Liverpool vs Spurs

Rory Fitzgerald · March 3, 2013

Our last win against Spurs was over 3 years ago when Kuyt netted a brace at Anfield, the 1st coming from an Aquilani assist. Coincidentally, thats the last time we scored a goal against them at Anfield !! In the 5 games since, we lost 4 and drew 1.

Last seasons game was Suarez's return from the 8 match ban when he came on as a sub. We were the better team that night and Modric never had the impact he did the season before when he ran the show in midfield.

1st goal key

The better the quality of opposition, the more important the 1st goal.Here is the record of these 2;

Spurs have taken the lead in 17 of their 26 games and their record when they score 1st is W12 D2 L3 - the defeats were all away from home to Arsenal, City and Everton. So, if they take the lead against us, our record is poor at coming back i.e. W0 D4 L6

The flip side is that they have only conceded first in 8 games and their record is W3 D2 L3 so (unsurprisingly for a team in their position) they are well capable of getting at least a point after they concede the first goal. However, if we do take the lead, our record is pretty good as well at seeing out games - W10 D3 L2

Something worth keeping in mind is that Spurs have the 2nd best record for scoring away from home with 27 goals in 14 games.

Spurs could possibly line up as follows;

Loris

Walker Dawson Vertonghen Naughton

Dembele Parker

Lennon Dempsey Bale

Defoe

Defence

Walker and Vertonghen have been the only consistent name in the defense. Vertonghen has alternated between CB and LB.

If he starts at CB - his partner could be either Dawson, Caulker or Gallas with LB probably taken by Kyle Naughton who has played there this season and has the benefit of being right footed to defend against Downing coming in on his left foot.

Assou-Ekotto has only started 5 league games this season. We might get a better picture after we see their line up vs Arsenal.

Midfield

The midfield of the team is pretty settled and picks itself. Lennon and Bale will start wide. Bale might start out on the left with Dempsey through the center (if he is fit), but he'll likely drift inside as he did in the 2nd half vs Newcastle recently and cause us different headaches. 11 of his 15 goals have been away from home.

Dembele has been in good form off-late and he will make his customary forceful runs through the midfield, while Parker will sit.

Attack

Defoe (10 goals) is back from injury and Dempsey (5 goals) could be back after a calf injury to start behind Defoe. Outside Bale, they are Spurs's top scorers with Adebayor only having 2 league goals. If Dempsey isn't back, Holtby could start behind Defoe.

Substitutes

They'll have strenght on the bench - Sigurdsson, Holtby, Adebayor. However, they won't have their back-up CM's as Sandro and Huddlestone are both injured. CM back up will come from Jake Livermore

Gylfi Sigurdsson scored his 1st league goal for Spurs against West Ham but has played only a full 90mins once this season in the league and only started 6 times. He has come off the bench a staggering 17 times this season.

Aaron Lennon is their most subbed player, coming off 11 times this season – 10 of which were from the 77th min onwards.

Most assists:

Lennon (7), Walker (4), Bale (4).

With the obvious focus on Bale given his 15 goal return with 6 in his last 4 games, there may be a tendancy for some fans to focus on their left. However, in terms of assists, most have come from the right flank with Lennon and Walker being their No. 1 & 2. Lennon has provided 42 crosses with Walker providing 3 more at 45.

From the LB spot, Assou-Ekotto, Vertonghen & Naughton have 2 assists between the 3 of them in the league.

NB: Spurs stats are prior to their game vs Arsenal

Reina

Johnson Carra Agger Enrique

Downing Lucas Gerrard Coutinho

Suarez Sturridge

Outside Utd, Spurs are the form team in the league winning 7 and drawing 4 of the last 11 games. Their last defeat was 3 months ago when Everton scored 2 injury time goals to beat them in early December.

Their set up is ideal for a count-attacking game and by lining up as above, we would be more open. However, Sturridge and Suarez 'have-to' start and we played 2 very good games away to Arsenal & City so I think we should go out at home and play our game rather than adapt it to Spurs. Their defensive record away from home is average and their backline has had no stability all season - I'd like to see us go at them.

The caveat, and its a huge caveat, is that we give up space when we don't have the ball and they have the players to capitalise. Furthermore, Bale would be coming in off the left and our right sided CB is Carra.

The game is being played on Mother's Day so make sure you have your day/weekend planned in advance to make room for this !

CarraLegend · March 3, 2013

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