Liverpool and Spurs have had quite contrasting seasons to date. While the Reds started very strongly, the Lilywhites were not at their best until the latter weeks of 2016, and at that time Liverpool tailed off, notching just the one victory in the calendar year of 2017 so far.

Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino will be all too aware of the importance of this fixture, then. With Arsenal doing their 'Annual Arsenal' and both Manchester clubs looking strong again, dropped points will increase the questions about a potential top four finish. Whether Chelsea can be caught or not, Spurs currently look the team most likely to push them deep into the season, but even they are only four points away from fifth.

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Little can be decided by one match at this point in the season, however, Liverpool, in particular, could look back on this as a pivotal moment in their campaign. Spurs, meanwhile, will be happy with a draw, one would imagine.

Here are THREE duels that could define the match…

Harry Kane vs. Joel Matip

Britain Football Soccer - Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League - White Hart Lane - 14/1/17 Tottenham's Harry Kane celebrates scoring their first goal  Reuters / Dylan Martinez Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for

Despite the improvement in form from Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane remains the man to stop for Spurs. Even when he is not scoring, Kane is the focal point of the attack, manipulating the game with his back to goal and moving intelligently to create holes in the defence.

The Englishman is Spurs’ greatest goal threat, and in a team that is hardly laced with prolific finishers, he justifiably attracts all the defensive attention. Going head-to-head with Liverpool’s towering rock, Joel Matip, the winner of this exchange may well win the match.

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Full-back matchups

Britain Football Soccer - Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley - Premier League - White Hart Lane - 18/12/16 Tottenham's Danny Rose celebrates scoring their second goal with Kyle Walker Reuters / Dylan Martinez Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative

Tottenham and Liverpool rely on their full/wing-backs for width. Both teams look to overload centrally and create through the free movement of their attacking midfielders. For this to work effectively it requires space, that space must be created by the full-backs pushing up and providing a feasible passing option to stretch the play.

Whichever team can pin the opposition full-backs deepest will have the greatest offensive freedom as a result. Kyle Walker and Danny Rose are key outlets for Spurs when they have possession in the final third, so Liverpool must find a way to restrict their influence.

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Toby Alderweireld vs. Sadio Mane

Britain Football Soccer - Everton v Liverpool - Premier League - Goodison Park - 19/12/16 Liverpool's Sadio Mane scores their first goal  Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Spurs’ defence has looked significantly safer when Toby Alderweireld has been available, which is little surprise considering his status as one of the world’s best. While Liverpool have been blunt in attack of late, the return of fully fit Sadio Mane – who will be more rested after a week off – is expected to spark their forward into action.

Liverpool’s most direct attacking outlet against one of the best central defenders in the world is evidently going to be massive in this match. Whether Mane opts to drift wide on occasion or hang on the last defender, how Spurs deal with him could make or break Liverpool’s offensive moves.

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