employed in the past with Liverpool. It is unlikely for him to line his team up in this system against a defensive Tottenham side who like to absorb pressure and hurt the opposition on the counter. But, the form of Salah and his ability to draw fouls might tempt Klopp to employ this formation to exploit the weakness of Eric Dier.
Takumi Minamino is the best option for the wide attacking role as they will not look to rush Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back to the first team. Firmino has been used as an attacking midfielder before due to his pressing abilities and work rate. The game is expected to be a spectacular clash between the Liverpool attack and the sturdy Spurs’ defence.
