Tottenham have 'full energy' after slump, insists Mauricio Pochettino ahead of Liverpool trip

The last meeting between the two sides was June's Champions League final, but while Liverpool maintained their standards, Spurs have slipped

Mauricio Pochettino will take Tottenham to Anfield aiming to end Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season. Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has warned Liverpool that his side are over their recent slump ahead of the Premier League meeting at Anfield on Sunday.

It will be the first meeting between Spurs and Liverpool since their confrontation in the Uefa Champions League final in Madrid in June, since which Jurgen Klopp's team have pushed on from their victory to take control of the early Premier League running.

Pochettino has admitted that defeat has weighed heavily on his players and has bled into their miserable early season form that suggests June's final was a high-water mark.

"It means a lot for the club to reach the final of the Champions League but for the players or the coaching staff we felt empty after the game," Pochettino said ahead of the trip to Merseyside.

"Now we have full energy and we have recovered from that situation and now it's the moment to build again our confidence and trust and start to show our real talent and potential."

A return of just three Premier League wins this season and a run that included the humiliating 7-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, a 3-0 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion, and a fortunate home draw with bottom club Watford meant Tuesday's meeting with Red Star Belgrade was always going to be significant.

The eventual 5-0 victory provided a much-needed lift, and a fourth win in 13 games in all competitions allowed Pochettino to talk of a renewed confidence within a squad whose unity has been questioned.

After five years in charge, the Argentine's ability to motivate his squad has come under scrutiny but the togetherness shown before and after the Red Star win will be needed if they are to end the nine-game unbeaten start that has allowed Liverpool to open up a five-point lead on Leicester City and three over Manchester City with one fewer game played.

Spurs' performance midweek recalled their vibrant displays of last season with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min both scoring twice, albeit against a much weaker defence than the one they will face on Sunday.

It was also achieved without Christian Eriksen - out of contract at the end of this season, along with Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld - who remained an unused substitute and is unlikely to return to the starting line-up this weekend.

"It was not that they forget how to play football, that Harry Kane doesn't know anymore - he showed in that game (against Red Star) how good he can be," said Klopp on Friday.

"They are a top side in the Premier League and they will be a top side in the whole season in the Premier League -- and we have to respect that and play the best football we can play against them."

Tottenham can draw inspiration from how Manchester United became the first team to take points off Liverpool last weekend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side successfully negating the attacking threat of Klopp's side in a 1-1 draw.

Pochettino's side will need to be similarly resolute to avoid a repeat of the defensive lapses that have been a feature of their campaign so far against a team that have won all four of their home games, scoring 12 times.

A positive result at Anfield would provide evidence that the hangover from last season's European exertions is finally lifting and that a void is finally being filled.