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Tottenham v Liverpool TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR and Liverpool are positioned next to each other in the Premiership table. The Londoners have been climbing steadily, and a victory here would put them level on points with the Merseysiders. But being the highest placed club with a negative goal difference, Martin Jol's side would need a clear seven-goal victory to leapfrog their opponents.
Both these clubs have scored the bulk of their points on home turf. The Merseysiders top the Premiership's "home" table with 26 points - 18 more than they've gained on their travels. Spurs have bagged 19 more points at home than away (25 at White Hart Lane, six on the road). The north Londoners have won their last 12 in League and Cup at the Lane - seven of which were in the Premiership.
Spurs have lost only one of the last nine home Premiership meetings against Liverpool. Since being on the wrong end of an 2-3 scoreline on 16 March 2003, the Londoners have won one and drawn the last two against the Reds at the Lane.
Jermain DEFOE is Tottenham's top scorer with 12 goals, six in the Premiership.
Goalkeeper Paul ROBINSON is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Tottenham's Premiership matches this term.
LIVERPOOL thought they had banished their away-day blues, but old habits die hard and their first two victories on the road this season have been followed by a 1-0 defeat at Blackburn on Boxing Day. It was the first goal the Anfield club had conceded in eight League outings. The reverse at Ewood Park also ended a seven-match unbeaten run in the Premiership and saw them drop from third to sixth. Victory at the Lane would put them back on course for a Champions League spot.
The Merseysiders have kept more clean sheets in this Premiership season that any other club, with the exception of Chelsea (10 each). Spurs have managed just four - no club has kept fewer than that.
The Reds are unbeaten in five Premiership meetings with Tottenham, winning the last two including this season's reverse fixture 3-0. That sets up the possibility of a third Premiership 'double' over the North Londoners and first since 2002-03.
Peter CROUCH is Liverpool's top scorer with nine goals.
If selected, CROUCH will be making his 50th Premiership appearance in a Liverpool shirt.
Tottenham : Robinson, Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, Lee, King, Assou-Ekotto, Davids, Huddlestone, Ziegler, Murphy, Malbranque, Tainio, Zokora, Lennon, Defoe, Keane, Berbatov, Mido.
Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Riise, Luis Garcia, Pennant, Gerrard, Zenden, Bellamy, Crouch, Kuyt, Fowler, Dudek, Guthrie, Hammill, Peltier.
REFEREESteve Bennett (Orpington, Kent)
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Liverpool
10 September 2005 - Ref: Howard Webb
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURELiverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
23 September 2006 - Ref: Howard Webb
Liverpool scorers: Gonzalez 63, Kuyt 73, Riise 89
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALSat Spurs only
League: Spurs 30 wins, Liverpool 18, Draws 15
Prem: Spurs 6 wins, Liverpool 3, Draws 5