Reds v Spurs – teams. Sturridge on the bench, Matip makes league debut

klopp-and-clyne-1
It’s back to Premier League action for Liverpool this lunchtime with the trip to White Hart Lane to take on one-time bogey team Tottenham Hotspur.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will be looking to keep the momentum going from the 5-0 win over Burton in the League Cup in midweek which saw Daniel Sturridge amongst the scorers. Sturridge’s brace wasn’t enough to get him into today’s starting line-up, the boss opting to start with Firmino up front.

Emre Can’s midweek ankle injury keeps him out of this one, the boss therefore going for a midfield featuring Henderson and Wijnaldum, with Lallana either joining up in a midfield three or being part of a more advanced three with Mane and Coutinho behind Firmino. All part of the “flexible football” Klopp mentioned during the week.

Nathaniel Clyne is of course picked to start at right back but James Milner is once again preferred to Alberto Moreno at left-back, with Matip making his Premier League debut for the Reds alongside Dejan Lovren.

Spurs haven’t beaten Liverpool once in the last seven league meetings between the two sides, losing five times in the process. The two draws were both last season, with Klopp as boss, meaning the German is yet to beat them as Reds manager. Prior to Liverpool’s 3-2 win at Anfield in 2013 the Reds had won just once in seven games with Spurs.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Mane, Coutinho, Firmino.
Subs: Manninger, Grujic, Moreno, Lucas, Sturridge, Origi, Stewart.

Spurs: Vorm, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Wanyama, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela; Kane.
Subs: McGee, Carter-Vickers, Davies, Onomah, Winks, Janssen, Son