In round 36 of the English Premier League, Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur will be the big-ticket match of the weekend. The title-chasing home team against the UEFA Champions League-hunting away side. It is a fixture that has the potential to be a classic as both teams come into the game with a lot to play for.
Jurgen Klopp has come a long way with this team. From making his debut in 2015 with the likes of Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Alberto Moreno and Divock Origi to now being seen as one of the greatest managers in Premier League history.
One League title, Champions League, League Cup, Club World Cup and FA Cup later, Klopp is looking to end his reign on a high with a second Premier League title.
News of his retirement at the end of the season took the football world, particularly the Liverpudlian fanbase by surprise. It felt sudden for many and it was a heartbreaking moment as a lot of fans thought he would go on for longer as the Reds coach but Klopp had other plans. The German felt like it was time to say goodbye while things were good rather than a forced exit due to poor form and an eventual sacking.
“ I will leave the club at the end of the season,” He said. “I can understand that that’s a shock for a lot of people at this moment when you hear it for the first time, but I can explain it – or at least try to explain it.
“I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.
“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now. I knew it already for longer that I would have to announce it at one point, but I am fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.”
Liverpool are and always has been, a club built on togetherness and an unrivaled passion for the game and Klopp was the perfect fit for the club’s ethos. From day one, the fans of the club took to him and he’s been a beacon of hope and a source of pride. He took the club back to the heights they once were at by playing a style of football that does the club justice.
With this heavy metal football, Jurgen Klopp took this proud football club back where it belonged and kept them there for nearly a decade. Despite the success Liverpool have enjoyed in recent seasons, it could be seen as unfortunate timing that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were also the top club in that time.
Securing over 90 points and not winning the title is a truly heartbreaking situation to experience but Jurgen Klopp was still able to make his time at Liverpool count. He will leave the club in a better place than it was when he arrived there all those years ago.
A fairytale ending would be fitting for all those involved but Manchester City and Arsenal are determined to ruin the dream and claim all the glory for themselves.
A match against Tottenham Hotspur this close to the end of the season is a tricky prospect because Spurs are a side that is very dangerous even though they are not without flaws.
Ange Postecoglu’s men started the season like a house on fire as they won nine and drew one out of their first 10 games. That early season momentum saw them attract deserved praise for the style of play and their bravery as a team but all that came to a screeching halt when they lost to Chelsea in early November.
Two red cards in the match to Destiny Udogie and Christian Romero as well as injuries to Micky Van De Ven and James Maddison destroyed their good momentum. They lost 4-2 at home in a game they scored first in and looked certain to win before chaos ensued.
Since then they have had a few ups and downs this season but a finish in the Champions League places is still a great achievement (maybe even an achievement because they lost Harry Kane) despite the hot start to the season.
Speaking to Sky Sports in March, the Australian manager credited his team for taking his ideas on board and also spoke about having to prove himself to the team he manages as well.
“It doesn’t matter how good the idea is if people don’t believe in me then they’re not likely to follow,” he told Sky Sports.
“I’ve never walked into a dressing room where my reputation preceded me to such an extent that I had people’s attention straight away, I’ve had to earn it.
“I’m just myself. I haven’t ever changed as a person. If you walk into a room and try to be something you’re not, dressing rooms in particular have a pretty quick way of sniffing that out.
“I enjoy the challenge of trying to get people to believe, I’ve said before – it’s not just about believing in an idea, it’s about believing in me.”
For the first time since Mauricio Pochettino was manager half a decade ago, Tottenham Hotspur has a manager who is willing to play on the front foot. It is a style that fits the identity of the club, similar to Klopp and Liverpool.
On Saturday, these teams will clash with Tottenham looking to do the double on Liverpool. With two games left in the season, this match could either end Liverpool’s title hopes or Tottenham’s top four push. The stakes for both teams couldn’t be higher.
Match tickets
This English Premier League match takes place on Saturday, 4th of May, 2024 with kick-off scheduled for 3 PM UK time. Liverpool vs Tottenham tickets are available for sale on the Liverpool website with registered members required to apply for tickets to be included in the ballot and season ticket holders given priority allocation.
With the season winding down, tickets for this fixture will no doubt sell out fast due to its importance. With this being Klopp’s last hurrah as the Reds manager, it will be difficult to find any empty seats during Liverpool’s home games from now until the end of the season.
Team news
When you look at the amount of injuries that Liverpool has suffered this season, their ability to compete on different fronts at this stage of the season looks even more impressive.
Apart from Joel Matip who is out for the remainder of the season, Allison Becker, Ben Doak, Andrew Robertson, Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Stefan Badjetic, Thiago Alcantara and Trent Alexander-Arnold are currently sidelined.
For Tottenham, Ryan Sessegnon, Alfie Whiteman, Fraser Forster and Manor Solomon will be unavailable.
Line-ups
Although they have been plagued with injuries this season, the Reds still boast of one of the best squads in the League. They will believe they have the quality to beat the Spurs and continue their march towards the title.
Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Joe Gomez; Endo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
Spurs have had their fair share of injury issues this season but it looks like that storm has passed and they can play with their best players again.
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van De Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr,; Kulusevski, Maddison, Wener; Son.
Prediction
This match promises to be a pulsating affair between two attacking sides with action happening from end to end. With the stakes and the style of play for both clubs, it is the type of game that could be known as a Premier League classic when the 90 minutes are up.
Liverpool 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur
