Marquee matchup: Liverpool has to can Can for Tottenham visit

In a season where each of the top six has lurched into various degrees of crisis, Arsenal and Liverpool have been showing their soft underbellies in the last week or so.

Nevertheless, in spite of the alleged fatigue or lack of a plan B hampering Jurgen Klopp's work, the Reds have the best record against the other five around them - winning three and drawing four - and has the chance for a statement victory in Saturday's visit from Tottenham Hotspur.

But Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs haven't lost since Dec. 11, and have the ability to shift pieces around in the lineup if things aren't working.

It could be a captivating tactical tussle at Anfield.

Injuries and suspensions

Klopp sweats on the availability of Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan for the test - because he definitely doesn't want Lucas Leiva playing at centre-half. Adam Lallana is another doubt.

Danny Rose and Jan Vertonghen are long term and costly absentees for Spurs. Kieran Trippier should make the bench.

Projected lineups

Liverpool starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Matip, Klavan, Milner; Lallana, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mane, Firmino, Coutinho

Tottenham starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Dier, Alderweireld, Davies; Wanyama, Dembele; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane

What to watch

Pochettino has enjoyed some success with a back three lately, and deploys it in a similar fashion to Antonio Conte at Chelsea. Toby Alderweireld is Tottenham's David Luiz: given license to stride forward and spring a pass.

With Liverpool's propensity to press, long balls over the top could work in exploiting gaps behind the defence or between Jordan Henderson and the central defensive pairing, but it may be a better idea to lace them from a defensive quartet.

While Klopp stubbornly adheres to his gegenpressing philosophy and seldom leaves the 4-3-3 shape, Pochettino is a more flexible and reactive tactician so will look to exploit areas he views susceptible in the Reds' ranks.

Through the bunching that can occur in a three-man midfield - playing either side of a middle trio is one of the toughest on-pitch jobs in football - Tottenham could rapidly bypass this with Kyle Walker starting in an adventurous role on the right of a flat four. There he would face James Milner, an auxiliary left-back not particularly blessed with pace, and would be the odds-on favourite to reach the byline and knock in a cross. Klopp doesn't have any better alternatives at left-back, unless he wants to ditch that position altogether by fielding the positionally inept and invariably erratic Alberto Moreno there.

And Tottenham is the away side after all, so to crowd the middle and soak up pressure for long periods - just as Hull City did in its surprise 2-0 defeat of Liverpool last week - wouldn't be out the question, and unleashing Walker could be devastating on the counter-attack. It would also mean Ben Davies, a natural at left-back or on the left of a back three, isn't tasked with being a wing-back, and can ensure Spurs' backline isn't outnumbered.

To combat Spurs and try to nick the ascendancy in the weekend squabble, Klopp would then be tempted to look to the left flank on speedy attacks. It could work, particularly if Philippe Coutinho is on song, but the German should also refer to what Manchester City did in the first half of Tottenham's fortunate 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium last month.

Guardiola's blueprint took both Klopp's preferred 4-3-3 setup and his love of a heavy press. The Spaniard's full-backs were on the toes of Walker and Danny Rose (who were wing-backs that afternoon) and the front three of Leroy Sane, Sergio Aguero, and Raheem Sterling harried and won themselves 3-on-3 situations. If Klopp quickens things up and uses the further corners of the pitch, he can have success at Anfield.

This plan could still work if Pochettino favours a back four too, because it'll often be sculpted into a three when countered due to Walker's attacking and Davies likely to be a less offensively-minded full-back.

For these swift surges to happen, however, Emre Can and Henderson can no longer play together. They are the funeral procession of the breathless and enthralling stuff Liverpool was showcasing earlier in the campaign.

"At the moment, Henderson and Can get the ball and they get rid of it straight away. Sometimes they pass it forward, but a lot of the time it goes sideways," Mark Lawrenson explained in his preview for BBC Sport.

"It is too safe, and it means the team moves the ball too slowly and often takes too many touches as well.

"That gives the opposition time to regroup and get organised, which is why they are not bothered when Liverpool dominate possession."

(All photos courtesy: Reuters)

There's only one winner between this pair, and that's the captain. Henderson would be more alert to nipping at Mousa Dembele too; before the Belgian floats into dangerous territory.

Liverpool will be widely written off for this contest, but does Tottenham managing just one goal in its previous matches against Sunderland and Middlesbrough predate Pochettino's time for crisis?