Tottenham Hotspur will seek to take advantage of their rivals' FA Cup distractions this weekend by gaining ground in the race for Champions League football with a rare victory at Liverpool.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The fact Tottenham lost out on third spot to bitter rivals Arsenal also stung after they looked certain of a top-three finish for much of the season before a late collapse.
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"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.
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"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."
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Spurs face a challenge to take the points away from Anfield on Sunday, having won there only twice in the Premier League.
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Seventh-placed Liverpool should have England striker Daniel Sturridge back from a thigh injury as they seek to jump above city rivals Everton and close within two points of Arsenal.