Liverpool had a commanding lead in the Premier League only a few weeks ago but must win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to guarantee keeping hold of the top spot through the weekend.
After a 2-0 victory over defending champion Manchester City to begin the month, Liverpool (11-1-3, 36 points) have drawn back-to-back league matches.
Up next: The Reds head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 👊🔴 #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/oq3ZE8W0W2
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 19, 2024
That, combined with three Chelsea victories and the postponement of Liverpool's derby match at Everton two weekends ago, has caused a lead of nine points to whittle to two over Chelsea.
And now Liverpool will face a Spurs team that has given its best performances against the giants of the English game, defeating Manchester City twice and Manchester United once, and losing by one goal against Arsenal and Chelsea.
"I have said we should only judge the table after 19 games when everyone has faced the same opponents," first-year Liverpool manager Arne Slot said. "Arsenal, for example, had a lot of red cards at the beginning of the season and dropped some points. We dropped points last weekend. Now we must face Tottenham."
Liverpool have kept seven Premier League clean sheets, but only one in their last four while allowing seven goals in that stretch.
In a 2-2 draw against visiting Fulham last weekend, the 10-man Reds came from a goal down twice, with Diogo Jota leveling for good in the 86th minute.
Slot's team will face a Tottenham side that has among the most dynamic Premier League attacks, even if critics believe that is sometimes to Spurs' detriment.
Spurs (7-7-2, 23 points) sit 10th in the EPL standings, but their 36 goals scored is the second-most in the league behind Chelsea, and their plus-17 goal differential is the league's third-best mark.
But high-scoring losses at Brighton and at home to Chelsea have prompted some to question Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou's aggressive tactical setup.
"You have to be prepared for scrutiny, you have to be prepared for criticism, and it's how you react to that, that is more important," Postecoglou said." I don't think one is any less credible than the other in many respects, but what I am saying is I don't need validity, and it won't change what I believe because what I believe is borne from a lifetime of experiences and values that I won't let anyone tamper with from the outside."
Spurs have nine goals in their last two games. James Maddison had a brace in a 5-0 league win over Southampton last weekend, and Dominic Solanke followed suit in a 4-3 victory over Manchester United in a League Cup quarterfinal in mid-week.