Liverpool once played a title decider against a London club. It wasn't Tottenham. They contested epic Champions League semi-finals against another representative of England's biggest city. That wasn't Tottenham either. And yet, while memories of the final game of the 1988-89 season, won 2-0 by Arsenal, and the continental clashes against Chelsea during Rafa Benitez's reign remain strong, their most pertinent rivalry with a capital club now does not involve either Arsene Wenger or Antonio Conte's side.

And not just because Sunday's game against Tottenham could seem a 90-minute microcosm of what is almost a private battle for fourth place. While Liverpool have had much the better of their exchanges in the last five years, the balance of power between these clubs has been weighted Spurs' way. They have finished above Liverpool in seven of the last eight seasons (the exception was when Brendan Rodgers' side were runners-up in 2013-14). To put that into context, the last time Tottenham enjoyed such supremacy over Liverpool was more than half a century ago: they finished above the Merseysiders in 13 consecutive seasons between 1950 and 1963, though Liverpool were in the old second division for eight of them and relegated in a ninth.

Change came swiftly. Liverpool were runners-up in 2009, Benitez assembling the club's finest starting XI for two decades, in a campaign when they only lost two league games. They began the next season shorn of the sold Xabi Alonso at White Hart Lane. They were defeated in what proved among the most significant Premier League games of the last decade. One of Liverpool's senior players looked at the respective benches that day and concluded Spurs was stronger. Nine months later, Tottenham finished fourth, three places ahead of Liverpool.

If there are certain similarities in their last eight years -- Liverpool losing Alonso, Javier Mascherano, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho to Real Madrid or Barcelona and Tottenham Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, both being set back at a point when they hoped to kick on -- there is a notable difference: come May, Spurs tend to look down on Liverpool in the table.

Tottenham will have a hard time keeping up with Liverpool as they continue to spend money on players like Mohamed Salah. Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images

But logically that should change. Not specifically because of Jurgen Klopp or any of his players as much as the underlying finances. These clubs were near-neighbours in the Deloitte Rich List for 2016-17, but it was a table where Liverpool ranked higher. They were ninth, Tottenham 11th. If that suggests a parallel in resources, it is notable that Liverpool's turnover was €69 million higher in a season when they were not in Europe and Tottenham benefited from Champions League television revenue; some €43.2m of it. Factor in their lesser, Europa League revenue and matchday income from both competitions and Spurs' benefited still more.

The new White Hart Lane will make games more profitable than the old one but, in the short term anyway, that will be offset by the cost of paying for it. So if all other things are equal -- such as Liverpool and Tottenham being in the same European competition -- the Merseysiders have a far higher disposable income; perhaps €130m higher.

And they have started to flex their financial muscle. That could be attributed to Coutinho's £142m sale, but the reality is that Liverpool had already agreed the £48m move for Naby Keita before the Brazilian's departure, just as they had the funds to bid for Virgil van Dijk, who eventually cost them £75m, last summer. Including Keita, Liverpool have spent more than £30m on a player five times in the last four transfer windows; when Coutinho's eventual replacement arrives, that number will surely increase. Tottenham have done so once, on Davinson Sanchez.

That would presumably change if Harry Kane or Dele Alli headed to Spain; equally, that would create huge problems. As it is, Spurs' prize assets pose other issues. Kane is reportedly their best-paid player on £100,000 a week. Van Dijk is apparently on £180,000 a week. Tottenham's wage bill last season came to around £120m, Liverpool's to £200m.

It gives them a massive financial advantage. It is a question if they can convert pounds and pence into performances and points. Arguably, they have converted it into players: Sadio Mane was wanted by both clubs when he left Southampton in 2016 and went to Liverpool. While cheaper additions have picked either -- Tottenham got Alli, the Liverpool target; Liverpool got Danny Ings, subject of a bid from Spurs. Alli was at League One MK Dons at the time. Mane was in a position to command a higher salary and chose Liverpool.

It is unsurprising that progressive, pressing managers could be expected to target some similar players. Finances dictate that Liverpool will have an advantage, especially if both, or just they, can offer Champions League football. Mauricio Pochettino has prospered with low net spend and a relatively low wage bill. It is to his immense credit. It is sustainable in the sense that he is financing a new ground, but success may not be when others have greater resources. Because, if Liverpool can get money to talk, the era of Spurs' supremacy in their private mini-league ought to end.