Liverpool will look to grab the pole
position on the Premier League points table as they visit Tottenham Hotspur on
Sunday afternoon. Liverpool defeated Newcastle United on Wednesday for their
sixth straight Premier League win and they are currently trailing by one point
behind league toppers Manchester City.

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This will be, meanwhile, Tottenham’s first
match in two weeks after the club was hit by COVID-19. Tottenham last played
against Rennes. Their matches against Brighton and Leicester were postponed due
to an outbreak in the first-team squad.

Ravaged by the latest surge in COVID-19
positive cases in the UK, Liverpool also had to send Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho
and Curtis Jones to isolation before the match against Newcastle.

Also Read: Premier League: Chelsea held 1-1 by Everton, drops more points in title race

Antonio Conte is worried
about Tottenham’s fitness

Ahead of Sunday’s crucial tie, Tottenham
coach Antonio Conte said it will take time to regain match
fitness for his players after their COVID-enforced break.

Nine of Conte’s players were forced to go
into isolation after testing positive and, although he is set to have the majority
available on Sunday, the Italian said they are only likely to be fit enough for
a place on the bench.

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“They need time to be fit,” he told
reporters on Friday.

“Before picking the starting XI you have to
take into consideration all of this. For instance, to start with one player and
after 60 or 70 minutes change him with one player who had Covid. In this
situation, it’s important to have patience and take the right risk.”

Giovani Lo Celso possible starter

Giovani Lo Celso could start for the first
time under Conte after returning to training midweek following a knee injury,
while Sergio Reguilon was expected to rejoin the group on Saturday although may
not be deemed ready to start. Reguilon was forced off with a knock in Spurs’
last game, the 3-0 win over Norwich.

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“Until today, Sergio trained apart [from
the group] but he’s ready to have the training session with us tomorrow and the
player is comfortable to be back in training with us,” Conte said.

“I hope that tomorrow he’s totally
recovered but today Sergio was happy. His feeling was good.

Conte likely has a decision to make between
Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon in the back three as Spurs look to contain
Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah.

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The head coach has said the COVID situation
could be a “big opportunity” for his much-maligned fringe to shine and Harry
Winks, Tanguy Ndombele, Ryan Sessegnon and Steven Bergwijn are pushing for a
rare league start.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp’s rampaging Liverpool have enjoyed a blistering campaign so far, losing just one of their 25 matches
across all competitions this term (winning 20 of them).

Also Read: Manchester City ruthless, Leeds woeful in 7-0 Premier League rout

Tottenham Spurs predicted XI: Hugo Lloris
(G), Tanganga, Dier, Sanchez; Royal, Winks, Ndombele, Sessegnon; Bergwijn, Lo
Celso Kane

Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson (GK), Trent
Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson, Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, Mohamed Salah, Diogo
Jota, Sadio Mane