Liverpool players outnumber Tottenham's seven to four in combined XI

Liverpool players outnumber Tottenham’s seven to four in our combined XI ahead of tonight’s clash, with Son Heung-min preferred to Sadio Mane… but who gets into the midfield and central defence?

  • Tottenham host Liverpool in the Premier League tonight at 8pm
  • Both have experienced dips in form, falling to sixth and fifth in the table
  • Sportsmail picks a combined XI from the players available to each manager
  • Seven Liverpool players are selected, with only four from Tottenham 

Tottenham and Liverpool couldn’t be much more evenly matched in terms of the Premier League table going into tonight’s clash between the two in north London.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are fifth, one point and one place ahead of Spurs, but Jose Mourinho’s side have a game in hand. Despite their patchy seasons so far, both teams are littered with superstars who would get into most teams.

Here, Sportsmail picks a combined XI of players from both Tottenham and Liverpool. We’ve only included players who are fit to play tonight, so that means no Virgil van Dijk or Joe Gomez for Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho embraces ahead of the reurn fixture at Anfield in December

Harry Kane is enjoying a fine season for Tottenham, both creating and scoring goals

Hugo Lloris is enjoying his best season for some time under Jose Mourinho, with Spurs’ defence the second-best in the Premier League with only 17 goals conceded. But for all Liverpool’s struggles this season, Alisson is still arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, combining brilliant shot-stopping with composure on the ball and flawless decision-making. He has only conceded 13 in 16 Premier League matches, with nine coming in the three he missed – including the 7-2 loss at Villa. 

Alisson is still arguably the best goalkeeper in the world despite Liverpool’s poor season so far 

RIGHT BACK: TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (LIVERPOOL)

There can be no doubting that Alexander-Arnold’s standards have slipped this season, along with Liverpool’s, but put simply you’d still have him in your team over Tottenham’s right backs Serge Aurier and Matt Doherty. Aurier has been more consistent this season, but did give away a trademark daft penalty against Leicester.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has not been at his best this season at right back for Liverpool

CENTRE BACK: TOBY ALDERWEIRELD (TOTTENHAM)

After two shoo-ins, here is where it gets interesting. Alderweireld is not guaranteed to start for Spurs tonight, with Davinson Sanchez and Joe Rodon enjoying increasing game-time of late, but with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both out with long-term knee injuries, we are turning to Tottenham’s centre backs rather than using the injury-prone Joel Matip or deploying Fabinho or Jordan Henderson at the back.

Toby Alderweireld (centre) is not guaranteed a start with Joe Rodon and Davinson Sanchez pushing him

CENTRE BACK: ERIC DIER (TOTTENHAM)

While Alderweireld’s place is up for debate, Dier’s certainly is not. The former Sporting Lisbon man has emerged as the mainstay of Jose Mourinho’s improving defence this season after moving back from midfield. Even if Gomez were fit, he would challenge his England team-mate for a place alongside Van Dijk. As it is, his leadership and organisational skills place him at the heart of this defence.  

Eric Dier has become the mainstay of Tottenham’s defence under Jose Mourinho

LEFT BACK: ANDY ROBERTSON (LIVERPOOL)

Unlike Trent on the opposited flank, Robertson has maintained his high levels of performance this season in a stuttering Liverpool side, contributing five assists and offering boundless energy on the left-hand side of the pitch. Sergio Reguilon has enjoyed an impressive start to his Spurs career but misses out through injury tonight, and his replacement Ben Davies is some way off Robertson’s level. 

Andy Robertson has had another fine season at left back despite Liverpool’s struggles

HOLDING MIDFIELD: FABINHO (LIVERPOOL)

So long has Fabinho been playing in defence now, it is easy to forget he is actually a defensive midfielder by trade – and a world class one at that. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has added much-needed grit to Spurs and was an option if Fabinho played at the back, but the Brazilian brings more dynamism and athleticism than the Dane. 

Fabinho has spent most of the season at centre back despite being a midfielder by trade

CENTRE MIDFIELD: JORDAN HENDERSON (LIVERPOOL)

The Liverpool captain is likely to operate in holding midfield tonight, and is equally adept there, but the energy, crossing ability and defensive protection he offers for Alexander-Arnold on the right of a midfield three have been missed by Jurgen Klopp this season. Moussa Sissoko has impressed for Spurs this season and is an option in the box-to-box role, but Henderson edges him out. 

Jordan Henderson has also had to play in defence and can operate as a holding midfielder

CENTRE MIDFIELD: THIAGO (LIVERPOOL)

The final midfield berth goes to the brilliant Spaniard, making it an all-Liverpool trio. How Jurgen Klopp would love to field them all together, but injuries and a reluctance to sign a centre back to free up Fabinho and Henderson from defence duties have prevented that. Tanguy Ndombele is beginning to blossom into the player Spurs hoped they had signed in 2019, but Thiago’s pedigree as one of the best midfielders in the world keeps him out of the team.

Thiago is in his first season at Liverpool after joining from European champions Bayern Munich

RIGHT WING: MO SALAH (LIVERPOOL)

It says all you need to know about Salah that he has had an indifferent season so far but is still top scorer in the Premier League. His selflishness can frustrate and he has been surprisingly inconsistent this season, but the Egyptian’s pace, finishing ability and general X-Factor means he would get into any XI he was eligible for. Gareth Bale can’t get in the Tottenham team, so has no chance of making this one.

Mo Salah (second left) is the top scorer in the Premier League with 13 goals this season

LEFT WING: SON HEUNG-MIN (TOTTENHAM)

Many Liverpool fans will disagree with this one as Sadio Mane is left out in favour of Tottenham’s South Korean. If you were looking at productivity over the last few years then Mane would probably edge this battle of the Premier League’s two best left wingers. But right now, this season, Son is a better player than Mane. He has scored 12 goals to Mane’s six and his finishing ability on either foot sets him apart.

Son Heung-min (right) has 12 goals from a left wing position for Spurs this season

STRIKER: HARRY KANE (TOTTENHAM) 

Once a close run thing between Roberto Firmino and the England captain, even the most biased Liverpool would surely take Kane now. He has even adapted his game to play in a style that would suit Liverpool, dropping deep to pick up the ball and play throughballs for the wide forwards to latch on to. Kane has scored 12 goals to Firmino’s five and has 11 assists to his three. No contest. 

Sportsmail’s combined XI of Liverpool and Tottenham players currently not injured




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