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Premier League | Gameweek 32
Mar 31, 2019 at 4.30pm UK
 
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2-1

Firmino (16'), Alderweireld (90' og.)
FT(HT: 1-0)
Moura (70')

Combined XI: Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Ahead of Sunday's Premier League meeting between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, Sports Mole selects a strongest combined XI from both squads.

Liverpool welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield on Sunday afternoon in this weekend's standout Premier League fixture.

The Reds are 15 points better off than their opponents, having played a game more, and they have lost just one of their last 24 home Premier League games against Spurs.

Only title favourites Manchester city (19) have won more points than Liverpool (13) in top-flight meetings between the big six this season, meanwhile, and Manchester United (six) are the only side with fewer points than Tottenham (seven) in such matches.

Spurs still have a number of world-class talents in their ranks, but how many of them would make it into Liverpool's starting lineup?

Here, Sports Mole selects its strongest combined XI from both squads, using only players available this weekend.


Combined XI for Liverpool and Tottenham

Liverpool snapped up Alisson Becker for a then-record £67m fee for a goalkeeper, surpassed a few weeks later by Kepa Arrizabalaga's switch to Chelsea, and the Brazilian has more than justified his price tag. Alisson leads the way in terms of clean sheets this season, keeping 17 in all, compared to nine for opposite number Hugo Lloris.

Tottenham are blessed in terms of their squad depth at full-back, but Kieran Trippier has regressed since the World Cup, whereas Trent Alexander-Arnold has gone from strength to strength. The same is perhaps true of Danny Rose and Ben Davies, who do not offer as much as Andrew Robertson - quite possibly the finest player in his position anywhere on the continent right now.

One of the first names on the team sheet has got to be Virgil van Dijk, who is another player to have lived up to his billing during his first 14 months an Anfield. It says a lot about Van Dijk that he has even managed to make Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip look like top-class performers, but neither of those - nor the injured Joe Gomez - can match Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez or Jan Vertonghen for quality. As for our hybrid side, it is the latter who gets the nod.

Jurgen Klopp has a number of midfield options to choose from, but this is perhaps an area where they are lacking compared to Man City. Christian Eriksen would be the ideal type of player to slot into midfield and pull the strings, being used alongside two shielding midfielders in Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum, who have started 43 Premier League games between them this term.

There is a tough decision to be made up top as, despite Roberto Firmino's undoubted talents, he is not in great form at the moment and Harry Kane can offer this side so much more, essentially doing the same job by dropping into the hole. The attack certainly does not lack creativity, with Mohamed Salah - despite dropping off slightly this term compared to last season - and in-form forward Sadio Mane also included.

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Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold pictured in January 2019
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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