please log in to view this image Saturday 2nd April 5.30pm Anfield Premier League This is a big game for both sides and there'll be a lot of eyes on it for a variety of reasons. We're hoping to cut down Leicester's 5 point lead before they face Southampton on Sunday. Liverpool may be down in 9th, but they've only played 29 games and they'll be eyeing a European place. Even 4th may be a possibility, as City's form is pretty poor and the two Utds have the FA Cup to look to. Klopp's side have faced mixed fortunes since he took over from Brendan Rodgers in October. They've progressed in the Europa League, knocking out Man Utd and reached the League Cup final. Defeat to City on penalties, repeated losses to West Ham and erratic league form have been the flip side. It's been a bit reminiscent of Pochettino's first season at the Lane, in some ways. Maybe it's appropriate that his first game as Liverpool manager was at our ground? Our meeting earlier in the season was much-hyped, but didn't really live up to it's billing. The visitors started very quickly, bursting out of the blocks. We struggled with our momentum, missing several important midfielders with Chadli joining them early on. Bentaleb, Mason and Son looked like big misses at the time. Dier's suspension was far more important. Dembele's enforced return to the side turned out to be a massive plus. The tide seemed to change as the game went on and Liverpool tired. Players unfamiliar with Klopp's approach to the game ran out of steam and the chances came. A Belgian stepped up and made a big impact, which is true of many of our games. Unfortunately it was a man who has mainly played the role of villain this season, Simon Mignolet. He frustrated N'Jie and Kane, most notably. Pulled off some very good saves. Highlights. Last season's fixture at Anfield was exciting but ultimately ended in disappointment. Liverpool took the lead on three occasions and were pegged back twice, but Balotelli's only goal won it. Markovic and Gerrard (pen) got the other goals for the hosts and all three are elsewhere this season. Kane and Dembele got our two, but a third wasn't forthcoming, unfortunately. Injury news is a little vague for both sides. Alderweireld was ill on international duty, but trained with the side over the last few days. Should be ok. Lamela got back late and picked up a knock, but it's also supposed to be fine. Vertonghen and N'Jie are also close, so our only long-term problem appears to be Bentaleb. Benteke and Firmino missed training for our opponents and will be tested before the game. They're both rated as doubtful and may join Origi, Moreno, Leiva, Ings and Gomez on the sidelines. A midweek trip to Klopp's old side Dortmund is also approaching and may influence selection. He may not risk anyone who has questionable fitness before they play our Europa League victors. Lineups for each club's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Lamela, Eriksen, Alli; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Walker-Peters, Mason, Carroll, Chadli, Son. League form: WWLDWW. Liverpool: Mignolet; Flanagan, Lovren, Sakho, Clyne; Lallana, Can, Allen, Coutinho; Origi, Sturridge. Subs: Ward, Toure, Smith, Skrtel, Henderson, Ojo, Benteke. League form: LDWWWL. Referee: Jonathan Moss. Any changes need to the side that beat Bournemouth so comfortably? Is there anything different that we need to do tactically to deal with Klopp's tactics? Are any of our players in real need of a rest?
I don't like to badmouth officials before the game, but do we really have to have Jonathan Moss? He's had some very poor games in our fixtures, including this baffling decision against West Brom:
It's lucky one of Dembele's legs wasn't planted when the anti-British thug connected. As you say, baffling that a red card was not forthcoming. We've had some bad luck against West Brom in recent years and they're due a thumping from us.
We need a strong, competent and totally unbiased referee with any trip to Klanfield and usually there is around a 70% chance we will be facing 12 men, let`s hope Jonathan Moss has a good game and has no influence on a bad result for Spurs. COYS
Biggest game of the season so far--again. Nothing but three points will help us--and we’ve had three straight horrible defeats at Anfield. We’ve won exactly one of the reverse fixtures of our seven last games. The team has cleared a lot of hurdles it’s fallen at in the past, but Anfield is another high one, and will be followed in short order by five more.
Touching wood, we don't have any injury concerns to worry about since our last Prem game and reading between the lines I'd say Jan and Clint are both about a game away from returning so maybe with a bit of luck, they both might get 45 mins on Wednesday when the U21s play Boro. We've not had the best of records against Pool in recent seasons so we could really do with a change in fortune on Saturday, they seem to be a bit topsy turvy, great one minute and ****e the next so I'm hoping it's the latter come our game. Hugo Walker, Toby, Big Kev, Rose Dier, Dembele Chadli, Eriksen, Alli Kane Vorm, Tripps, Davies, Mason, Lamela, Son, Onomah I put Chadli in over Lamela as Poch said something about Lamela returning later than the rest due to his Argentina duties so not sure if he'll be jaded or not from the flight back.
Is it possible to get unbiased refereeing at Anfield? Of course if we get a dodgy decision against us (again) there will be nothing said in the papers. However if a dodgy decision goes against Leicester the newly acquired fairy story supporting media will be up in arms. This is why I suspect refs are unlikely to want (subconsciously or otherwise) to go against the "script". I'm going for Leicester getting a dodgy penalty. Very happy to be wrong!
If Dier get a yellow card against Liverpool or Man U he gets a 2 game ban for collecting 10 cards. If he avoids this, the slate is wiped clean for the remaining fixtures. He has to just get on with it but it'll likely play on his mind a bit.
Which Liverpool team will turn up? The one which conceded 3 in no time v Soton or the one which beat City easily 3-0 in their last PL home game? Three crucial games next for Spurs - Liverpool (a), Utd (h), Stoke (a)- all teams who can be very good or very bad. It will be an interesting April.
I am, as usual, almost in full agreement with SOS's selection. However, if 'good cop' Liverpool turn up, they will bring a high-octane pressing game and seek to exploit us through their pace in midfield and up front, especially if Sturridge doesn't injure himself brushing his teeth tomorrow morning and plays. In games such as these, I've always been a firm believer in having a 'first line of defense' as high up the pitch as possible, to counter the inevitable pressure before it even gets going. Dembele filled this role superbly earlier in the season - his presence in the '3' meant that the opposition struggled to get out of their own half without him using his strength and control to halt their progress. I'd personally play him in the '3' and Mason next to Dier, but I doubt Poch will do that. So for me, we'll need much more bite and tenacity than Chadli offers - if Lamela is ready he should start. If not, I'd play Mason instead of Chadli. Even though that makes us even narrower than we already are, our FB's are killing it at the moment and offer more than enough width and overlap to bother most opposition.
A quick note for the English media Spurs were monitoring Dele Alli as far back as the 2011-12 season Liverpool did not show any interest in Alli until 2014 So drop that bone you're stubbornly holding onto about Alli being a "former Liverpool target" - unless you also want to report how Liverpool's approach to transfers mainly consists of seeing who Spurs are interested in (see also: Benteke, Ings, Lovren, Ilori)
I think Son will start, he didn't travel for internationals and he'll give more 'bite' than Chadli if Lamela isn't thought to be ready to start.
Spurs have done so well this year that hoping we will knock off our remaining bogey teams more or less in order almost seems too much to ask. There are plenty of reasons for hope as well as concern, of course. This will be the first game where it’s the other team that has to worry about an extra fixture. Also, the lack of wins against strong-ish sides wasn’t due to playing badly. Spurs may have created the better chances in every single PL game this year bar West Ham. The problem has been the ball not finding the back of the net. We were held scoreless against Man U, Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea, West Ham and Leicester. ***Thinks about saying: if we score, we have a real chance of winning, especially if we score more than one. Decides not to.*** COYS!
Nah, that’s from when Kane threw out the first pitch (notably competently) for my introduction to sports tragedy, the Chicago Cubs (no titles in 108 years--and no relegation!). Everything has gone remarkably well for both teams, and Kane in particular, since then. It’s striking also how the team colors are almost exactly the same. This is me. I’m not from Maine, though my mother’s family is from nearby Vermont. It’s from a friendly against Liverpool in Baltimore, when I found myself wondering why on earth Spurs were starting a tall young striker I’d never heard of. He looked active and fairly good on the ball for a tall young striker, but missed a half chance I thought he really needed to build his confidence. You may understand why I’ve always been a big Peter Crouch fan. please log in to view this image
