Liverpool v Tottenham: Talking points as title challengers must reset after break

Here’s a look at the talking points ahead of the game.

INTERNATIONAL BREAK ALLOWS LIVERPOOL TO RESET

The international break came at the perfect time for Liverpool. In nine league games between the start of 2019 and this short respite, Klopp’s side dropped points in six. That took them from seven points atop the table to one point behind.

With their fortnight off, however, they’ve had a chance to reset, gather themselves, and be ready for the final push. Crucially, Mohamed Salah was allowed to miss international duty by Egypt, which means he got some much-needed time off. There’s been a glaring lack of sharpness from last season’s PFA and FWA player of the year, which has led to a seven-game goal drought. But with a far more significant prize on offer, Salah should be raring to go at the perfect time.

It won’t be just him – Virgil van Dijk, among the frontrunners to take that award off Salah’s hands, has spoken of the need to snap into title charge mode, and that message should filter through the squad.

The last time they faced a north London side, Liverpool beat Arsenal 5-1, though that was right before their downturn in form. They’ll be looking for a fast start on the way to another statement win on Sunday.

AGE OLD QUESTION WITH TOTTENHAM: BIG GAME AWAY

Another away game against a top-six side, another moment to judge just how much Tottenham have progressed. This season they began with a 3-0 win against Manchester United, but have since lost to Arsenal and Chelsea.

After Sunday’s game, they have Man City to face, in theory putting themselves in the position of Premier League kingmakers. But on their form away from home, they’re more likely to be just another game for both sides to get through, rather than a real obstacle.

Tottenham are no doubt expecting a boost from the opening of their new stadium, but any momentum will only begin next week, when they finally inaugurate their new ground. It’ll be no help on Sunday.

But they can perhaps expect a bounce from the international break, albeit for different reasons. The last fortnight has seen Harry Kane, newly made MBE, among the goals, Dele Alli make a return from injury, and Christian Eriksen key a three-goal comeback for Denmark against Switzerland.

None of it will matter if they produce another limp display on the road against one of their rivals. Last season they managed a 2-2 draw at Anfield in a thriller, and in the midst of a tight race for the top four themselves, avoiding dropping points – or at least, a loss – will be huge for them.

MANE AGAINST TRIPPIER THE DECISIVE BATTLE

This game could boil down to one key battle: Sadio Mane against Tottenham’s defence. Mane has 11 goals in his last 11 games for Liverpool, and has picked up the slack while Salah has had his struggles.

It’s a surprise, in fact, that Mane isn’t getting much attention in the player of the year debates. While Van Dijk is the key player in Liverpool’s title charge and Raheem Sterling has been brilliant for City, Mane at least deserves to be in the conversation. There’s a case to be made that his goals have been nearly as crucial as Van Dijk’s defensive contributions.

On Sunday, he’ll be up against Kieran Trippier with Serge Aurier missing through injury. Trippier hasn’t had the best of seasons at right-back, a surprise after last summer’s World Cup, and a duel with Liverpool’s new main man is not the best time to try to hit top form.

It’ll be up to players like Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen to help Trippier out, with Mane’s movement likely to bring him into the orbit of the Tottenham centre-backs anyway. Given the form he’s been in, keeping him quiet will be crucial to Spurs’ hopes of getting something from this game.