Tottenham Hotspur welcome Liverpool to Wembley on Sunday looking to gain further ground on the Reds in the race for a Champions League spot this season.

Mauricio Pochettino's side currently sit third in the Premier League table, four points above Liverpool, who are languishing down in eighth place having won just one of their last five league outings.

Liverpool, however, have a fine record against their direct rivals under Jurgen Klopp and are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Tottenham stretching back almost five years.

Here, Sports Mole selects the strongest combined XI from both squads in a 4-3-3 formation, using only players available this weekend.

GK: Hugo Lloris

Having put in another memorable display during Tottenham's Champions League draw with Real Madrid in midweek, Lloris comfortably claims the gloves in this lineup ahead of Liverpool's Simon Mignolet.

Renowned for incredible reflex stops and his athleticism, Lloris has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and the leader of this Tottenham side as they have evolved into title hopefuls.

Also wearing the armband for this XI, the Spurs skipper has been able to boast the Premier League's best defensive record in each of the past two seasons and so far this term only the top two have conceded fewer.

RB: Kieran Trippier

Had Nathaniel Clyne been fit for Liverpool, this would have been a much closer battle for Kieran Trippier to secure a place in this side - and it is a decision Gareth Southgate may have to make for the World Cup next summer.

However, as it is Trippier's main competition for the right-back slot comes from his own teammate Serge Aurier, although so far the former Burnley full-back has managed to hold on to his place as first choice for Pochettino's side.

Liverpool have alternated between Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back so far this season and, while both have shown signs of promise, neither can match up to Trippier's quality just yet.

CB: Toby Alderweireld

One half of the Belgian defensive duo which has helped to make Spurs so solid at the back in recent seasons, Toby Alderweireld has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.

The 28-year-old has started all eight of his side's league outings so far this season, with Tottenham keeping five clean sheets in that time including four in their past five outings.

A threat from set pieces at the other end too, Alderweireld comfortably holds off challenges from the likes of Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip to earn his place in this side.

CB: Jan Vertonghen

With questions lingering over Liverpool's defence, it should be no surprise that Spurs dominate that area of the field having boasted the fewest goals conceded in the past two Premier League seasons.

Jan Vertonghen, like compatriot Alderweireld, has been central to that and has shown that he is equally adept at playing with two at the back or three, when he is given more license to roam and showcase his ability on the ball.

The 30-year-old has also started every Premier League game for Tottenham so far this season, with his experience and stability at the back lending itself nicely to the more youthful and exciting attacking talents ahead of him.

LB: Ben Davies

Ben Davies completes an all-Tottenham back five, easily earning his place in this lineup ahead of Liverpool's Alberto Moreno - despite the rejuvenated Spaniard having impressed so far this season.

Davies has been on a different level to Moreno and most other left-backs so far, though, with his attacking ability proving just as important as his defensive attributes to help Spurs up to third place.

The Wales international already has two goals and two assists to his name from six Premier League appearances this season, in addition to helping Pochettino's side to five clean sheets.

CM: Christian Eriksen

One of the chief creators in the Premier League, Christian Eriksen is perhaps more dangerous a little further forward, but he has to make do with a deep-lying playmaker role in this XI due to the quality of other attacking players available.

The Dane has always been a superb creator of goals and has two assists to his name already this season, but he has also begun to score goals on a more regular basis.

Eriksen has found the back of the net three times in his eight Premier League appearances this season, and that earns him a place in this side ahead of the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can of Liverpool.

CM: Mousa Dembele

Rated as 50-50 to start this weekend having picked up an injury before the international break, Mousa Dembele nonetheless earns a place in the side ahead of some stiff competition from the likes of Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson.

Dembele is integral to the balance of this side, with his imposing presence at the heart of the midfield allowing those around him to express themselves more freely in what is otherwise a very attack-minded team.

The Belgian is more than capable of joining in the attack himself too, and Spurs will be hoping that he recovers in time to feature against Liverpool this weekend.

CM: Philippe Coutinho

The first Liverpool player to make the side, Philippe Coutinho - like Eriksen - has the ability to wreak havoc in the final third or pull the strings from a deeper position.

The Brazilian has been playing as part of Liverpool's front three in the absence of Sadio Mane in recent weeks, scoring four goals and registering three assists from just seven matches across all competitions so far.

However, in a fully-fit Liverpool XI Coutinho would likely be part of the midfield trio and that is where he plays in this side, allowing for Dele Alli to push further forward.

RW: Mohamed Salah

A strong contender for both signing of the season and Liverpool's player of the season so far, Mohamed Salah has hit the ground running at Anfield, forming a quick understanding with the likes of Coutinho, Mane and Roberto Firmino.

The 25-year-old already has four goals in his eight Premier League appearances this season, and seven across all competitions having netted a brace in the Champions League in midweek.

Salah's blistering pace can be impossible to defend against and, while his end product could still improve, his statistics this season suggest that he will be something of a bargain buy for the Reds.

CF: Harry Kane

Arguably the best out-and-out centre-forward in world football at the moment, Harry Kane has won the Premier League's Golden Boot in each of the past two seasons and has begun well in his quest to make it a hat-trick this term.

Kane has scored 11 goals for Tottenham across all competitions this season, including six in eight Premier League appearances to leave him behind only Romelu Lukaku in the goalscoring stakes.

However, it is a curious quirk that the England international is yet to score a Premier League goal at Wembley, and his hopes of ending that hoodoo this weekend would require him to score a home goal against Liverpool for the first time too.

LW: Dele Alli

Dele Alli has not produced his very best form in a Tottenham shirt so far this season, but the 21-year-old remains one of the most talented youngsters in world football and his partnership with Kane would earn both a place in most sides.

Alli's best position is the number 10 role just behind the striker, but with the likes of Coutinho and Eriksen also in this side he starts out on the left wing - a rough position for a player who is deadliest when he is given the freedom to wander.

Late runs into the box have become his trademark and, while two goals and one assist from his eight Premier League appearances this term is not the return he would have hoped for, he is nonetheless integral to the way Tottenham play.