Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool: Spurs Under Pressure, The Reds Come with Winning Momentum

JAKARTA - Tottenham Hotspur will host Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, December 20 local time in a big match Premier League match that is full of pressure, especially for the hosts. This match brings together Spurs whose performance has declined again with Liverpool who are slowly finding rhythm, despite being hit by problems off the field and the absence of several key players.

Tottenham had actually shown signs of revival under Thomas Frank. A dramatic draw against Newcastle United was followed by a convincing home win over Brentford and Slavia Prague had given hope that Spurs were starting to stabilize. However, that optimism collapsed completely last week at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest beat Spurs 3-0 in a game that felt like an emergency alarm. Ibrahim Sangare and Callum Hudson-Odoi played as if the tutorial mode was turned off, with a combination of three goals and three assists that exposed the fragility of the Spurs' game structure. The defeat was the third in the last five Premier League games and left Tottenham stranded in the middle of the table, six points from the fourth place that is the limit of the Champions League zone.

The pressure on Thomas Frank is inevitable. Although management is said to still provide support, there is internal unrest that is difficult to cover. This match even has the potential to record a dark history. If they lose, Spurs will swallow their 11th home defeat in the Premier League throughout 2025, the most in a calendar year in the club's history. Statistics that do not want to be displayed in the club's museum.

On the other hand, Liverpool comes with a more complex story. The last two weeks have been filled with drama off the pitch, but it all faded a bit when they beat Brighton 2-0 last weekend. Mohamed Salah, who is no longer a regular starter, stole the spotlight again with his historic assist for Hugo Ekitike's second goal. That contribution made Salah record 277 goal contributions in the Premier League for one club, a new record that is difficult for anyone to touch in the near future.

Now Salah has left to strengthen Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations. Ironically, Liverpool is unbeaten in five games since the icon is no longer a starter. Arne Slot seems to be finding a new formula, although Liverpool is still in seventh place and not completely consistent, especially when playing away.

Away records are indeed a stumbling block. Since the start of last season, only Bournemouth have conceded more goals away from home than Liverpool. However, the 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League signaled that the Reds are starting to be more pragmatic outside Anfield.

Liverpool also have a psychological advantage over Spurs. The last two meetings have always been won by The Reds with a striking aggregate of 9-1, including a crushing 5-1 victory in April 2025 which also secured the title. The wound has not fully healed in North London.

In terms of team news, Tottenham have lost quite a few options in midfield. Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma are defending Senegal and Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations, although Bissouma has previously been absent due to injury and disciplinary issues. The injury crisis has also not eased, with Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Destiny Udogie, and James Maddison still sidelined.

Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai are starting to train again and could be available soon, but this match is likely to come too soon. In midfield, Joao Palhinha and Lucas Bergvall have a chance to appear from the start after Rodrigo Bentancur and Archie Gray's less convincing performance last week.

Liverpool are also not entirely free of problems. Dominik Szoboszlai is doubtful after suffering an ankle injury against Brighton, a bad news considering his vital role this season. Joe Gomez must also be absent due to a muscle injury, although Conor Bradley is back from suspension and ready to fill the right back position.

Jeremie Frimpong has a chance to return to the pitch, while Wataru Endo, Cody Gakpo, and Giovanni Leoni are confirmed to be absent. Despite losing Salah and possibly Szoboszlai, Liverpool's squad depth is still enough to keep the team balanced.

Historically, Tottenham vs Liverpool is a match that almost always promises goals. A total of 206 goals have been created in the Premier League, the most compared to other duels. However, with the current condition of both teams, this match is expected not to be as brutal as last season.

Tottenham still struggles to build an attack from the bottom and often loses structure when pressed. Liverpool, although not perfect, looks more stable and knows when to play safely. With all these factors, the slight advantage leans towards the visiting team.

The score prediction points to a 2-1 Liverpool victory over Tottenham Hotspur, a result that could extend the defending champions' positive trend and add a big pressure on Thomas Frank's shoulders ahead of Christmas.

Predicted Starting XI

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bergvall; Kudus, Simons, Kolo Muani; Richarlison

Liverpool: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Chiesa, Jones, Wirtz; Ekitike