There are positives for Spurs which give fresh optimism after recent recovery time and injury news giving manager Thomas Frank some selection options ahead of the festive blockbuster.

Spurs arrive having struggled for wins this season, with just one victory in their past seven league games and heavy defeats leaving fans frustrated. Frank admitted earlier this week that turning around Tottenham's fortunes would not be "a quick fix" after a 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest highlighted the team's vulnerabilities.

With eight players unavailable, Spurs will again be without key midfielders Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma, who are away representing Senegal and Mali at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, and injuries rule out James Maddison, Destiny Udogie, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski.

Frank has said he still believes in his squad's ability to respond, and with attacking options such as Mohammed Kudus available, having missed out on AFCON qualification with Ghana, Spurs may look to add pace and creativity in midfield alongside Xavi Simons and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Liverpool's Midfield and Defensive Decisions Could Shape the Game

Liverpool arrive in better collective form, unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, including a 2-0 win over Brighton last time out that showcased improved defensive stability. Manager Arne Slot has described the clean sheets and momentum as "something to build on" as his side target a top-four push.

However, the Reds are not without selection concerns. Mohamed Salah will miss the trip to north London after leaving to join Egypt at AFCON, and Liverpool's injury list still features Joe Gomez and Dominik Szoboszlai as doubts after knocks picked up in recent games, with fitness checks on Szoboszlai expected close to kick-off.

Despite those issues, Slot can call on returning figures such as Conor Bradley, who was unavailable through suspension last weekend, and the expected return of Federico Chiesa from illness provides some attacking options.

History, Stakes and What's at Play

This fixture remains one of the Premier League's most entertaining match-ups, with Liverpool dominating recent meetings and historic head-to-head records favouring the visitors. Spurs last beat Liverpool in the league in September 2023, and recent encounters have produced high-scoring affairs that underline the attacking threat both teams possess when fully staffed.

With Spurs eager to arrest their dip and Liverpool looking to build on their unbeaten run, Saturday's clash promises to be intense and unpredictable.

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