It really is a huge game for both Tottenham and Liverpool when they meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday evening. With one more round of Premier League action to go ahead of the World Cup after this weekend's fixtures, both will be looking to put themselves in the best possible position to attack the second part of the campaign.
Tottenham currently sit in third after 13 games, five points off league leaders Arsenal. Liverpool, on the other hand, are down in ninth and closer to the bottom three than the top four after a disastrous start to the term.
Jurgen Klopp's men have yet to win in five league games on the road in 2022/23, drawing two and losing three of their fixtures. Tottenham will be looking to inflict even more misery on the Merseyside club this weekend, although Antonio Conte will have to make do without a number of his key players.
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So who will be in his Tottenham XI on Sunday? Our Tottenham Hotspur reporters have named the teams they would like to see the Italian field against Liverpool.
Alasdair Gold - Tottenham Hotspur correspondent
Conte must work out how to put together a Spurs attack that will not contain Son Heung-min or Richarlison and will probably not have a fit enough Dejan Kulusevski to start. The Swede being back in training is great news for the Italian but for him to to be able to start a high intensity match against Liverpool after one and a half training sessions might be a step too far.
Lucas Moura is also still feeling pain with his tendon inflammation but Conte has asked if he can make himself available due to the lack of numbers.
The other decision for Conte is whether he sticks with a 3-4-3 or switches to a 3-5-2. The latter puts Harry Kane and Lucas together which isn't the most natural front duo. If Conte goes for the former formation then Ivan Perisic could move up into the left wing role of the front three with Ryan Sessegnon backing him up behind as the left wing-back, or they could also swap if need be.
In the other wing-back spot, the Tottenham boss might prefer the more defensive nature of Emerson Royal against Liverpool's attack to Matt Doherty.
Gold's team: Lloris; Dier, Lenglet, Davies; Emerson, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Lucas, Kane, Perisic
Rob Guest - Tottenham Hotspur reporter
Antonio Conte really has limited options when it comes to his attackers this weekend following Son Heung-min's injury in Marseille and question marks over Lucas Moura's fitness. However, the good news is that Dejan Kulusevski has returned to training and could take his place in the squad once again.
Many may see 3-5-2 as the way to go due to the lack of personnel up front, yet 3-4-3 may in fact be better as Conte really doesn't have the players available in attack to go with two strikers. That means Ivan Perisic moves further upfield and starts in the front three with Harry Kane, with Lucas then getting the nod as the boss has asked the player if he can make himself available.
Even if the player can play an hour that would be a major help, with Kulusevski and Bryan Gil then possibilities to come on from the bench if required. Perisic's change in position sees Ryan Sessegnon start at left wing-back and Emerson Royal come back in on the opposite flank after a good showing in midweek at Marseille.
As Conte stated that Rodrigo Bentancur is "much better" after coming off with a knock in France, the midfielder starts as usual alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The back three of Eric Dier, Clement Lenglet and Ben Davies remains in place with Cristian Romero unavailable.
Guest's team: Lloris; Dier, Lenglet, Davies; Emerson, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Lucas, Kane, Perisic
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