Spurs aim to pounce with rivals' backs turned

With Premier League leaders Manchester United, second-placed champions Manchester City and fourth-placed Chelsea in cup action and fifth-placed Arsenal's next league game not until March 16, Spurs can go two points behind the runners-up spot.

Andre Villas-Boas' side, in buoyant mood after a 2-1 victory over bitter rivals Arsenal in last weekend's North London derby at White Hart Lane, have 54 points from 28 games with City on 59 and United leading the way with 71.

Spurs mean business having lost out on a Champions League place last season when fourth place was unusually not enough because Chelsea, who finished sixth, took the last of England's four places by winning Europe's elite club competition.

"The most important thing is to be in the Champions League next season and I think we have to keep our ambition," local media quoted Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris as saying.

"It will be a very difficult game but very exciting game in Anfield... Liverpool are playing maybe the best football in the Premier League at this moment."

"We are finally starting to show some consistency and that's what we need," Liverpool centre-back Daniel Agger told the Liverpool Echo. "It's vital we keep playing this way and try to get as high as possible in the league.

"Last year we had to make up about 15 or 16 points," their manager Brian McDermott told reporters. "I just said to the players, 'Can we make up one or two?'. They all said 'yes'."