Once again Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has had a limited squad to pick his side from with the likes of Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun, Daniel Agger and Steven Gerrard all out injured.
Jamie Carragher will be filling in as captain again and also looks likely to fill in at right-back. Kyrgiakos and Skrtel both get another start in the centre of defence with Emiliano Insua retaining his place at left-back.
Lucas and Javier Mascherano both start in midfield meaning Alberto Aquilani will have a more advanced role, probably just behind Dirk Kuyt. Rafa is looking to Philip Degen and Albert Riera to provide some width. Maxi Rodriguez is amongst the subs again, Ryan Babel is back on the bench and for his sake perhaps keeping his phone switched off.
Also on the bench is Robbie Keane, one of the Spurs subs just under a year after he left Anfield following his ill-fated six-month spell at the club, most of which he seemed to spend on the bench. Former Red Peter Crouch is certain to get a good reception too, he starts alongside Defoe.
Liverpool: 25 Reina, 23 Carragher, 37 Skrtel, 16 Kyrgiakos, 22 Insua, 27 Degen, 20 Mascherano, 21 Lucas, 11 Riera, 4 Aquilani, 18 Kuyt
Subs: 1 Cavalieri, 32 Darby, 17 Maxi, 26 Spearing, 19 Babel, 24 Ngog, 47 Pacheco
Tottenham: 1 Gomes, 3 Bale, 20 Dawson, 22 Corluka, 26 King, 8 Jenas, 12 Palacios, 4 Modric, 21 Kranjcar, 15 Crouch, 18 Defoe
Subs: 27 Alnwick, 2 Hutton, 19 Bassong, 25 Rose, 9 Pavlyuchenko, 10 Keane, 17 Giovani
Referee: Howard Webb