Official Match Thread: v Tottenham (A)

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
saintanton said:
Can you imagine the stick given to BR if he brought in some youngsters and we got trounced?
We need to put out the strongest side we have available. If, in the manager's view, that includes one or two of the younger players then I'm sure he'd go for it, but we can't drop players who we (the fans) think are under-performing unless we can replace them with someone who we're certain would be an improvement.
I'm pretty sure BR wants us to win as much as we do, and he picks the team he thinks will do the best job. Of course, we're never all going to agree with him about his selection.
We don't even agree with each other.
Click to expand...

I mean he should give them playing time more often when the game is won, Norwich game was a good example.
 
Since you guys are doing your line ups I thought I'd add what I expect ours to be.

Lloris
Walker, Dawson, Capoue, Naughton
Paulinho, Sandro
Lennon, Holtby, Chadli
Defoe

Not sure that will be causing you guys any sleepless nights. Apparently Chiriches and Rose could be back but Rose has been perpetually a week away from returning for the last 2 months and we never usually take risks with injuries so I don't expect them to start. Ideally I think we would start like this:

Lloris
Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Rose
Sandro, Dembele
Lennon, Holtby, Townsend
Defoe

For me there's a big difference in the two line ups and the second is far more dangerous.
 
Master Yoda said:
Injuries really are hitting at the crunch time aren't they.

I can see a December to forgot, followed by a January of promise. A good midfielder arriving in January, when there's a hole in the squad could really lift us.
Click to expand...

Since our injuries, I've come to accept that we will probably come out with very little at the end of these fixtures. So, I've adopted the 'I don't give a ****' attitude... therefore if we do come out with something.... I'd be ecstatic.

#seasonover
 
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/liverpool/id/2113?cc=5901
:emoticon-0148-yes:
Robbie Keane, Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric, Charlie Adam, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Sebastian Bassong, Rafael van der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Martin Skrtel, Roman Pavyluchenko.

This is not the second verse to a Billy Joel song, no matter how melodic it sounded in your head (no, not Piano Man or Uptown Girl, it's really quite obvious). In a fixture that was first played in 1909, in over 110 years of football, these are the players who have defined Tottenham versus Liverpool.

All are recent, all are remembered. This game has become a small rivalry over the past few years, not because of geographical location or ideological differences, but because Tottenham are relentless in their troubling of the Merseyside club. Of those names and protagonists in this fixture, all of them have aided Spurs in some way. Goals, red cards, 20 million pound transfers: A potted history of Liverpool's decline over the past five years is permeated by Spurs lurking, a Nosferatu-like figure waiting to strike at the most opportune time.


Liverpool have lost seven of the last 11 meetings against Spurs in all competitions; they are defeats which, on reflection, could be considered as decisive results.

In November 2008, unbeaten Liverpool -- playing excellent, dominating football -- arrived at White Hart Lane. Spurs, bottom of the Premier League, had recently appointed Harry Redknapp as manager, who had taken to the role in his top, top manner. What followed was a 70-minute annihilation; Dirk Kuyt put Liverpool ahead before they hit the woodwork three times, carving through Tottenham. Yet Spurs regrouped and would somehow, some way, eventually win 2-1 with a Pavlyuchenko own goal.

The final league table would show that Liverpool lost the league by four points, not three. It would also confirm that the Tottenham defeat would only be one of two that season. But after eight wins in the opening 10 games, this defeat at the 11th hour troubled Liverpool; the self-doubt and the question returned. "You ain't title contenders, aintcha?" came the not-so-terrific voice from above. Though Liverpool would dispose of bottom-half Bolton and West Brom, something changed within the squad's mentality. They would draw seven of their next 10 games.

No matter. After losing the title by such a fine margin the season before, Liverpool travelled to north London on a blistering opening weekend. Revenge -- and probably an industrial-sized, cartoon air conditioner, too -- was on the mind. Spurs were to be the first team of the procession towards Liverpool's title in what would truly, undeniably, without any hint of sarcasm, be Liverpool's season. But Assou-Ekotto did something he would never do again and hammered a 30-yard screamer past Pepe Reina; Jamie Carragher broke Skrtel's jaw; Bassong scored the winner and any belief melted away. Though certainly not the only reason for Liverpool's seventh-place finish in a season that was meant to end with them as champions, to begin with such a chastening defeat set the pattern of underachievement and disappointment.

And so it has continued, with Spurs taking Liverpool's optimism and turning into pessimism. Goals from van der Vaart and Modric denied Kenny Dalglish's side Europa League football in 2011; a few months later, with Liverpool buoyant over life under Dalglish and a summer of 100 million pound investments, they were embarrassed 4-0. Even last season after eight unbeaten early in Brendan Rodgers' reign -- a run often overlooked -- Liverpool lost despite a gallant effort against Bale and friends.

There is no real logic to Spurs' dominance over Liverpool and their penchant to make things go wrong when everything appears to finally be going right.

There is temptation to point towards Spurs' stability. The November 2008 defeat came in Redknapp's third game in charge; nearly three years later, with wise spending and a Champions League campaign behind them, they were beating a side who were onto their third manager, soon to be fourth.

Whatever Spurs' hold over Liverpool -- maybe it's just one of those things in football, like goals against former clubs, or Steve Coppell's bi-weekly job change -- Rodgers must reverse it on Sunday. He started well enough last season, the 3-2 win against Andre Villas-Boas' side as thrilling as it was wholly undeserved; for Liverpool, who won three points through fortune, it was a nice shake-up from years gone by.

Suggesting this is an important game for Liverpool offers nothing insightful. Placed five points behind leaders Arsenal, and three ahead of Tottenham, this is obviously a fixture of high importance. Yawn! Liverpool have to get a positive result in this game. Double yawn! Liverpool especially have to win because Manchester City and Chelsea await just after Christmas. Wins equals points and points most definitely, in this manic league, equals the prize of Champions League football. This is nothing the world doesn't already know.

The fact that this game comes against Spurs provides a warning from history, but also offers motivation. Stability is important when aspiring towards an ultimate aim, as the meetings between these two sides have shown recently. Of the two sides that line up on Sunday, Liverpool are more stable. Both appointed new managers in the summer of 2012, and both have performed good and bad -- but with the departure of Bale, and the retaining of Luis Suarez, there would appear more coherence on Merseyside. There were certainly no rumours and reports of Rodgers' demise, unlike Villas-Boas a fortnight ago, unfairly made to defend his job security in public.

From that base of (relative) stability, Rodgers can build. After just two wins against the league's top six in 15 attempts, this could be the third. It could also prompt further instability at White Hart Lane. There are two ways to become stronger in this league: Strengthen your own team and weaken others. Victory on Sunday could, in theory, do both.

Piece-by-piece, Liverpool are improving the aspect that became so woeful under Roy Hodgson and, eventually, Dalglish. The mentality is improving, as evidenced by Liverpool not suffering back-to-back defeats under Rodgers; they are scoring more goals and, until the latter portion of this season, were keeping more clean sheets; the heavy home victories also point to an improvement against the lesser sides at Anfield.

The next step, if Liverpool are to progress further under Rodgers, is to beat the sides in direct competition for the top four. He will have three opportunities in two weeks starting Sunday; failure to do so will raise questions once more, even if they shouldn't. Wins, however, stabilise and strengthen his position further. Ironically, it may be their poor record against Spurs since 2008 -- moving from bottom to a genuine top-four contender in that time under Redknapp -- which shows how significant that can be.
Click to expand...
 
Soldado starts up front in the Europa, Eriksen and Dodgy-Penalty are on the bench
 
BCR said:
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/liverpool/id/2113?cc=5901
:emoticon-0148-yes:
Click to expand...

No wonder that load of crap was written by Kristian Walsh for ESPN - he certainly should avoid presenting history when he has no knowledge of what he's talking about. Only a dickhead could relate this list Robbie Keane, Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric, Charlie Adam, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Sebastian Bassong, Rafael van der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Martin Skrtel, Roman Pavyluchenko to the phrase "these are the players who have defined Tottenham versus Liverpool."

If he really wanted to make a point then he could point to the fact that the vast majority of the Spurs players are no longer with the club.
 
Foredeckdave:5758258 said:
BCR said:
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/liverpool/id/2113?cc=5901
:emoticon-0148-yes:
Click to expand...

No wonder that load of crap was written by Kristian Walsh for ESPN - he certainly should avoid presenting history when he has no knowledge of what he's talking about. Only a dickhead could relate this list Robbie Keane, Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric, Charlie Adam, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Sebastian Bassong, Rafael van der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Martin Skrtel, Roman Pavyluchenko to the phrase "these are the players who have defined Tottenham versus Liverpool."

If he really wanted to make a point then he could point to the fact that the vast majority of the Spurs players are no longer with the club.
Click to expand...

Out of all those player, only two remain at their club (unfortunately in our case <whistle>)
 
Rubadub said:
Spurs have got 9 points handed to them on a plate this season by shocking refereeing decisions so they should be down the bottom and that would be a true reflection of how **** all of their signings have been. I think we will get a draw but I wouldn't be surprised if we got robbed with the shady decisions they have been getting all season.
Click to expand...

Did u see the penalty we just got given then?

Hahaha
 
Mark Lawrenson's Prediction for Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool (Sunday, 16:00 GMT)

Liverpool are without Steven Gerrard for the festive period because of injury, which is a massive blow for them.

This next month will give them an indication of how difficult it is going to be to replace him when his playing days are over.

The Reds are without Daniel Sturridge too, so it is just as well that Luis Suarez is in such dazzling form at the moment. He has been nothing short of sensational lately.

But I just think Tottenham have turned the corner. There was a massive over-reaction to their 6-0 defeat at Manchester City and, if you look at their performances and results since then, they have come good.

Spurs have had two good wins on the road at Fulham and Sunderland and I can see them making it three in a row with a win at White Hart Lane.

Liverpool have been very good at despatching teams at home but they have been inconsistent and dropped points away from Anfield. For me, you cannot under-estimate the impact that the loss Gerrard will have on them.

Lawro's prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Liverpool


Lawro has got his last three Spurs predictions spot-on...

Lawro's 2013-14 Predictions
 
so og and dodgy pen it is then <whistle>

i am hoping for a boring 0-0, don't think we have enough to get 3pts(UNLESS luis has one of those games) and just hope you don't have enough to score, if you do score, certainly win i would have thought.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back