You Bet | Liverpool look vulnerable at home to Tottenham Hotspur, but Reds often show their true colours against the big boys
Juergen Klopp’s side are on a five-match winless run in the Premier League since the start of 2017, but are unbeaten in seven against the other members of the big six
Two huge matches at opposite ends of the table dominate the English Premier League this weekend, with Liverpool at home to Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City hosting Leicester City in a big relegation clash.
On current form Liverpool, having started the season as serious title contenders, look vulnerable against Tottenham as Juergen Klopp’s side have slid to fifth place with a five-match winless run since the start of 2017 that has included defeats by relegation battlers Swansea and Hull City.
That period has also seen them dumped out of both domestic cup competitions and their only victory in 10 matches in all competitions in 2017 was an FA Cup replay win at League Two side Plymouth Argyle after a goalless draw at home.
Squad rotation played some part in the lower-level performances in the cups, but essentially the past few weeks have provided further evidence of Liverpool’s problems with breaking down massed defences.
Their early season 2-0 defeat at Burnley looks better in hindsight with Sean Dyche’s team ranked third on home form, but Liverpool had 80 per cent of the possession that day and were unable to score. There were similarities in last week’s 2-0 loss at Hull, where Klopp’s side had 72 per cent of the possession and won the corner count 15-1, but were undone by a well-organised team that defended in depth and hit them on the break.