Tottenham vs Liverpool: Premier League Gameweek 17 Prediction & Preview

Tottenham Hotspur welcomes a surging Liverpool side to North London in a critical Premier League clash under the lights. Thomas Frank's Spurs are desperate to arrest a worrying slide that has seen them plummet to the bottom half of the table, coming off a disheartening 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. In stark contrast, Liverpool arrives in high spirits, unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions.

Match Details: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Showdown

• Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool
• Competition: Premier League (Gameweek 17, 2025/26 Season)
• Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
• Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
• Kick-Off: 8:30 PM EAT

Tottenham vs Liverpool Prediction: Can Depleted Spurs Halt the Red-Hot Reds?

The Tottenham vs Liverpool fixture is historically synonymous with drama and goals. While Liverpool thrashed Spurs 5-1 in their last meeting in April, the momentum has shifted drastically. Liverpool's 2-0 victory over their previous opponents fuelled by a brace from the red-hot Hugo Ekitike has them eyeing a European spot, while Tottenham's injury-ravaged squad faces a monumental task to salvage their season.

Premier League Standings: A Battle for European Relevance

Liverpool currently sits in 7th place with 26 points, steadily climbing the table after a shaky start. A win could catapult them into the top-six conversation. Tottenham, meanwhile, languishes in 11th with 22 points, just four points behind their opponents but seemingly miles away in terms of confidence and momentum.

Spurs vs Liverpool: Recent Form Analysis

Tottenham Form (Last 5 Games): L-D-W-W-L

• Recent Trend: Inconsistent
• Last Result: 0-3 Loss vs Nottingham Forest
• Concern: Thomas Frank's side has managed just one win in their last seven Premier League fixtures, highlighting a severe dip in domestic form

Liverpool Form (Last 5 Games): W-D-D-W-W

• Recent Trend: Unbeaten in 5 across all competitions (3W, 2D)
• Last Result: 2-0 Win (vs Previous Opponent)
• Key Factor: Momentum is building at the right time for the Reds, with the defense tightening up and Hugo Ekitike finding his scoring rhythm

Head-to-Head Record: Historic Premier League Rivalry

This fixture has always been a heavyweight contest. In 59 total matches played so far, Liverpool holds a significant historical advantage.

• Total Matches: 59
• Tottenham Wins: 14
• Liverpool Wins: 31
• Draws: 14

Recent History (Last 5 Meetings)

Liverpool has dominated recent exchanges, winning 4 of the last 5 encounters. However, Tottenham won the most recent battle emphatically:

• Last Meeting: Liverpool 5-1 Tottenham (April 27, 2025, Premier League)

Liverpool will hope to channel the spirit of that 5-1 thrashing, but repeating such a feat with their current form looks daunting.

Team News & Injury Updates: Spurs Decimated

Tottenham Injury Crisis

• Dejan Kulusevski: Knee Injury — Ruled Out
• James Maddison: Knee Injury — Ruled Out
• Radu Dragusin: Knee Injury — Ruled Out
• Takai: Foot Injury — Ruled Out
• Yves Bissouma: Knock — Ruled Out
• Dominic Solanke: Ankle Injury — Ruled Out
• Destiny Udogie: Hamstring — Ruled Out

Thomas Frank faces a nightmare selection scenario. The spine of his team is decimated, with key creator Maddison, primary striker Solanke, and energetic winger Kulusevski all sidelined. The absence of Udogie and Dragusin further weakens a defense that just leaked three goals to Forest. Responsibility will fall heavily on Richarlison and Brennan Johnson to carry the attack.

Liverpool Injury Report

• Jeremie Frimpong: Hamstring — Ruled Out
• Leoni: Knee Injury — Ruled Out
• Cody Gakpo: Muscle Injury — Ruled Out
• Wataru Endo: Ankle — Ruled Out
• Joe Gomez: Unspecified — Doubtful/Ruled Out

Liverpool is not without their own issues, missing the dynamism of Frimpong and Gakpo. However, their depth is superior. The absence of defensive cover in Gomez and Leoni is manageable given the form of their starters. Hugo Ekitike is expected to lead the line again after his Man of the Match performance last week.

Tactical Breakdown: What to Expect at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham: Patchwork Survival

With so many key injuries, Thomas Frank may be forced into a pragmatic approach.

• Formation: Likely a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3 depending on available defenders
• Strategy: Sit deeper than usual to protect the makeshift backline and look to hit Liverpool on the break using the pace of Johnson and Richarlison
• Key Battle: Spurs' midfield pivot (likely Palhinha/Bentancur) against Liverpool's press. Without Bissouma, Spurs are vulnerable to turnovers in central areas

Liverpool: Press and Pounce

Liverpool will smell blood given Spurs' defensive frailties.

• Formation: Standard 4-3-3
• Strategy: High pressing to exploit Spurs' lack of ball-playing confidence. Look to isolate Spurs' backup full-backs
• Key Player:Hugo Ekitike. The striker is in red-hot form and his pace will trouble a disjointed Spurs defense

Probable Starting Line-ups

Tottenham (4-2-3-1)

• GK: Vicario
• DEF: Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Davies
• MID: Palhinha, Bentancur
• AM: Johnson, Simons, Kolo Muani
• FWD: Richarlison

Liverpool (4-3-3)

• GK: Alisson
• DEF: Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk (C), Robertson
• MID: Mac Allister, Jones7, Gravenberch
• FWD: Szoboszlai, Ekitike, Writz

Tottenham vs Liverpool Final Score Prediction

The disparity in squad health is the deciding factor here. While Tottenham has home advantage, the absence of Maddison, Solanke, and Udogie rips the heart out of their attack and defense. Liverpool is flying high, unbeaten in five, and possesses a striker in Hugo Ekitike who is scoring for fun.

Spurs might fight valiantly for the first hour, but Liverpool's superior quality from the bench and sharper current form should see them take all three points comfortably.

Final Score: Tottenham 1-3 Liverpool

Betting Tips: Premier League Gameweek 17

• Liverpool to win
• Hugo Ekitike anytime goalscorer
• Over 2.5 Goals

Why This Premier League Match Matters

For Tottenham

Thomas Frank is under pressure. Falling further into the bottom half would be disastrous for a club of Spurs' stature. A win here would be a massive morale booster and could serve as the turning point to save their season despite the injury crisis.

For Liverpool

Consistency is key. After rising to 7th, Liverpool needs to maintain this unbeaten run to break into the Champions League places. A win against a "Big Six" rival, even a wounded one, sends a strong message that the Reds are back to their best.

Where to Watch Tottenham vs Liverpool

The match will be broadcast live globally. Check your local listings:

• UK: TNT Sports / Sky Sports
• USA: NBC / Peacock
• East Africa: SuperSport Premier League (Kick-off 20:30 EAT)

Match Preview Summary

Liverpool enters Gameweek 17 as the clear favorite against a Tottenham side ravaged by injuries. With Spurs missing seven first-team players including Solanke and Maddison, and Liverpool riding a 5-match unbeaten streak powered by Hugo Ekitike, an away victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium looks highly probable.

Stay tuned for live updates and final team sheets.