Liverpool vs Tottenham

Liverpool V Tottenham Hotspur

Wednesday, 20^th January – 20:00 GMT

Liverpool

League Position: 7th

Recent Form: WLWWD

Can a depleted Liverpool side, severely lacking in form and confidence, overhaul fourth placed Tottenham Hotspur in a game Liverpool have to win in order to keep their top four ambition alive. However, Rafael Benitez will have to guide the club to a valuable win without Liverpool’s talismanic duo in Steven Gerrard & Fernando Torres, with the latter out for up to six weeks and Gerrard missing for around a fortnight. Like the old adage goes “the show must go on” but Liverpool were a no show last Saturday at Stoke and that was a concerning result for the fans and for any potential Liverpool backers.

If you thought Liverpool’s drastically disappointing season couldn’t get any worse then a 1-1 draw with Stoke City just might have been the last straw for some, especially in light of the manner in which the collected their solitary point. Liverpool took the lead through the rarest of sources when Kyrgiakos prodded home with Liverpool’s opener but they then decided to sit back and attempt to absorb the Stoke bombardment and were duly punished when some poor marking from a corner, nothing new there, led to Stoke, via Robert Huth, scoring a 90^th minute equaliser, which will have felt like a dagger to the heart of the Liverpool players, and the fans for that matter.

That draw ended a run of two straight wins for Liverpool which basically means it’s back to the drawing board for their under fire manager, Rafael Benitez. The pressure cooker has risen within a week to scorching hot after Liverpool’s humiliating defeat to Reading in the cup and now the league has become their sole priority, although even that has been tarnished with the main objective going from winning the title to just finishing in the top four. However, even that looks a step too far for this average looking Liverpool side and without their biggest of players in Gerrard & Torres, Liverpool really could struggle to get a result out of this game with Spurs let alone the win they crave.

Anfield, fortunately, has been a happy hunting ground for the Reds’ this season, with six of their ten wins in the league coming in front of their loyal but irritated fans. They’ve also won their last two at home, with victories over Wigan (2-1) and Wolves (2-0), but the arrival of Tottenham Hotspur, a team they lost 2-1 to at White Hart Lane on the opening day of the season, brings about a whole new challenge, a much sterner one, and it will certainly be intriguing from a neutrals perspective to see how Liverpool do fare against one of their main top four contenders without crucial players.

Biggest hunch: Our biggest concern with Liverpool ahead of this fixture, and there are a few, is how they will score without the creative spark of Steven Gerrard and the sublime finishing of Fernando Torres. David N’gog has looked a lost sheep in every game he’s played in this season, while Dirk Kuyt isn’t an out-an-out striker and Ryan Babel, who has often been deployed as a winger, isn’t on terms with the manager so probably won’t even get a look in. David N’gog will probably get the nod on the sole basis that he is the only man for the job, which is terrible news as he isn’t much Kop. He has poor control, very little upper strength and doesn’t have any idea what the word positioning means.

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 4th

Recent Form: WWDWD

At the odds, we’re sure many of the neutral punters would have gone for Tottenham Hotspur to perhaps knick a win at Anfield in this eagerly awaited contest, but the draw with a poor Hull City over the weekend will have cast doubts over their credentials as their inconsistent nature shows no signs of disappearing any time soon. However, the same result, a draw, would be seen as an ideal result for them as the race for fourth spot begins to hot up with all of the main contenders coming a cropper over the weekend.

A 0-0 draw with Hull City will look a dreadful result at first glance, of which it was, but don’t think for one minute that Tottenham played poorly as they didn’t. Spurs controlled proceedings from start to finish and created so many clear cut chances that is was unbelievable how they didn’t put at least one of about six away. However, Boaz Myhill in the Hull goal just had one of those days where his body felt like a magnet to the ball. Spurs peppered the Hull goal for the full 90 minutes, with Harry Redknapp even switching the forwards around late on in a bid to overcome the beast that was Myhill in goal, but their attempts were in all vein as Spurs failed to score against one of the weaker teams at home for the third time this season.

The result with Hull City (0-0) was poor but their performance was perhaps a sign of things to come as Tottenham looked extremely sharp in an attacking sense. Also, Tottenham kept their fifth successive clean sheet in that draw, equalling a club record, so the defenders will be brimming with confidence if not the attackers. Also, Tottenham are unbeaten in five now in the league and haven’t lost an away outing since the end of October, losing 3-0 at Arsenal. They have since gone unbeaten in four away from home, recording one win and three draws, but the concern is that Tottenham have faltered at the big venues this season; losing at both Arsenal & Chelsea, both 3-0, so perhaps Tottenham are easily over roared.

Still, it’s worth reminding ourselves that Tottenham have lost just twice away from home all season, the two defeats mentioned above. They’ve won four away games, which is just as many as Liverpool, but have looked far more a threat in attack then Liverpool have on their travels, which is why Tottenham will be a popular punt this Wednesday. They will ask questions of a shaky Liverpool defence, with the pace of Defoe up front and perhaps the height of Peter Crouch up top, while Niko Kranjcar could be a big player as he’s been in inspired form of late. Tottenham have players on top of their game at present, even in defence which is a whole lot more than we can say for the Liverpool defence nor team and Tottenham look a great punt on paper. It’s just whether this ‘Big Four’ voodoo they have kicks in again.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Liverpool W: 6 Tottenham Hotspur W: 1 Draws: 3

• Tottenham won the last meeting, a 2-1 victory at White Hart Lane on the opening day of the season.

• The last three fixtures between the two have all gone the way of the home side, although two of those were for Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

• The last three fixtures has seen both sides get on the score sheet.

• The last draw between the two came back in October, 2007, five meetings ago at Anfield.

• Liverpool won this exact same fixture 3-1 last season, with goals coming from Fernando Torres, Benayoun & a Hutton own goal. However, Liverpool will be without both Yossi Benayoun & Torres.

• Tottenham have won at Anfield in over a decade, with their last Anfield win coming in 1998.

• Before their 2-1 defeat to Spurs earlier in the season, Liverpool were unbeaten in ten against Tottenham Hotspur.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.30 Boylesports

This game really could go either way. The plus point for Liverpool, just about the only one, is home advantage. Tottenham, though, have plenty of positives; lethal attack & tight defence are just two of them. However, it’s been an age since Tottenham last won at Anfield and they haven’t fared too well at some of the other big venues this season; losing at both Chelsea & Arsenal in a convincing manner. Spurs are, though, playing by far and away the better football and their pacey attack could be too much for a sluggish Liverpool defence so the value definitely lies with Tottenham Hotspur, it’s just too hard too back them with their poor Anfield record, so a draw gets our vote.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 2.50 Expekt.com

Draw – 3.30 Boylesports

Tottenham Hotspur – 3.10 PaddyPower

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Both teams to score – 1.75 BlueSquare

Liverpool V Tottenham Hotspur

Sunday, 10^th January – 16:00 GMT (Sky Sports 1)

MATCH POSTPONED – We regrettably have to inform you that the following game has been postponed due to severe weather conditions. Although the pitch has been confirmed as ‘playable’ the surrounding area; roads, pathways, steps etc… have been deemed a hazard and a risk to those fans who will attend the game.

The only difference with this postponement is that Liverpool rang the FA personally to request that the game be called off. Due to Liverpool being a big club, and their worldwide popularity, it was understandable that the FA were eager for this particular game to go ahead but they were left with no alternative but to postpone the game due to adverse weather conditions in the surrounding area.

Liverpool

League Position:

Recent Form:

(Have kept just one clean sheet in their previous five home fixtures)

The fightback is now on from Liverpool as they bid to end the season in the top four. However, their match day opponents, Tottenham currently occupy the position Liverpool crave and a win for the Reds’ would close the gap on Spurs to just two points and put them within a win away of rejoining the ‘Big Four’. It’s been a while though since Liverpool last put together a string of wins and after winning back-to-games in the league, will Liverpool falter once again against an opponent that beat them on the opening day of the season?

This is a huge fixture for Liverpool as Tottenham are one of their main contenders for a top four finish. Rafael Benitez does possess the better squad of the two, although some would say only just, and you would surely have to fancy Liverpool’s chances back at Anfield providing their influential pairing of Steven Gerrard & Fernando Torres are back on song. The deadly duo have lost their spark this season, mainly down to the fact that injuries have kept them apart, but they’ve been playing together for a few games now and that sublime partnership which seen Liverpool come so close to their first league title in 18 years will be back to it’s best at some stage, but will Anfield be the occasion when the pair really announce themselves?

Anfield, in past season, has been a fortress for Liverpool and a happy hunting ground for the vast majority of their points. That has still been the case for them this season but they’ve looked far from unbeatable when at home, with both Aston Villa & Arsenal already doing the deed over the Reds at Anfield this season. They have, though, gone on a two match winning run at home, with victories over Wigan Athletic (2-1) & Wolves (2-0). Obviously not two teams that would set the league alight but they were wins nevertheless and confidence boosting wins at that. 

Liverpool severely struggled in their FA Cup clash at the weekend and there will be reservations over their Sunday credentials after a dreadful display away at Reading. Liverpool never really got going in that contest and they were sloppy and lethargic throughout. It was so bad that even a string of passes was a rare sight, whereas an attempt on goal came as often as a shooting star. Reading got in their faces and harassed Liverpool from start to finish, and the Reds were rocking. They just didn’t look like they wanted to be there and nerves was quite apparent.

Harry Redknapp will have been looking on and would have been seen licking his lips come full-time in the knowledge that Liverpool now have a FA Cup on their minds just a few days after they play the Reds’. The fact that Liverpool were poor on Saturday combined with an unwanted replay several days later could mean Liverpool are a terrible bet for Sunday’s clash. We, however, feel that Gerrard & Torres are only just starting to warm up and Spurs could be a side in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then again, Liverpool could be found fast asleep, again, so who blooming knows… certainly not us by the looks of things.  

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 4th

Recent Form: LWWDW

(Haven’t conceded an away goal in over 250 minutes of play)

Tottenham hold all the aces in the battle for top four supremacy, but the battle will hot up this weekend as they travel up to Liverpool in a top four six-pointer. Something which is unheard of. Spurs are currently five points ahead of Liverpool in the table and could go eight points clear of what is their strongest rivals for a top four finish, but defeat could see that deficit decrease to just two points. They will surely be confident of their chances, though, after watching on from a far as Liverpool could only manage a draw at Reading last Saturday. 

To see that Tottenham weren’t competing in one of the Carling Cup Semi-Finals was a surprise as they usually go very far in that competition. However, the burden of that tournament has now been lifted off their shoulders and after cruising past Peterborough in the FA Cup last Saturday, the morale in the Spurs dressing room will be sky-high as they’ve also been pretty slick back in the league; remaining unbeaten in their last four games. Three wins; Man City (3-0), Blackburn Rovers (0-2) and West Ham (2-0), combined with a 0-0 draw with Fulham, will have lifted the spirits of the players as all were tough fixtures but will a trip to Liverpool be a step too far for a Tottenham side which does tend to go missing after an impressive run of results.

Away from home, Tottenham have been just as hard to beat and have only lost two away games all season. Those two defeats did, however, come against Chelsea & Arsenal. Now, you can either look at that as only Chelsea & Arsenal have managed to beat Spurs or that Spurs have stuttered in the big contests. To be honest, it was a bit of both but Tottenham have a 100% losing record on the road against top four opposition this season, whilst the only occasion they avoided defeat against big four opposition was their 2-1 home victory over Liverpool at the start of the season. They were beaten 3-0 at Chelsea, 3-0 at Arsenal, and 3-1 by Man Utd at home.

For Spurs to win this encounter, they will need to play in a similar vein to Reading by doing a lot of closing down and man-marking Steven Gerrard. If they allow Gerrard to get his head up and pick out a pass then chances are the ball will fall onto Torres’ feet, and that’s a scary thought. Give Torres half-a-chance and he will score, just ask Martin O’Neill of Aston Villa. The concentration levels in that Spurs defence need to be spot on as one single mistake could cost them. Tottenham, to their credit, have kept two successive away clean sheets in the league and that is a good omen for the travelling fans, although we expect that run to come to an end this Sunday.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Liverpool W: 5 Tottenham Hotspur W:3 Draws: 2

Tottenham don’t have the best of records against Liverpool and have just their back-to-back home wins over the Reds’ to show for their recent efforts. Since the turn of the millennium, Spurs have never beaten Liverpool at Anfield. A total of 9 failed attempts; six defeats and three draws. Last season they were soundly beaten 3-1, with Torres getting in on the action.

Spurs did manage a 1-1 draw the season before last but will feel uneasy in the knowledge that they’ve lost on three on their previous visits to Anfield, but will take heart from the fact that they’ve scored in their last two visits.

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 1.91 Boylesports

Liverpool won this same contest 3-1 last season, with Fernando Torres scoring the opener, what was his 50^th at the time, and think the Spaniard will strike again in a home win. Their performance at the weekend was a shambles but you don’t often see a display as bad as that at Anfield, a venue where Liverpool generally play their best football. They will, though, need a much improved display from everyone who starts as Tottenham will be extremely dangerous when they break. The pace of Lennon down the flank needs to be tamed, while the height of Peter Crouch could cause them a few problems, although Benitez knows everything there is to know about Crouchy, and Robbie Keane for that matter, so Liverpool should have done their homework. An intriguing match, one which should be exciting from start to finish, but if Gerrard & Torres are on form in this encounter then three points should only go one way.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 1.91 Boylesports

Draw – 3.50 Bet365

Tottenham Hotspur – 4.50 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Fernando Torres FGS – 4.50 Bet365