Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur will approach Saturday's match at Anfield like a final as they continue their hunt for the Premier League title.
Mauricio Pochettino's side are currently five points behind leaders Leicester City with seven games left to play.
Liverpool have a different objective as they are ninth in the standings, seven points behind a Champions League spot, with nine league games left in their schedule.
Klopp believes that the pressure is on Spurs to keep their title challenge alive, and while there are 17 points between them, the Reds are unbeaten in their last six games against the North London club.
"We are looking forward to a really, really important game for both sides," Klopp told reporters in Friday's press conference. "Maybe for Tottenham it is something like a final, only if they lose, so they have to win it to make pressure on Leicester.
"Usually it is not important to think about the situation of the other team but, in this special case, I think it makes sense to think about and know about it. That means it's a final and we have to be ready."
Liverpool's winning run in the top flight stopped at three games prior to the international break when they lost 3-2 to Southampton at St Mary's, while Spurs are unbeaten in their last three league fixtures.
Danielle Joynson
