Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has said that his team must “be brave” as they look to put a spanner in the works of quadruple-chasing Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp's side defeated Villarreal this week to seal their place in the Champions League final, are one point behind Manchester City in the Premier League, face Chelsea in the FA Cup final and have already won the League Cup in what is shaping up to be a historic clean-sweep of trophies this season.
And Spurs have their own battle to fight as they sit two points behind fourth-placed Arsenal as the North London rivals look to secure a place in next season's Champions League.
Tottenham drew 2-2 with Liverpool in December's corresponding fixture and have also beaten Premier League leaders City home and away during the current campaign.
And the Italian believes they must have belief in themselves that Klopp's “incredible” team can be beaten.
“I said this to my players, we need to play a good game and be brave when we have the ball, don't be scared for all the pressure and to find the solution,” said Conte.
“We have improved a lot. We are in this race for a place in the Champions League and for this reason we need to get points in every game. Every game is a big chance for us to improve the table. In this game we have to try to beat Liverpool.
Spurs 3 Leicester 1: player ratings TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris – 6 The Frenchman had a largely untroubled first half and despite looking beaten by Daka’s shot managed to get a fingertip on the ball to push it on to the woodwork. Unable to keep out Ihenancho’s shot from distance.
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Cristian Romero – 8 The Atalanta loanee saved his side from going 1-0 down within 15 minutes following a mistake by Davies. Played a key role for Spurs’ second, showing great determination to win two challenges in the build-up.
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Eric Dier – 7 Confident display by the centre-back, which made Lloris’ job easier, with Leicester unable to get through for much of the game.
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Ben Davies – 6 An error by the Welshman could have spelled trouble for his side when he misjudged the ball, leaving Albrighton to nick it before Romero’s interception. Booked.
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Emerson Royal – 7 Busy on the wing, Emerson caused trouble on the flank with his pace and willingness to tackle and block. AFP
Rodrigo Bentancur – 7 The former Juventus man looked back to his best in the middle of the park alongside Hojbjerg. Booked.
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Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 7 Dominating alongside Bentancur in the middle, Hojbjerg was even happy to add a couple of dribbles himself on the break.
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Ryan Sessegnon – 6 With Reguilon and Doherty sidelined, Sessegnon continued on the wing and sent in an enticing cross to Moura before half-time.
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Lucas Moura – 5 Making his first League start since February in Antonio Conte’s only change to the starting line-up, Moura failed to impress. Subbed early in the second half.
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Harry Kane – 7 Never a surprise to see the duo of Son and Kane link again, this time through a corner to put Tottenham in front, with the England captain heading in with ease. Nearly grabbed a second just after Iheanacho’s consolation goal.
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Son Heung-Min – 9 Another assist for the South Korean, who found his strike partner in the box to head home his inch-perfect corner. Scored two of his own, the first turning on the ball to slot past Schmeichel, the second a stunning goal from outside of the box to curl around the Leicester goalkeeper.
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SUBS: Dejan Kulusevski (Moura 56’) – 7 Conte didn’t wait long to bring the Swede back into the team and he made an immediate impact to assist Son in netting Spurs’ second of the game.
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Harry Winks (Bentancur 82’) – N/R The substitute looked to have completely forgotten to mark Ihenanacho in the closing stages of the game.
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Steven Bergwijn (Son 82’) – N/R Part of a double change, Bergwijn was another who looked a bit disinterested in closing down.
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LEICESTER CITY RATINGS: Kasper Schmeichel – 5 Called upon to deny Kane a second before half-time but made a mess of a cross into the box. Had little joy keeping out Spurs’ shots.
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Timothy Castagne – 5 The Belgian defender came to the rescue to end Emerson’s pacy run down the wing on the break, with the 26-year-old able to block the eventual shot/cross. Good in supporting Albrighton.
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Daniel Amartey - 5 Didn’t look the most solid. Beaten in the air for Kane’s goal.
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Caglar Soyuncu – 5 The Turk didn’t look the most confident at the back.
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Luke Thomas – 4 The young left-back struggled to deal with Spurs’ domination on the wings early on and couldn’t deal with Kulusevski’s introduction in the second half.
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Boubakary Soumare – 5 On his return from injury, Soumare skipped a challenge on the wing to deliver a tempting cross into the box, with Daka’s shot finding the woodwork early on.
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Nampalys Mendy – 4 The Afcon winner nearly handed Kane a second on a plate when his careless backpass to his goalkeeper lacked pace.
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Marc Albrighton – 6 Booked for a tackle on Bentancur but largely did well to keep Sessegnon quiet.
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Kelechi Iheanacho – 5 Largely absent in comparison to his attacking partners in the first half, with just 14 touches to his name and a shot dragging wide of the post. However, he was given way too much space to squeeze a consolation goal past Lloris in stoppage time.
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Ayoze Perez – 5 In just his fifth start in the league this season, the Spaniard found the side-netting in the opening stages of the game in Leicester’s first move before being fouled in a promising position. AFP
Patson Daka – 6 Daka could have slotted Leicester ahead within 15 minutes following good work by Soumare on the wing. Later, he was just inches away from poking in the equaliser on the 40th minute.
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SUBS: Jamie Vardy (Daka 67’) – 5 The Leicester striker was unable to divert his header on target in his only real opportunity of his appearance.
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Lewis Brunt (Soumare 67’) – 5 The youngster made his Premier League debut with Brendan Rodgers refusing to risk key players ahead of their game against Roma.
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Youri Tielemans (Perez 76’) – N/R Drilled forward to find Iheanacho for a late consolation goal for Leicester.
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“When you arrive at this point of the season and you are in a race for every target, it gives you a big, big push to do something incredible.
“I think Jurgen Klopp is doing a fantastic job with his team. It is not easy, especially for an English team to arrive at the end of the season to stay in the race for all the competitions that you compete [in].
“It is incredible. You can see Liverpool's players run a lot, they have not had many injuries. Their enthusiasm is not 100 per cent, it is 200 per cent. You don't feel the fatigue when you reach this point.”
Conte also said at his pre-match press conference that loan star Dejan Kulusevski was “100 per cent” a Tottenham player.
The Swede, who has been a sensation since joining from Juventus in the January transfer window, is on an 18-month loan, but Spurs have the option to buy, which would turn into an obligation should certain on-field criteria be met.
Newcastle 0 Liverpool 1: player ratings NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 5
The Slovakian kept his side competitive with a number of good saves. He was flummoxed by Keita for the goal and bypassed too easily.
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Emil Krafth - 6 The Swede had a difficult afternoon and struggled against Diaz and Robertson. He worked hard to avoid being over-run and made way for Murphy with five minutes left.
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Fabian Schar - 4
The Swiss complained that he was fouled in the run-up to the opening goal but he had been sucked out of position. He later limped off in the 61st minute and was replaced by Lascelles.
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Dan Burn - 6
The 29-year-old made some vital blocks and interceptions but found it hard to cope with the movement and guile of the Liverpool attack.
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Matt Targett - 4 The 26-year-old showed Keita the inside before the goal and paid for his lack of awareness. He looked like he was running in mud when Salah outsprinted him late on.
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Jonjo Shelvey - 5 The former Liverpool midfielder was aggressive but ineffective. His strength is getting forward and he was forced to remain deep.
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Bruno Guimaraes - 5 The Brazilian showed some nice touches but found space hard to come by. He had a late shot that did not have the pace or direction to trouble Alisson.
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Joe Willock - 4 The 22-year-old was outmatched in the midfield. He could not impose himself and was taken off for Wood in the 67th minute.
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Allan Saint-Maximin - 4
The Frenchman fooled Fabinho late on but, as so often, his flashes of skill are too few and occur in areas which are not dangerous. He did not hurt Liverpool.
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Miguel Almiron - 5
The Paraguayan offered little threat and allowed Robertson the latitude to get forward. He put the ball into the net but was clearly offside.
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Joelinton - 6
The Brazilian spent more time helping the midfield and defence than attacking. He was effective in the air.
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SUBS: Jamaal Lascelles - 6
The 28-year-old was sent on for Schar in the 61st minute. He needed to be sharp to prevent Liverpool from extending their lead.
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Chris Wood - 4
The New Zealander joined the action for Willock in the 67th minute. He did not make much impact as Newcastle chased a goal.
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Jacob Murphy - 5
The 27-year-old came on for Krafth with five minutes left. He got into a dangerous position but his run was wasted because of a poor pass. AFP
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6
The Brazilian was quick off his line to foil Saint-Maximin in the first half but he was less busy than he might have expected.
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Joe Gomez - 8
The 24-year-old was superb. His defending was excellent and he joined the attack whenever the opportunity arose.
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Joel Matip - 7
The 30-year-old retained his composure during Newcastle’s early flurry and grew in stature throughout the game. An assured display.
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Virgil van Dijk - 7
The Dutchman organised the defence and dominated in the air. He was rarely troubled and was confident in possession.
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Andrew Robertson - 8
The Scot kept Almiron under wraps and surged forward constantly. He was still full of running at the final whistle.
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Jordan Henderson - 7
The captain sat deep and played an important part in the early stages when Newcastle tried to seize the momentum. He helped Liverpool get on top and was replaced in the 69th minute by Fabinho.
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James Milner - 8
The 36-year-old nicked the ball from Schar to start the build-up to the goal. He ran himself into the ground in a fine performance before being withdrawn for Thiago with 12 minutes to go.
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Naby Keita - 8
The Guinean pressed, tackled and propelled his team forward. His goal was just reward and his shimmy that left Dubravka and a squad of defenders stranded was a thing of beauty.
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Luis Diaz - 8 The Colombian caused havoc for the defence, who could not cope with his pace, power and balance. He was unlucky not to add to the lead.
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Diogo Jota - 7
The Portuguese produced a clever pass that allowed Keita to score. He menaced the Newcastle back line.
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Sadio Mane - 7
The Senegalese shot straight at Dubravka in the first half and fired a sitter wide in the second period. His link play was effective but he made way for Salah in the 69th minute.
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SUBS: Mohamed Salah - 7
The Egyptian joined the fray in the 69th minute for Mane. He immediately threatened and his burst of pace left Targett trailing badly.
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Fabinho - 7
The Brazilian came on for Henderson in the 69th minute. He was tricked by Saint-Maximin in the centre circle but otherwise kept things ticking over.
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Thiago Alcantara - 7
The 31-year-old entered the game for Milner with 12 minutes to go. His composure and precise passing helped Liverpool see out the game.
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Conte has no concerns about Kulusevski's future: “He’s on loan but it’s like a deal ended. He’s a Tottenham player, 100 per cent in every aspect.
“Not officially but he’s 100 per cent a Tottenham player.”
Spurs look set to be without wing-back Sergio Reguilon for the rest of the season due to a groin injury. With Matt Doherty out for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury it leaves Spurs down to just two wing-backs in the shape of Emerson Royal and Ryan Sessegnon.
“Reguilon’s not available,” Conte said. “He hasn’t trained with us and honestly I don’t know as there are only two weeks until the end of the season whether it will be possible for him to come back this season.”
Updated: May 05, 2022, 4:48 PM