Liverpool vs Tottenham LIVE: Salah and Ekitike benched as Reds welcome relegation-threatened Spurs in Premier League | OneFootball

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Igor Tudor explains Spurs' goalie decision and admits 'career first'

Liverpool take on Tottenham in the Premier League this afternoon, with the hosts aiming to go fourth as the visitors look to try and stave off the threat of relegation.

Arne Slot’s side begin the day in sixth, level on points with Chelsea in the battle for top five, and while some of their recent performances – including in the losses to Wolves and Galatasaray – aren’t filling fans with hope, it is still all to play for after the Blues lost to Newcastle yesterday and Aston Villa lost at Manchester United.

At the other end of the table, things are threatening to unravel at Spurs, with the remarkable 5-2 loss to Atletico in midweek the latest episode in a scarcely believable saga that could end in relegation. Igor Tudor is also without his two first-choice centre-backs, with Micky van de Ven suspended and Cristian Romero injured.

Nottingham Forest and West Ham have both picked up a point this weekend to leave Spurs above the drop zone on goal difference. But with the club reportedly looking at targets to replace the Croatian, it could all get so much worse before it gets better as they face a daunting test at Anfield.

What happened across the Premier League in the earlier kick-off?

Manchester United’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa is big for Liverpool, who could go level on points with third-placed United and leapfrog both Villa and Chelsea into fourth place if they beat Tottenham at Anfield.

At the other end of the table, Nottingham Forest have matched West Ham by picking up a point this weekend, although they were only held to a 0-0 draw at home to Fulham in the relegation fight.

That means Tottenham are only sitting above the relegation zone on goal difference before kick-off at Anfield.

(Getty Images)

Why Tottenham’s visit brings back memories of what might have been for Isak, Liverpool and Slot

Arne Slot has memories of his last two meetings with Tottenham and each, perhaps, is an illustration of what might have been. In one sense, the high point of his reign came when Spurs last visited Anfield. Liverpool had long looked on course for the title. On that April afternoon, they sealed it in emphatic fashion, a 5-1 cruise to glory.

Then there was the December win in London, the glimpse of what might have been. In a way, it was the £225m goal, created by Liverpool’s £450m spending spree. Florian Wirtz provided the pass, Alexander Isak the finish, the £100m and the £125m man combining beautifully.