BETTING GUIDE: Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool, match preview, team news and betting tip
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Reading Time: 5min | Fri. 19.12.25. | 14:47
Historically, this fixture has been rich in goals and drama. Tottenham have won just two of their last 25 league meetings with Liverpool, suffering 17 defeats in that run
Tottenham Hotspur will be desperate to steady a turbulent Premier League campaign when they welcome Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a fixture that carries significant weight for both clubs at different ends of their respective ambitions.
The match will be played on Saturday from 8:30pm.
For Spurs, this match represents a chance to halt a worrying slide that has left them drifting into the bottom half of the table and under growing scrutiny, while for Liverpool it is an opportunity to extend a clear upward trajectory and push firmly into the Champions League qualification picture.
The context, pressure and historical rivalry surrounding this fixture make it one of the standout games of the matchday, with plenty at stake beyond the three points on offer.
Tottenham come into this encounter nursing the wounds of a damaging 3-0 defeat away to Nottingham Forest, a result that brutally exposed their current fragility.
That loss followed a brief spell of optimism sparked by home wins over Brentford, Slavia Prague and a resilient draw against Newcastle, but any sense of momentum was quickly extinguished.
Spurs have now lost three of their last five Premier League matches and have managed just one league win in their last six.
Across all competitions, their form has been similarly inconsistent, with three defeats in their last six outings.
The broader picture is equally concerning: Tottenham sit outside the top half of the table, six points adrift of the Champions League places, and are uncomfortably close to being dragged into a congested mid-table pack.
Liverpool, by contrast, arrive in North London with renewed confidence after a difficult spell earlier in the season.
Arne Slot’s side are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions, a run that includes a valuable 1-0 away win over Inter Milan in the Champions League and a controlled 2-0 home victory against Brighton in the league.
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While Liverpool remain seventh in the table, they are now just two points off the top four and appear to be finding rhythm and resilience at the right time.
Importantly, their recent form suggests a team that is rediscovering its defensive solidity while maintaining enough attacking threat to grind out results even in the absence of key players.
From a team news perspective, Tottenham’s problems are substantial.
Africa Cup of Nations call-ups have stripped Thomas Frank of midfield options, with Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma unavailable, while injuries continue to bite hard.
James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie remain sidelined, depriving Spurs of creativity, penetration and balance.
With such absences, Tottenham are likely to lean on a youthful and relatively untested core, with players like Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray expected to shoulder responsibility alongside more experienced figures such as Cristian Romero and Richarlison.
This lack of continuity and leadership in key areas has been evident in Spurs’ recent performances, particularly in build-up play and defensive organisation.
Liverpool are not without their own selection issues. Mohamed Salah’s departure for AFCON removes a historically decisive presence, while Dominik Szoboszlai’s ankle injury further weakens Liverpool’s midfield dynamism.
Joe Gomez is also sidelined, although Conor Bradley’s return from suspension offers cover in defence.
Despite these absences, Liverpool still boast considerable depth, with players like Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike capable of stepping up.
The Reds have already shown in recent weeks that they can adapt tactically and function effectively without Salah, relying instead on structured pressing, midfield control and efficiency in the final third.
Tactically, this match presents a fascinating contrast.
Tottenham are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, aiming to play on the front foot at home and use wide areas to stretch Liverpool’s back line.
However, Spurs’ issues in midfield protection and defensive transitions have been repeatedly exposed-and against a Liverpool side that excels in exploiting space, this remains a significant risk.
Tottenham’s intention will be to push their full-backs high and create overloads through players like Pedro Porro and Mohammed Kudus, but this approach could leave them vulnerable to quick counters if possession is turned over cheaply.
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Liverpool, meanwhile, are expected to adopt a more controlled and pragmatic approach.
Slot’s side have shown an increased willingness to manage games rather than dominate them, especially away from home.
With Mac Allister and Gravenberch anchoring the midfield, Liverpool will look to dictate tempo, press selectively and target Tottenham’s fragile build-up play.
The movement of Ekitike, supported by Wirtz and Curtis Jones, should test a Spurs defence that has struggled to cope with coordinated pressing and intelligent off-the-ball runs.
Liverpool’s full-backs, particularly if Kerkez starts, will also be key in pinning Spurs back and limiting their attacking width.
Home and away form further tilts the balance slightly in Liverpool’s favour. Tottenham have lost three of their last six home matches in all competitions and are at risk of setting an unwanted club record for home defeats in a calendar year.
Liverpool, while not flawless on the road, have shown signs of improvement, winning at West Ham and Inter Milan in recent weeks and conceding fewer clear-cut chances away from Anfield than earlier in the season.
Historically, this fixture has been rich in goals and drama. Tottenham have won just two of their last 25 league meetings with Liverpool, suffering 17 defeats in that run.
Recent head-to-heads have been particularly one-sided, with Liverpool winning the last two encounters by an aggregate score of 9-1, including a dominant 5-1 victory in April 2025.
Goals have been a constant theme, with the last six league meetings producing both teams to score and an average of nearly five goals per game.
Key Pointers;
Tottenham rank just 17th in expected goals (15.2) and 16th in xG difference (-7.0).
Liverpool rank sixth in xG (26.3) and fifth in xG difference (+6.7).
Tottenham have lost six of their last 11.
Liverpool have won their last two in a row.
In betting terms, this matchup points towards Liverpool holding the edge. While Tottenham’s home crowd and desperation could fuel a response, their structural issues and depleted squad make sustained control unlikely.
Liverpool’s recent consistency, superior metrics and dominance in this fixture suggest they are well placed to take advantage, even if the match remains competitive.
Goals are always a possibility in this fixture, but the safer angle lies with the visitors’ ability to manage key moments and punish Spurs’ mistakes.
Prediction; Liverpool to win/Over 2.5 Goals.
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