The Premier League returns this week following an entertaining international break over the last fortnight. Sunday sees Tottenham make the trip up north to face Liverpool in one of the season’s most important fixtures.

STATS

• It was being discussed that Spurs were in the title race a month or so ago but some truly awful form now sees them hanging onto a Champions League place by the skin of their teeth. With just one win in their last five league matches, their hopes of upsetting the top two have been shattered. They let a first-half lead slip last time out as they were beaten 2-1 by Southampton.
• Liverpool, on the other hand, have got the chance to win their first Premier League title but they are playing catch-up to an imperious Manchester City side. They are unbeaten in 10 league games but with three draws, it has allowed their title rivals to overtake them at the summit of the table. They had to rely on a late penalty in their last match, beating Fulham 2-1 away from home.
• Harry Kane is one of six players in serious contention for the Golden Boot this term as he, along with three others, has 17 league goals.
• Two of those players belong to Liverpool as both Mo Salah and Sadio Mane have the same amount as Kane.

HEAD TO HEAD

Tottenham’s form against Liverpool in recent years has been awful as they have won just one of the last 13 meetings between the sides. The Reds have won eight of those and haven’t lost at Anfield since May 2011 when Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric got on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win. There have been over 2.5 goals in four of the last five meetings and both teams have scored in each of those.

LIVERPOOL NEWS

Liverpool can return to the top of the table with three points but will have played an extra game to Man City. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Xherdan Shaqiri both face late fitness tests while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez are still out injured.

Latest matches: Liverpool FC

17.03.2019	Prem	Fulham FC	Liverpool FC	1:2	W
13.03.2019	UEFA	Bayern Munich	Liverpool FC	1:3	W
10.03.2019	Prem	Liverpool FC	Burnley FC	4:2	W
03.03.2019	Prem	Everton FC	Liverpool FC	0:0	D
27.02.2019	Prem	Liverpool FC	Watford FC	5:0	W

TOTTENHAM NEWS

Anything other than a win for the visitors will put them in real trouble of missing out on a top-four place. Eric Dier withdrew from the England squad and is unavailable while Serge Aurier and Harry Winks join him on the injury table.

Latest matches: Tottenham Hotspur

09.03.2019	Prem	Southampton FC	Tottenham Hotspur	2:1	L
05.03.2019	UEFA	Borussia Dortmund	Tottenham Hotspur	0:1	W
02.03.2019	Prem	Tottenham Hotspur	Arsenal FC	1:1	D
27.02.2019	Prem	Chelsea FC	Tottenham Hotspur	2:0	L
23.02.2019	Prem	Burnley FC	Tottenham Hotspur	2:1	L

SUMMARY

Liverpool need a victory on Sunday more than anything and as they come up against an out-of-form Tottenham side, it is hard to see anything other than a home win. With such good attacking talent on show for both teams, I expect them both to score but the Reds should come out on top in front of their own fans.