60 seconds on Liverpool | Phil McNulty, Chief Football Writer, BBC Sport | OneFootball

Continuing our '60 seconds on...' preview feature, where we take a closer look at our next opponents with the people who watch them week in, week out.

Next up, Liverpool in the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm). It's usually a cracker - and to preview the match, we've called on the services of Phil McNulty, who has years of experience working at the very highest level of football in his role as BBC Sport's Chief Football Writer - including covering England at six World Cups - and born in Liverpool, he knows Merseyside football inside-out...

Phil, you know Merseyside football as well as anyone – what’s the verdict on Liverpool at the moment?

Phil: "There is no doubt this has been a very disappointing title defence so far, as Liverpool were so many people’s tip – including mine – to retain the Premier League title they won so impressively last season, especially after spending almost £450m in the summer. Head coach Arne Slot has not been able to find the perfect balance he seemed to have last season, with the strategy of using Florian Wirtz behind the strikers at the start of the season making them more vulnerable. Teams were suddenly running straight through Liverpool’s midfield, unthinkable last season, with a previously solid defence leaky from the start of the campaign. Only Hugo Ekitike has justified his £70m fee up to now. All the talk is that Florian Wirtz has been outstanding in training, but this has yet to translate into games and no goals from a £116m signing as we approach Christmas is a poor return. There is clearly real talent there, though, and that will surely show soon. Alexander Isak arrived under-cooked after his summer in exile before his British record £125m move from Newcastle United. He has also been sidelined by a groin injury, but there is no getting away from the fact he has been a real disappointment so far. He has scored just one Premier League goal in the win at West Ham United and has, so far, looked a shadow of the striker who was so outstanding at Newcastle. Jeremie Frimpong, brought in from Bayer Leverkusen at right-back after the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, has barely got started because of hamstring injuries, while Milos Kerkez has yet to show his best form following a £40m move from Bournemouth. The failure to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi on the final day of the last transfer window has proved expensive, because Ibrahima Konate has had a poor season which, in turn, has had an impact on Virgil van Dijk, in my opinion. They may now feel they should have tried to close out that deal earlier. I think Liverpool will improve as the season goes on, but there is no doubt they have disappointed in the Premier League context up to now."

Easy question, probably not such an easy answer – Liverpool lost four games last season, they’ve already lost six – what has the difference been, on the pitch? Are they starting to steady the ship?

Phil: "Since dropping Mohamed Salah, Liverpool have gone four games unbeaten, so there are signs the tanker is starting to turn, but they are still nowhere near the levels they achieved last season. See answer one for the difference, but there have been other key factors, such as tried and trusted world-class players such as Salah and Virgil van Dijk suffering a loss of form. Dominik Szoboszlai has been a shining light. As Slot has tried to integrate new players, some of the intensity and organisation that made them so outstanding last season has been lost, but I genuinely believe things will get better as the season goes on."

How would you expect Arne Slot to set up to face Spurs on Saturday?

Phil: "Well, obviously no Mohamed Salah as he is with Egypt at AFCON, but he has not been starting anyway. Dominik Szoboszlai is an injury doubt and Liverpool will be desperate to have him available as he has been their best player this season. Joe Gomez suffered an injury against Brighton and is out, but Conor Bradley can come back in at right-back after suspension. I expect Liverpool’s set-up to be pretty similar to the Brighton game, with Ekitike the striker and Wirtz maybe coming off the flank and Alex Mac Allister and Szoboszlai (if fit). Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones can provide a solid platform, making Liverpool more stable than they have been this season. If Szboszlai is out, that’s a huge miss."

We saw first-hand what Hugo Ekitike is capable of when we played Eintracht Frankfurt last season – is it fair to say he looks the real deal in the Premier League – and Liverpool’s dangerman?

Phil: "Ekitike is the one summer signing who has been an unqualified success. He is a real threat, with pace and clinical finishing. He has been outstanding, which has placed the spotlight even more harshly on Alexander Isak’s poor form. He does, as you say, look like the real deal. When you watch Ekitike at his best, it does actually make you wonder whether Liverpool might have been better saving their £125m spent on Isak to strengthen other areas, but it almost seemed that deal was so far down the line, and the Swede had burned so many bridges at Newcastle United, that there was no turning back."

Finally, how do you expect it to play out on Saturday?

Phil: "Well, Spurs mystify me and I bet I’m not alone there. I was there when they beat Brentford and Slavia Prague recently. I thought they looked good, then everyone agreed it was a really disappointing performance in defeat at Nottingham Forest. It will be an interesting one because Liverpool have struggled when teams have gone at them and put them under pressure this season, so I’m sure that is what Thomas Frank will be trying to do. As far as Liverpool is concerned, they will be looking to add to the green shoots of recovery that have been sprouting in the last couple of weeks. Given the form of both team this season, it is genuinely too close to call."