Preview: Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to complete a blistering week, that has seen them down North London rivals Arsenal to move closer to a Champions-League finish and thrash Italian giants Inter Milan to all-but guarantee a place in the Europa League quarter-finals, when they visit Liverpool on Sunday.

Spurs also boast a strong recent record against the Reds, having won four of the last five meetings between the two sides, including a 2-1 win in the November reverse when star man Gareth Bale scored at both ends.

Bale's form has risen exponentially since the turn of the year and has scored seven goals in the last five league games.

The Welshman has taken up a more central role in recent weeks and that has seen Gylfi Sigurdsson and Lewis Holtby battling for a place in the side. The former started against Inter on Thursday so Holtby could be given the starting nod at Anfield.

Up front, Jermain Defoe made his first start for a month against Inter but is likely to move to the bench as Emmanuel Adebayor returns.

Hosts Liverpool are able to welcome back forward Daniel Sturridge for his first appearance since February 17. The Englishman is likely to go straight into the starting lineup alongside Premier League leading scorer Luis Suarez.

Martin Skrtel is also available after injury but the Slovak was being kept out by Jamie Carragher before injury so should return to the bench.

Victory for the Reds would move them level on points with Merseyside rivals Everton.

Recent form

Liverpool: WWWLLD

Spurs: WWWDWW

Possible starting lineups

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard; Downing, Sturridge, Coutinho; Suarez

Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Caulker, Vertonghen; Lennon, Parker, Dembele, Holtby; Bale; Adebayor

Sports Mole says: 2-3