Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool - Dele Alli shakes off illness ready for Liverpool clash
Posted Friday, August 26, 2016 by PA
Dele Alli could return to the Tottenham side for Saturday's Premier League visit of Liverpool having overcome an illness.
The England international was deemed only fit enough for the bench in last weekend's win over Crystal Palace but has now recovered and could be recalled for the lunchtime kick-off.
Captain Hugo Lloris (hamstring) is still out so Michel Vorm will again deputise in goal while Mousa Dembele is suspended.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino is still looking to add players to his squad as he attempts to juggle the Premier League and Champions League.
He would not be drawn on any links to potential signings but did concede a pacey attacker - like Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha - was the kind of player he wants.
"Yes, I would like a player like this," he said.
"We have improved because now we have two strikers and now I think we need some players in the second line of offence to help the team compete better and have more quality in the squad because it will be a very tough season with us with the Champions League and very tough competitions."
Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho is a doubt for the trip with a minor hamstring issue.
Fellow midfielder Emre Can sustained an ankle injury in the EFL Cup win at Burton and may not be risked.
Striker Divock Origi suffered cramp in midweek and will be assessed while defender Joel Matip is pushing for his first league start.
Liverpool's trip to White Hart Lane brings manager Jurgen Klopp full circle as he returns to the venue of his first match in charge of the Reds.
In the intervening 10 months the German, who took over from Brendan Rodgers last October, has guided the club to two cup finals but also a disappointing eighth-place Premier League finish.
As he prepares to go back to Spurs, where last season they played out a goalless draw, Klopp notes the strides his side have made but believes there is plenty of development to come.
"I made a few summaries after last season: good things, not-so-good things, the need for development - all that stuff," said the manager, who will be in charge of his 56th match for the club in just eight months of actual competitive football.
"This is a new season, a lot of expectation from our side, from outside - that's how it is.
"For us, everything could have been better, but it could have been worse.
"We're still on the way. My team gave me a lot of really good signs to work with.
"The last defeat always feels stronger than the last win and Burnley is not too long ago."
Photos
More»
Rhian Sugden's sexiest pictures
Saturday April 20 2024
Fans love Apollonia as she poses in tiny denim shirts
Saturday April 20 2024
Eugenie Bouchard sends fans wild in barely-there bikini
Friday April 19 2024
Your Say