Liverpool hope to turn around their recent slip at the top of the Premier League table as they visit London to face Tottenham on Sunday.
The Reds sit atop both the league standings and the Champions League table in an explosive first season for Arne Slot. It's been over three months since their only loss of the season, but they have drawn each of their last two in Premier League play, seeing the lead slim to just two points, albeit with a game in hand.
Add in the harder-than-expected 90 minutes in victory over Southampton in the EFL Cup midweek, and there's worry that a blip could become a trend with a few more poor performances.
BET NOW:Latest odds for Premier League games and best bets for the Tottenham vs. Liverpool match on BetMGM
Tottenham, meanwhile, have shown little consistency at all this season as they sit 11th in the table. They smashed Southampton in their last league game, but made life difficult on themselves in a mistake-filled win over Man United in the League Cup on Thursday.
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Tottenham vs. Liverpool prediction, odds
Moneyline lean: Liverpool (-135 on BetMGM)
Score prediction: Tottenham 1-3 Liverpool
The Reds don't look quite as dominant as they were earlier in the season, but they are quite clearly good enough to punish Spurs for the many mistakes they make week-in and week-out. Ange Postecoglou's inability to sway from his style of play despite his team's frailties will give Liverpool a number of opportunities to capitalize on throughout the 90 minutes.
Spurs have been strong in the attacking third too, and they should be able to beat Alisson to make the game competitive, but in the end they just aren't at the necessary level to take points off the league leaders.
BetMGM
(USA)Tottenham win+310Draw+320Liverpool win-135Both teams
to scoreY: -300
N: +210Over / Under
U: +100Liverpool
-0.5 goals-145Tottenham
+0.5 goals+105
Tottenham vs. Liverpool match facts
Date: Sunday, December 22, 2024
Kickoff Time: 4:30 p.m. local (11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT)
Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, England)
Referee: Sam Barrett, VAR: Paul Tierney
Last meeting: Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham (May 5, 2024 | Premier League)
Tottenham vs. Liverpool best bet
Pick: Liverpool 18+ total shots
Odds: -110 on FanDuel
This would usually be an extremely high bar to clear, but for the league leaders against one of the most chaotic teams in England, it's a no-brainer.
Tottenham, with their injury-riddled back line, have conceded 12 or more shots in all but two of their last eight Premier League games, with both single-digit defensive efforts coming against relegation opponents. They gave up 17 to Chelsea, 21 to Bournemouth, 23 to Manchester City, and 14 to Fulham across that span, plus 20 to a rotated Manchester United side midweek in the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have put up at least 16 shots in each of their last four league games and got past 18 in two of those, as they've ramped up the attacking pressure in recent weeks. The Reds also saw themselves not just past 18 shots in both of last season's meetings, but actually beat the 20-shot mark in both games. Fraser Forster will be under siege.
Tottenham vs. Liverpool prop bet
Pick: Cody Gakpo anytime goal scorer
Odds: +150 on BetMGM
As Darwin Nunez struggles for finishing form, Cody Gakpo has muscled his way into the starting lineup, and has delivered exactly what the Reds needed opposite Mohamed Salah.
With the Egyptian superstar receiving more and more attention from opposition defenses, Gakpo has been able to exploit the extra space in the attacking third. He has a history against Spurs, with a goal in each of their two Premier League meetings last season, and he's in good form at the moment as well with three goals in his last five Premier League starts.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have been so committed to forcing Ange Postecoglou's system that they fail to adapt to their opponents as necessary. Pedro Porro was caught high up the pitch numerous times against Manchester United, which allowed Bruno Fernandes to take advantage against a scrambling Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray. There will be acres of room for Gakpo to operate, just like he capitalized on against Fulham last time out against Kenny Tete.