The race for the Champions League places will heat up this weekend when Liverpool host top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.

Just two places and two points separate the teams in the Premier League table, and both know that victory on Merseyside will see them end the day in the coveted Champions League spots.

Liverpool

Liverpool's January hiccup in 2017 almost cost them a Champions League spot last season, and it looked as though a similar dip in form might be happening when the Reds fell to successive defeats at the hands of Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion.

The latter defeat was their first at Anfield all season and likely ended their hopes of picking up a first trophy under Jurgen Klopp this season as they crashed out of the FA Cup - although they remain in the Champions League - but it was the 1-0 loss to Swansea which came as the biggest surprise, just eight days after overcoming the previously-unbeaten Manchester City.

However, a 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night saw Liverpool make a timely return to winning ways ahead of Tottenham's visit this weekend, with Spurs one of only three teams to have beaten the Reds in the league this season.

It proved to be an even more profitable midweek schedule for the Reds as Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all lost too, with the latter's 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth on Wednesday being enough for Liverpool to climb up to third on goal difference.

Spurs are still only two points behind, though, and Liverpool know that just one slip-up - like the one against Swansea - could see them drop out of those all-important Champions League places.

There was no deadline-day drama for the Reds, who got their business done early with the world-record arrival of Virgil van Dijk and sale of Philippe Coutinho, although Klopp will be hoping for more of a return from his £75m man than he has received during a shaky start to Van Dijk's Liverpool career so far.

A first home clean sheet since Boxing Day would be a good start as Liverpool look to get back on the winning trail at Anfield following that defeat to the Baggies, which was their first on home soil in 20 matches stretching back to April.

The Reds are still one of only two teams unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season, though, and only Manchester United have conceded fewer goals in front of their own fans.

Victory this weekend would see Liverpool string together four successive league wins at Anfield for the first time since April, and they will have their sights set on revenge following the 4-1 defeat in the reverse fixture.

Recent Premier League form: WWWLW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWLLW

Tottenham

Aside from Liverpool, Tottenham were the other big winners from the Champions League-chasing pack in midweek, with Chelsea's defeat leaving both the champions and Liverpool firmly in their sights.

Spurs are also now six points clear of North London rivals Arsenal in sixth, but Mauricio Pochettino will have his gaze fixed firmly up the table during a potentially season-defining run.

If Tottenham continue that spell as they started it then they will be in very good shape towards the end of the month, having recorded an impressive 2-0 win over second-placed Manchester United on Wednesday night, breaking the deadlock after only 11 seconds through Christian Eriksen.

This weekend's match could see Spurs finally climb back into the top four, and six days after their visit to Anfield they will host Arsenal in the North London derby.

Couple that with an FA Cup replay against Newport County, the first leg of their Champions League tie with Juventus and another London derby against Crystal Palace, and February promises to be a pivotal month for Spurs on all fronts.

Pochettino cannot afford to look further ahead than Sunday for now, though, and his side will arrive at Anfield in good form having won six and lost none of their last nine games across all competitions, while leaders Manchester City are the only team to have beaten them since November.

As if that form wasn't enough to make the fans happy, Spurs also landed Lucas Moura for the relatively low price of £25m on deadline day and will hope to see their first glimpse of the pacey Brazilian on Sunday.

Tottenham have only won three of their last 11 away games across all competitions, though, and were held to a draw by League Two side Newport County in their most recent one - although that did at least make it four successive games unbeaten on the road.

Pochettino's side are also winless in 10 visits to other members of the top six, a run which stretches back two years and includes an ongoing streak of four consecutive defeats.

Recent Premier League form: WWDWDW
Recent form (all competitions): DWWDDW

Team News

Spurs could hand a debut to new signing Lucas Moura at Anfield, although the former Paris Saint-Germain winger may be forced to settle for a place on the bench from the start.

The visitors are also likely to be boosted by the return of Toby Alderweireld, who has been sidelined since the beginning of November with a hamstring injury.

The Belgian may also be eased back into action from the bench, though, and Pochettino could well opt to name an unchanged side from the one which beat United in midweek despite Serge Aurier and Harry Winks also being available again.

Klopp must decide whether to recall Van Dijk after resting the world's most expensive defender against Huddersfield, only to see his side keep a first clean sheet in seven matches.

Dejan Lovren in particular will be keen to keep his place, having been hooked after only 31 minutes in the reverse fixture at Wembley.

Adam Lallana and Ragnar Klavan remain doubts alongside long-term absentee Nathaniel Clyne, but Alberto Moreno is fit again and will hope to compete with Andrew Robertson for the left-back slot.

Georginio Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also pushing for recalls in midfield, although Emre Can is expected to keep his place having scored in midweek.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Karius; Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Can, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane

Tottenham possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane

Head To Head

Liverpool's 4-1 defeat in the reverse fixture was their first loss at the hands of Tottenham since November 2012, ending a 10-match unbeaten streak across all competitions which had seen them score 24 goals.

Spurs remain winless in their last seven visits to Anfield, though, including a 2-0 defeat there last season when Sadio Mane scored both goals in as many first-half minutes.

Indeed, Spurs have only won one Premier League game away to Liverpool since 1993, losing 15 of their 23 visits since.

We say: Liverpool 3-2 Tottenham

The majority of matches between the top six have been entertaining affairs this season, and we expect this one to be no different. Both teams have formidable attacking talent at their disposal, but we are backing Liverpool to narrowly come out on top.