Football: Weekend guide to the Premiership: Tottenham v Liverpool

Last season: 3-3

JOHN SCALES, the Tottenham central defender, is in line for a return against his former club after recovering from a calf injury. Teenager Luke Young impressed when he deputised for Scales against West Ham in the Worthington Cup victory over Manchester United on Wednesday but may have to settle for a place on the bench. Ian Walker is likely to keep his place in goal ahead of Espen Baardsen while Les Ferdinand, who came on for the last five minutes on Wednesday, is set to be a substitute as he continues his recovery from a foot injury.

Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp is suspended for one game and the Merseysiders could turn to either Danny Murphy or David Thompson to partner Paul Ince. With Frenchman Jean-Michel Ferri still awaiting international clearance and short of match fitness, manager Gerard Houllier has few options after the encouraging 2-0 home win over Blackburn last Sunday. His only real alternative would be to push Jamie Carragher into midfield and play with a back four. Jason McAteer, Steve Harkness and Karlheinz Riedle are all out injured.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (from): Walker, Baardsen, Carr, Scales, Young, Campbell, Sinton, Wilson, Fox, Calderwood, Nielsen, Clemence, Ginola, Anderton, Iversen, Armstrong, Ferdinand, Dominguez.

LIVERPOOL (from): James, Heggem, Carragher, Babb, Staunton, Bjornebye, Berger, Ince, Thompson, Murphy, Owen, Fowler, Friedel, Leonhardsen, Kvarme, Gerrard.

Suspensions: Liverpool: Redknapp.

Referee: G Barber.