Two marksmen who hold the key
KANE, SALAH CATALYSTS IN TEAMS’ HOPES Liverpool are still smarting from their 4-1 defeat to Spurs.
The two most prolific marksmen in the Premier League this season will meet tomorrow as Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur in a game that could prove decisive in the increasingly tight battle to finish in the top four.
With only five points separating Manchester United in second and Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs in fifth, the fight for Champions League qualification has rarely been so intense.
Victory for third-placed Liverpool at Anfield would open up a five-point gap on Tottenham, a healthy buffer for Juergen Klopp’s team who have lost only once in 16 league games.
A win for the visitors, however, would catapult them into the coveted Champions League places ahead of their opponents.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Tottenham’s Harry Kane have bagged 40 league goals between them this season, with the Spurs striker having scored 21 times to lead the battle for the Golden Boot by two over Salah.
Kane is a familiar presence at the top of the scoring charts yet Salah’s impact since signing from AS Roma in the summer has been a revelation.
Both were on target when the sides met at Wembley in October, a 4-1 victory for Spurs that marked a watershed moment for Liverpool who then began a 14-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
That ended with a surprise defeat by relegation strugglers Swansea City, although they rebounded with a 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town on Tuesday.
Tottenham will fancy their chances and will come into the game on a high, having comfortably beaten Manchester United 2-0 at Wembley on Wednesday.
That was a rare occasion when Kane failed to score, but the striker enjoys playing against Liverpool and has contributed four goals and two assists in his last six league appearances against the Merseyside club.
Manchester United host Huddersfield today looking to bounce back from their Wembley defeat where manager Jose Mourinho lamented “ridiculous” defensive errors.
Chelsea also suffered an embarrassing setback in midweek, losing 3-0 at home to Bournemouth, sparking further media speculation about manager Antonio Conte’s future and making Monday’s trip to Watford all the more important.
At the top of the table, however, all remains serene for Manchester City, who hold a 15-point lead and visit a Burnley side who have not won in their last eight league matches. –
Today:
Burnley v Manchester City, Bournemouth v Stoke, Brighton v West Ham, Leicester v Swansea, Manchester United v Huddersfield, West Brom v Southampton, Arsenal v Everton.
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United, Liverpool v Tottenham.
Tomorrow: Monday:
Watford v Chelsea.