Liverpool vs Tottenham - stumbling giants against out-gunned pretenders
12.45pm on Saturday afternoon sees a fixture kick off at Anfield that was anticipated to be between two teams aiming at least for qualification to the UEFA Champions League.
Instead after poor starts to their seasons, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur will begin at 9th and 16th places respectedly!
Last season’s corresponding fixture, a Harry Kewell rocket saw the Londoners leaving Anfield with a 1-0 loss. Here’s a few reasons why once again the visitors will return to London with no share of the points:
Tottenham are goal-shy
Tottenham have not scored for 343 minutes since Jermaine Jenas’ 17th minute efffort sealed a victory against Sheffield United at White Hart Lane, and have equalled their worst start to a league campaign for 14 years by failing to win since then, their 0-0 draw against Fulham the only other point that Tottenham have picked up this season.
Berbatov and Lennon are out injured
Berbatov will be a big miss for Spurs as he is and Jenas are the only players to score forr them this season. In his absence Jol will likely stick with his big man-little man philosophy and start Keane with the off-form Mido. Indeed aside from Berbatov, only Robbie Keane has looked good upfront for Tottenham this season. Arguably Lennon is a bigger miss as without his pace and penetration with Routledge loaned out.
Liverpool’s Middlemen & the Michael Carrick Deficiency
Since Carrick’s departure, Tottenham have lacked ability to keep the ball. Didier Zokora who was bought as Carrick’s replacement has looked powerful bursting forward but defensively sloppy at times. Jenas must play his attacking role for Spurs which will leave gaps for the likes of Alonso and Gerrard to exploit.
There is also a lack of a genuine ball winning player in the middle as age appears to catch up with Edgar Davids who just doesn’t look comfortable in the Premiership anymore, and while Danny Murphy may be known as a gritty performer but he is nevertheless a creative player first. In the Liverpool midfield however, Sissoko’s ball-winning abilities have meant that Gerrard can forsake his defensive duties for an attacking role.
Home advantage
Tottenham have not scored away from home in the league this season, losing both times. Their opponents Liverpool, on the other hand haven’t lost in 28 games at at Anfield since losing 4-1 to Chelsea on October 2 last year.
Liverpool in form
Another reason to expect a victory for the hosts to take all 3 points is that key Liverpool players finding form. Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle not only saw Xabi Alonso’s wonder goal, but also his and his fellow Spaniard, Luis Garcia’s return to form. Garcia’s ability to play on the left means Gerrard can return to his roving right midfield role which saw him score so many goals last season. Jamie Carragher was also back to his solid reliable best against the Toon, shackling Martins and Ameobi with the help
of the ever-improving Agger.
Tottenham’s attack is weak
And lastly, Liverpool have the better strikeforce. Dirk Kuyt has finally broken his duck and should now go on a scoring run to prove Rafa’s faith in him. Bellamy has looked sharp early in the season and his tricky runs could prove the difference between the teams. For Tottenham Robbie Keane must play as he remains the only striker who looks capable of scoring at the moment; this season Mido has not yet looked the part and Defoe has not managed to hit the heights to prove wrong Sven Goran Eriksson’s decision not to take him to the World Cup.
Soccerlens Match Prediction
A convincing 3-0 home win for Liverpool as they try to make up for their false start, while Tottenham continue to stutter as they try to find some balance. Expect this game to heap the pressure on Martin Jol with tough upcoming games against current league leaders Portsmouth, Martin O’Neill’s resurgent Villains and West Ham all coming up.
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What a crap article… ALthough Liverpool are clearly odds on to win the game, and tottenham are of form, this is purely an analysis of Tottenham’s shortcomings. Liverpool, who have also had a shaky start to the season despite a victory against Newcastle (with their 2nd choice keeper in goal), are still to start firing on all cylinders. A 3-0 victory was not even achieved by Manchester United against Tottenham at old trafford, and Tottenham could well have taken something from the game. A slight bit of over confidence, I think…
Totally Agree, this has to be Liverpool’s game. We need the 3 points and Tottenham are quite shaky at this time.
Come on you reds.
Great site, will be here more often.
Instead after poor starts to their seasons, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur will begin at 9th and 16th places respectedly!
- Erm shouldn’t that read ‘respectively’?
Not a bad article and I agree with you on the likely outcome. However your reasoning in places depends on what you hold to be obvious truths such as Kuyt’s likelihood to go on a goal scoring run. He might, but then again he might get injured. Nothing in football is that clear cut.
You are 100% right when you say Spurs are sorely missing Berbatov and Lennon. However you talk about Danny Murphy whilst ignoring the plethora of alternative midfield talent that remains after Carricks departure. Ghaly, Zakora, Jenas and Zeigler are all available too of whom I think Zakora is the toughest tackler.
‘Tottenham are goal shy’ - yes they haven’t scored in 343 minutes, but they’ve created a lot of chances and one of them is bound to go in sooner or later. I’d say sooner, expect a goal at Anfield.
2-1 Liverpool Gerrard and Kuyt with Robbie Keane for Spurs
Toby, right you are, it should be respectively, thats a typo.
You are also right in that Kuyt going on a scoring run is not assured. That said, as in his games for Liverpool so far he has found several good chances but seemed over-eager to get his first for the club (remember that rocket against Cech’s post), with that and his goalscoring record in Holland, which i agree could mean nothing (see Kezman), i feel that he will start to score consistently.
With regards to Spurs, yes I did focus mainly on Danny Murphy as Jol has been talking him up in the press and appears most likely to start. I did mention Jenas but he is the man who must cover for Lennon, he has looked the best on the right of Tottenhams midfield. The quite versatile Ghaly has played on the left this season so Jol doesn’t seem to believe he is the answer in the centre while Ziegler is a leftback/winger by trade only. I did mention Zokora and yes he is currently the toughest tackler with decent form but he is prone to the sloppy error here and there,perhaps he still needs more time to settle to the English game. Spurs will probably start with Ghaly and Jenas on the left and right with Murphy and Zokora in the middle, but I think Liverpools midfield quartet will prove too much for them.
I can admit when I’m wrong - 3-0 you said and 3-0 it was! I hope you got some decent odds at the bookmaker!
You are totally correct in that it was all lost in midfield although what Defoe was doing near the left touchline all the time is beyond me.
Spurs have a serious left-sided problem, resulting in the strikers going out of position all the time hence no goals.
I think the turning point was the Jenas miss - it all unraveled after that.
I’m not going to say the scoreline flattered Liverpool despite a hint of offside for one of the goals. Tottenham got precisely what they deserved which as a fan is very hard to admit.
On the brightside, when you get that low the only way is up for Martins men…
Aadithya, nice prediction mate
The Spurs left side certainly is a problem, I wonder if even Andy Reid staying might have helped. Liverpool my contrast now seem to have too many left wingers, wonder if Jol might work out a loan deal in January? Zenden/Aurelio/Warnock take your pick.
Defoe on the touchline I suppose was an attempt to add some pace on the wing but i feel it was a bad decision as Defoe is more like Michael Owen than Wayne Rooney, and can only play on the shoulder of the last defender, or at least near there.
The Jenas miss truly was a stinker and it did all change though I’d say it was more of Liverpool being awoken rather than Spurs unraveling. The offside you mention must be the Kuyt goal, Gerrard was offside but not interfering in play and Essou Ekotto was caught in two minds whether to play the high line or stay near Gerrard and in the end played Kuyt onside.
I do expect Spurs to recover, but unfortunately European competition may be out of their reach this season unless some key signings are made in January. A left winger and perhaps a good passer in the centre. Downing anyone?
Hope to see your comments in the future.