Tottenham will be in high spirits when they take on Liverpool on Sunday having dispatched Manchester United in a 2-0 win in midweek.
With both sides fighting for a top-four finish in the Premier League, the hosts will be looking to avoid a repeat of the 4-1 thumping they endured at Wembley in the return fixture.
Here are some of the key tactical talking points ahead of the encounter …
ERIKSEN CONTINUES TO BE KEY FOR SPURS
Christian Eriksen took just 11 seconds to give Spurs the lead over United on Wednesday and basked in Pochettino’s adulation in the aftermath of the 2-0 victory.
The manager praised the midfielder not just for his instincts to score the goal but also his overall contribution.
Eriksen’s influence on Tottenham’s game cannot be emphasised enough. Only Kevin de Bruyne, Mesut Ozil and Cesc Fabregas has managed more key passes than the Dane in the Premier League this season.
His heavy involvement in the team’s build-up play makes him absolutely vital and what’s even more impressive is his ability to manage that while regularly deployed on the right flank to accommodate other players.
Against Liverpool, Eriksen will be the main man the hosts will have to keep quiet.
Christian Eriksen didn’t take long to make an impact against Man United.
LIVERPOOL NEED SADIO TO MANE UP
Despite the wealth of attacking talent at Liverpool’s disposal, Sadio Mane was the standout player last season.
The arrival of Mohamed Salah has changed the dynamic within the team though. The Egyptian has taken the league by storm, racing to 19 goals already for the campaign.
Mane on the other hand has endured a slump. His decision-making in the final third has been particularly poor of late and against Spurs, wasting valuable opportunities could prove costly.
He was anonymous in the defeat against Swansea as well but did enjoy something of a revival against Huddersfield when he led the way with four key passes and provided an assist as well.
With Philippe Coutinho leaving the club for Barcelona, Liverpool need Mane to rediscover his swagger, particularly in the face of quality opposition like Spurs.
Sadio Mane has struggled for form this season.
DO SPURS REALLY HAVE THE EDGE IN MIDFIELD?
On the surface, it would seem like Spurs have the upper hand in midfield, especially after Liverpool were completely overrun in the reverse fixture at Wembley.
However, Liverpool have actually registered more passes and tackles than their counterparts in the league.
While Eriksen almost makes up an extra man in midfield as he drifts into the middle and does have the security of two defensive midfielders in Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier or Eric Wanyama, Liverpool’s midfield has evolved since the last time these two sides met as well.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain brings a new dynamic to the middle of the park for the Reds. His driving energy offers them more mobility while his direct runs forward will see Emre Can and Jordan Henderson sit back and protect the defence.
Tottenham’s midfield is not quite as dominant as it can appear.
VAN DIJK’S EFFECT ON LIVERPOOL’S DEFENCE
Despite scoring against Everton in an FA Cup win on his debut, Virgil van Dijk’s start at Liverpool has been a mixed bag.
That victory is the only one he’s featured in for Liverpool so far. In fact, he’s yet to be part of a clean sheet for the Reds as well after being benched for their 3-0 win over Huddersfield in midweek.
However, the Dutchman hasn’t played badly at all. He was one of Liverpool’s best players in their defeats to West Brom and Swansea.
He won a massive 19 headers over the two losses and made 13 clearances, even creating three chances and registering 224 touches, more than any other player on all fronts.
Keeping Kane quiet on Sunday will prove his biggest challenge in a red shirt yet but if he keeps playing the way he has been, the Spurs striker will be in for a tough day’s work.
Van Dijk has made an impact but so far it hasn’t resulted in many victories.
