14 players who have played for Tottenham and Liverpool | OneFootball

Tottenham and Liverpool couldn't be in more different situations heading into Matchday 34 of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Liverpool are in first and could seal the title with a win on Sunday, while Tottenham are 16th and only safe from relegation because of the sheer futility of this season's three promoted clubs.

They will share the pitch at Anfield this weekend, with Tottenham simply looking to play the role of spoiler and spare some dignity. Heading into this Premier League matchup, let's take a look back at the shared history of Liverpool and Tottenham and the 14 players who have featured for both historic English clubs.

The 14 players who have featured on Tottenham and Liverpool

Spurs Legends v AC Milan Glorie | Andrew Redington/GettyImages

1. Robbie Keane

Years at Liverpool: 2008

Years at Tottenham: 2002-2010

Notable Achievements: A three-time Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year, Robbie Keane was a part of the Tottenham side that won the Leageu Cup in 2007/08. He would end up winning most of his silverware in MLS as a three-time MLS Cup winner for the historic LA Galaxy. It's important not to overlook his importance to Ireland, too, as Keane won the U-18 Euros in 1998 before winning the only ever Nations Cup tournament in 2011.

Robbie Keane is legitimately one of the most underrated strikers in modern European football history. His catalogue of goals and assists is overlooked but cherished by all those who watched the Premier League in the 2000s.

Funnily enough, Keane actually got his first big move to Serie A with Inter Milan after scoring 12 goals in a single Premier League season with Coventry. After failing to get a foothold in Italy, Keane dazzled back in England on loan at Leeds, leading Spurs to sign him.

And that's where Liverpool come in. Keane very quickly established himself as one of the best strikers in the Premier League. After clearing the talented pack of Mido, Jermaine Defoe, and Frederic Kanoute, Keane formed one of the Premier League's best striker parnterships of the era with the silky-smooth Dimitar Berbatov.

Liverpool were so interested in plucking Keane from Spurs that they got in some hot water for trying to unsettle the player ahead of a move, which eventually led to an apology from the Reds and a donation to the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. But it wasn't worth it for Liverpool, as they didn't seem to actually value Keane as a player, utilizing him out of position before eventually selling him back to Tottenham 18 months later for less than what they bought him for.

Nick Barmby | Getty Images/GettyImages

2. Nick Barmby

Years at Liverpool: 2000-2001

Years at Tottenham: 1992-1994

Notable Achievements: Part of the 2000/01 Liverpool side that won the UEFA Cup and League Cup.

An accomplished Premier League attacking midfielder during the 90s, Nick Barmby got his start with Tottenham as a youth player, eventually becoming a starter alongside icons of the game like Teddy Sheringham and Jurgen Klinsmann. He left Spurs as Middlesborough's record-breaking transfer in 1995 before becoming Everton's record signing a few years later. After four years, Liverpool beat out Manchester United for Barmby's signature and used him to win three trophies.

SPURS V NEWCASTLE | Ben Radford/GettyImages

3. Ronny Rosenthal

Years at Liverpool: 1991-1993

Years at Tottenham: 1993-1996

Notable Achievements: He won the Football League and Charity Shield with Liverpool, as well as two league titles in Israel and one in Belgium.

An icon of Israeli football, Ronny Rosenthal was an excellent striker for Maccabi Haifa and Club Brugge, two historic clubs in those countries, winning titles. His sweet left foot attracted the attention of Udinese, leading to a loan and eventual permanent transfer to Liverpool, where he added more silverware to his collection.

Rosenthal ended up at Tottenham after a decent few years in Liverpool, starting games alongside Sheringham and Klinsmann but never establishing himself as a credible goal-scorer for Spurs with just 4 in 88 appearances.

Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League | Michael Regan/GettyImages

4. Peter Crouch

Years at Liverpool: 2005-2007

Years at Tottenham: 2009-2011

Notable Achievements: FA Cup winner with Liverpool and a Player of the Season for three different clubs - none of which were Tottenham or Liverpool.

One of the best headers of the football of his time, Peter Crouch worked his way up the ladder to become a regular starting striker for the English national team, and while that does stand on an indictement of the fall in attacking quality the Three Lions experienced into the 2000s, Crouch was underappreciated during his playing days, particularly in his hold-up play.

Crouch signed his first proffesional contract with Tottenham in 1998 but never played a minute for Spurs during that stint, as he was loaned to smaller clubs before moving to QPR. Crouch bounced around a number of mid-level clubs before eventually making his way to Liverpool in 2005, where it took him a whopping four months to score his first goal.

Eventually, Crouch broke the duck and quite a few nasty chants aimed at his stature to become a solid striker for Liverpool and a competent national team player. Crouch assisted Steven Gerrard in the FA Cup Final.

After Liverpool, Crouch made his way back to Portsmouth and then to Tottenham, where he would indeed be a first-team player. Crouch repaid the 10 million pounds Spurs invested in one fell swoop, scoring a late winner over Manchester City to send Tottenham to their first ever Champions League berth in 2010. Ironically, one year later, Crouch would score an own goal against the Citizens to send them to the Champions League and doom Spurs to a fifth-placed finish. Sadly, that would be his last big moment at Tottenham before moving on to Stoke.

Oyvind Leonhardsen of Spurs | Phil Cole/GettyImages

5. Oyvind Leonhardsen

Years at Liverpool: 1997-1998

Years at Tottenham: 1999-2001

Notable Achievements: None

A hard-working midfielder and an icon of Norwegian football in the 90s, Oyvind Leonharden made it up the ladder in European football to Liverpool and Tottenham, playing nearly 100 matches for both clubs combined. In truth, he was unable to convince at either, because while he was pretty good for Liverpool, he wasn't good enough to get minutes over stars Steve McManaman or Jamie Redknapp. Meanwhile, he was a disappointment overall at Spurs, because injuries and inconsistent performances prevented him from making good on the talent that could be clearly observed in flashes.

Spurs v Southampton | Clive Mason/GettyImages

6. Christian Ziege

Years at Liverpool: 2000

Years at Tottenham: 2001-2003

Notable Achievements: Won the 1996 Euros with Germany and made it to the World Cup Final in 2002. Also grabbed the Scudetto with AC Milan, two Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich, a UEFA Cup with both Bayern and Liverpool, and the 2000/01 FA Cup with the Reds to go with that FA Cup.

Left wing back Christian Ziege was a highly accomplished footballer in the 90s and early 2000s who was a very key player for some excellent German teams. Ziege's career took a downturn after his move to Liverpool, where injuries derailed his career. Tottenham couldn't get the same form out of Ziege, who continued to be plagued by injuries before his contract was terminated.

Neil Ruddock Tottenham Hotspur 1992 | Getty Images/GettyImages

7. Neil Ruddock

Years at Liverpool: 1993-1997

Years at Tottenham: 1992

Notable Achievements: Part of the Liverpool side that won the 1994/95 League Cup, Ruddock also won an Intertoto Cup with West Ham earlier in his career.

Nicknamed "Razor", Neil Ruddock was widely recognized as a center back you did not want to miss with. In truth, he didn't achieve much in his two stints with Tottenham in the 80s and 90s, but he had a better time with Liverpool after Spurs sold him in 1992. Ruddock was a part of the "Spice Boys" squad and got a trophy out of his time there.

Everton v Tottenham Hotspur | Sportsphoto/Allstar/GettyImages

8. Jamie Redknapp

Years at Liverpool: 1991-2001

Years at Tottenham: 2002-2004

Notable Achievements: A League Cup and UEFA Cup winner with Liverpool

Although Jamie Redknapp spent some time with Tottenham as a youth player, he became one of the most coveted teenage prospects in the country at Bournemouth, leading Kenny Dalglish to handpick him as a Liverpool signing in 1991. He debuted in the UEFA Cup against Auxerre at the age of 18 to set a Liverpool record. The midfielder was a key part of Liverpool throughout the 90s, eventually becoming captain and one of the faces of the league.

Redknapp signed with Tottenham for free in 2022 during the season in April with a few matches still left in the Premier League calendar. He spent a couple of seasons at White Hart Lane, but, by then, all the years of wear and tear turned him into a shell of himself. Now a pundit, you often get the sense that there is a bit of bitterness when he talks about Spurs.

Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham Hotspur - UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg | Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/GettyImages

9. Dominic Solanke

Years at Liverpool: 2017-2018

Years at Tottenham: 2024

Notable Achievements: Two-time FA Youth Cup winner with Chelsea and the leading scorer in the 2014/15 UEFA Youth Cup when Chelsea won the tournament. Solanke also won the U-17 Euros and U-20 World Cup for England, taking home the Golden Ball in the latter competition.

Dominic Solanke was the definition of a phenom, winning everything there is to win at the youth level for both Chelsea and England. He spent a decade from 2004-2014 with the Blues youth academy before moving on to Liverpool in 2017, where he made his senior debut in the Champions League knockouts against Hoffenheim. Solanke would be a part of the Liverpool squad that reached the Champions League Final but only scored one goal with the Reds before leaving for Bournemouth.

He then became a hero for the Cherries, carrying them back to the Premier League and then becoming a late bloomer in the top flight with 19 goals in the 2023/24 season. That was enough for a striker-needy Spurs to splurge 65 million pounds on Solanke, who has, overall, failed to entrench himself as the solution at striker in his first season in North London.

Stan Collymore and John Scales | Ross Kinnaird/GettyImages

10. John Scales

Years at Liverpool: 1994-1996

Years at Tottenham: 1996-1999

Notable Achievements: League Cup winner with Liverpool and FA Cup winner for Wimbledon.

An excellent center back for Wimbledon, John Scales was far less impressive in a few seasons for Liverpool, though he did add a second cub to his trophy cabinet. At Tottenham, Scales was even worse, as he was frequently injured and never showed enough quality to establish himself as a starter when he was healthy.

Carlisle United v Tottenham Hotspur - Capital One Cup Third Round | Stu Forster/GettyImages

11. Steven Caulker

Years at Liverpool: 2015

Years at Tottenham: 2012

Notable Achievements: None

Steven Caulker began his career with Tottenham as a youth player and was immediately loaned out to several smaller clubs throughout the United Kingdom. The center back excelled at Yeovil Town, Bristol City, and Swansea in these successive annual loan deals, eventually getting a full season as a starter for Tottenham upon his return in 2012/13.

But Caulker only lasted that one season in North London, as Spurs immediately sold him to Cardiff City, who were willing to spend a record eight million pounds. Like at Swansea and Tottenham, Caulker was an excellent center back for Cardiff and after another great season for QPR, Caulker was loaned to Southampton and Liverpool, where his career ultimately fizzled out due to a gambling addiction.

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool | Stu Forster/GettyImages

12. Danny Murphy

Years at Liverpool: 1997-2003

Years at Tottenham: 2005-2006

Notable Achievements: An FA Cup, UEFA Cup, and League Cup winner with Liverpool who was also named their Player of the Season in 2002/03. He would later help Fulham reach the Europa League Final to close this career.

After shining in the lower divisions of English football for years with Crewe Alexandra, Danny Murphy got his big break in 1997 with a transfer to Liverpool. Versatile enough to play in the middle or wider in midfield, Murphy was an invaluable member of a Liverpool squad that landed multiple trophies in the early 2000s, scoring 12 goals in all competitions in 2002/03 as the team' standout player.

Following a solid spell with Charlton Athletic, Murphy joined Tottenham in 2005 but never seemed to fit the club or manager Martin Jol. Just 20 appearances later, Murphy was out at Tottenham and would end up reviving his career with a subsequent move to Fulham, captaining the Cottagers to a historic appearance in the Europa League Final against a growing Atletico Madrid juggernaut.

Paul Konchesky battles with Giazka Mendieta | Phil Cole/GettyImages

13. Paul Konchesky

Years at Liverpool: 2010

Years at Tottenham: 2003

Notable Achievements: Won the 2013/14 Championship to bring THAT Leicester City back to the Premier League. Also reached an FA Cup Final with West Ham and was teammates with Danny Murphy on the 2009/10 Fulham team that made it othe Europa League Final.

Paul Konchesky was only with Tottenham for a cup of coffee in 2003, as Charlton loaned him to Spurs for just a season before selling him to West Ham. Interestingly enoguh, Konchseky actually wanted Tottenham to buy him, as they extended his loan multiple times from its original status as a one-month spell.

The left back scored against Liverpool in the 2006 FA Cup Final but missed a penalty in the eventual defeat, and after a senational 2009/10 season with Fulham to help them reach the Europa League Final, Konchesky ended up joining Liverpool.

But Konchesky's spell at Anfield was a disaster. He was one of many dreadful transfer flops of that era and was eaten alive by Kopites, who even sarcastically cheered his errors and substitions. Konchesky would later redeem himself at Leicester City by helping the club get to and stay in the Premier League, but he never got to bask in the glory of the club's Cinderella title win in 2015/16 as he was loaned to QPR that season.

Tottenham Hotspur v Hull City - Premier League | Paul Gilham/GettyImages

14. Brad Friedel

Years at Liverpool: 1997-1999

Years at Tottenham: 2011-2014

Notable Achievements: Turkish Cup winner with Galatasaray and League Cup winner with Blackburn. Made it to the 2002/03 Premier League Team of the Season. Inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2018.

A Cleveland native, Brad Friedel was the first great goalkeeper in a long lineage of great American keepers who made it as above-average starters in the Premier League. Friedel went the college route with UCLA before heading to Europe, and after overcoming several work permit issues that prevented him from joining Premier League clubs like Newcastle and Sunderland, Friedel shined brightly for Galatasaray in Turkey under manager Graeme Souness and local club Columbus Crew.

Friedel got his big chance in England in 1997 with Liverpool, but things didn't really work out for him with the Reds. He struggled to get a foothold on playing time and was eventually phased out for future England national team fixture David James.

After establishing himself as a top Premier League goalkeeper for Blackburn and Aston Villa, Friedel made the jump to Tottenham in 2010 as a free transfer. By then, he was already 40 years old, but he excelled in his first season, which was his only one as a starter. Friedel saved 75 percent of the shots he faced in 2010/11, but, thereafter, he lost his job to club legend Hugo Lloris.