This weekend, Liverpool will be asked to prove their title credentials in their first Big Six clash of the Premier League season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have made great strides since the German’s arrival and have been tipped as genuine challengers to Manchester City’s crown.
After opening the campaign with four straight victories, their perfect start has only raised expectations and on Saturday lunchtime they face their first big test.
Liverpool have won their opening four games of a league season for the first time since 1990-91 under Kenny Dalglish. In only two previous top-flight seasons have they won their opening five games (1990-91 and 1978-79).
Moreover, they have won their last five Premier League games – they haven’t won six in a row since an 11-game run in April 2014 under Brendan Rodgers during a season in which they finished in second place.
The rampant Reds only failed to score in one of their last 12 Premier League meetings with Tottenham and lost just one of their last 11, though that was a 4-1 defeat in this exact fixture last term.
And another goal fest looks likely: There have been 149 goals scored in Premier League meetings between Tottenham and Liverpool – Arsenal vs Everton is the only fixture to have seen more in the competition (151).
Goal
Mohamed Salah scored all three of Liverpool’s goals against Spurs in the Premier League last season and Roberto Firmino will pose a real threat, too – under Klopp, he has had a hand in 60 Premier League goals (37 goals, 23 assists), 15 more than any other Reds player.
Tottenham will be without captain Hugo Lloris and midfielder Dele Alli though injury, meaning the burden will be passed to the in-form Lucas Moura and striker Harry Kane.
And England international Kane has enjoyed facing Liverpool, having been directly involved in seven goals in seven Premier League appearances against them (five goals, two assists), including four in the last two.
Spurs, too, came into the season with real expectations after a transfer window that saw them hold on to every one of the stars.
If they are to make the next step this term, Mauricio Pochettino is well aware they need to start taking more points off their rivals.
Since the start of the 2014-15 season, only Arsenal (37) have won fewer more points in Premier League matches between the ‘big six’ sides than Spurs (54).
The stakes are high. The pressure is on.
