Arguably the Premier League game of the weekend will take place at White Hart Lane on Saturday afternoon as Tottenham Hotspur welcome Liverpool in the early kickoff.
Spurs have collected four points from their two league matches this term, while Liverpool have three after following a 4-3 victory at Arsenal with a 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Burnley last weekend.
Tottenham
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Tottenham ultimately fell short in their Premier League title challenge last season, but they are realistically one of six teams that will feel that they are capable of lifting the crown at the end of the 2016-17 campaign.
Mauricio Pochettino's side opened their league season with a 1-1 draw at Everton after an Erik Lamela header cancelled out an early free kick from Ross Barkley. It was a solid start to the new campaign, but their first victory arrived last weekend as summer signing Victor Wanyama scored the winner in a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
It was far from convincing against a Palace side that have struggled in the early stages of the campaign, but it was important to put three points on the board ahead of what is potentially a slippery few weeks in the Premier League. Indeed, they follow this match with a trip to Stoke City after the international break, before hosting struggling Sunderland and visiting in-form Middlesbrough towards the end of September.
Somewhat surprisingly, victory for Tottenham against Liverpool would give the capital side their best start to a league season since the 2009-10 campaign, when they won their opening four league matches. In what looks set to be a bitter challenge for the Champions League positions, every dropped point at this stage could prove crucial.
Spurs won 10 of their 19 home Premier League games last season, but they were held to nine draws and Leicester, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City all performed better on home soil. Away from home, however, Pochettino's side had the second best record behind Leicester - collecting 34 points from 19 matches.
It appears that Pochettino is desperate to boost his squad before the transfer window slams shut next week, and Palace's Wilfried Zaha is the latest name to be linked with White Hart Lane. For now though the attention must be on Liverpool, who have a brilliant recent record against the team from the English capital.
Recent form: WW
Liverpool
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With no European football at Anfield this season, many are predicting Liverpool to enjoy a successful Premier League campaign. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp has now had a full summer to bring in his own players and there have been signs of positivity in the early weeks of the season - winning two of their three games in all competitions.
The Merseyside outfit opened their league season with an impressive 4-3 victory at Arsenal on the opening weekend and travelled to Burnley last weekend looking to make it six points from a possible six. It was supposed to be a banker for the Reds, who had 80% of the possession and dominated the contest for long spells. The scoreline did not reflect their superiority, however, as goals from Sam Vokes and Andre Gray secured a 2-0 victory for the home team.
It was much better for Liverpool during the week, however, as they booked their spot in the third round of the League Cup with a 5-0 victory at Burton Albion in a match that saw Daniel Sturridge come off the bench to grab a brace.
Liverpool might have reached the final of the League Cup and Europa League last season, but they finished eighth in the Premier League after losing 10 of their 38 matches and drawing 12 times in the process. There is no getting away from the fact that it was a poor league campaign and the board will be expecting improvement this time around.
Liverpool's away record during the 2015-16 Premier League was pretty mixed – winning eight of their 19 matches, drawing four and suffering seven defeats. This will actually be their fourth straight away fixture this season as they wait for the expansion work on their new main stand at Anfield to be completed.
The Reds have also only kept two clean sheets in their last 13 top-flight games, conceding 19 times in the process. Klopp has put together a team that will always score goals, but there are still big question marks over their ability to shut teams out and it will be interesting to see whether defensive reinforcements arrive before the end of the transfer window.
In terms of what is ahead for Liverpool, they will host defending champions Leicester in their first match after the international break on September 10, before travelling to Chelsea on September 16. They will then travel to Derby County in the third round of the League Cup ahead of hosting Hull City in the league.
Recent form: WL
Recent form (all competitions): WLW
Team News
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Tottenham boss Pochettino revealed in his pre-match press conference that first-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was still out with a hamstring problem, but the Argentine otherwise has a fully-fit squad.
Mousa Dembele will once again be suspended, however, which is likely to see summer signing Wanyama continue in the middle of the park alongside England international Eric Dier.
Further forward, Dele Alli is expected to return to the starting XI, which could see Vincent Janssen drop to the bench and Harry Kane, who has never scored a Premier League goal in the month of August, pushed into a striking position.
As for Liverpool, both Emre Can and Divock Origi are doubts after picking up injuries in the victory over Burton on Tuesday night, but Sadio Mane had no adverse reaction to a shoulder problem and will start in the final third.
Sturridge is also expected to return to the starting XI, while James Milner could continue at left-back ahead of Alberto Moreno, who has drawn criticism following his performance at Arsenal on the opening weekend.
Tottenham possible starting lineup:
Vorm; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Dier; Lamela, Alli, Eriksen; Kane
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner; Lallana, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Sturridge, Firmino, Coutinho
Head To Head
Tottenham are without a win in their last seven Premier League meetings with Liverpool, losing five times in the process. What's more, Liverpool have scored 19 times in their seven-game unbeaten run against the London club, averaging 2.7 goals per game. That said, last season, both league matches finished level - 0-0 at White Hart Lane and 1-1 at Anfield.
In total, these two clubs have locked horns on 165 occasions. Liverpool have won 78 of those matches, Tottenham 47 and the remaining 40 have finished level.
It is a rivalry that dates back to November 1909, when Tottenham recorded a 1-0 victory on home surf in League Division One. Recent years have belonged to Liverpool though and the Reds have not lost at White Hart Lane in the Premier League since November 2012.
We say: Tottenham 2-2 Liverpool
Liverpool have an impressive recent record against Spurs and will enter Saturday's clash full of confidence following a strong victory at Burton in the League Cup. It should be an open and expansive fixture at White Hart Lane and we are finding it difficult to separate the two teams once again. An entertaining score draw.
Matt Law
