So the winner will be the in-form PL team. Interesting. Arsenal-Spurs also featured two of the hottest teams in the league. Both teams and sets of fans might prefer a full week’s buildup. As it is, a game which seems difficult to predict in any case has an extra uncertainty factor. I know Spurs might well be exhilarated from a big win, or exhausted from a big effort. For a moment, Kopite, I thought you’d decided to use my local baseball team’s logo as an avatar! please log in to view this image One reason is to not change a rotation policy that has been working for us. Another is that where there are near equivalents, having fresh legs should be an advantage. But I see your point. Keeping the team exactly the same as a reward for playing so well against Arsenal wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Think if you look over the 12 games shown Spurs and Chelsea have 26 points, Liverpool, City and United have 25 points. All in decent form but the table is ****ed
It also shows the last 6 matches in the final column, but let's make it the last 3? That makes Spurs THE form team with us, yoonited, Chelsea and stoke in joint 2nd. My point was that based on both clubs form over the last few weeks it should be a good game.
The BBC table shows the last 10, Spurs well on top Chelsea second and Liverpool, City and United joint third Without messing though, this should be a really good game to watch, two teams playing good football and a field full of talented players Can`t stand watching Chelsea (though i do if theyr`e on), too dull, all that talent stifled!
No need to watch Chelsea though. Chelsea kick off at the same time on the same day as yoonited Diego.
Rodgers has said "Sturridge is better than Kane." Well, I'm not insecure enough to rise to that because for all I know he could be but the point of my post is that Kane is now getting mentioned with the best. Well done Harry, you're getting noticed and if you are then Spurs are.
Going to Anfield for any side is tough, we did have a decent spell a couple of years back but in recent seasons we've not had any success, both home and away against them. After the way we played Saturday you could forgive the players if they're unable to repeat that sort of intensity just 3 days later but I think they'll still be up for this match as Liverpool are one our biggest rivals for a CL place. A draw would be a good result, a win superb. I wouldn't be surprised if Poch made a couple of changes purely due to freshness and fitness reasons, Chadli might start over say Lamela or Mousa, maybe Stambouli too depending on how Mason or Bentaleb are feeling, Davies for Rose also? It's not ideal to change what isn't broken but as I mentioned, after the effort that was put in to Saturday's match I wouldn't be surprised if there were still some tired and recovering legs amongst the squad. That's a really good point, with ours and Dowd's fitness levels being complete polar opposites, there's a good chance he may be out of position if we (or Pool) are on a counter in the latter part of a game and could make a wrong call if the situation arises. Really think the FA/ Refereeing body need to look and evaluate the condition of some refs, I know there's meant to be a test they all need to pass but I think this supposed test could do with a bit more tweaking and enhancing.
We have the most in-form striker in the country and pundits predict we won't score? It'll probably jinx us now that I've questioned their predictions but even if they don't expect us to win (which I can understand as Pool at Anfield is a very tough fixture for any side) surely any level-headed pundit would say "okay, Kane's on fire and it'd be hard not to say he'll grab a goal and if he doesn't there's always Eriksen and Chadli who are two of the highest scoring midfielders in the league, so I'll go 2-1/ 3-2 to Pool". Anyway **** it, the anti-Spurs agenda just fuels us.
We simply have to win if we are to keep pace with the teams challenging for top 4, going to be a good game.
I mentioned this on our match thread, Kane is on form yes but it's Eriksson who keeps you ticking over and it's him we need stop. Lucas being out is a blow for us.
I didn't realise Lucas was out, that's a bit of a bonus for us as no doubt Rodgers would have tasked him with man-marking/ keeping a close eye on Eriksen. Although he's not featured much in recent games due to a family bereavement, Chadli seems to be the man a lot of teams don't acknowledge yet statistically, he's been our second best outfield player behind Kane in terms of combined goals and assists. The trio of Kane, Eriksen and Chadli have been pivotal to us this season, all have had spells where they've bailed us out so to speak so it'll be an interesting battle of attacks, what with our three and Sterling, Sturridge and Coutinho.
It could come down to who scores more our main problem is that Sterling and Coutinho are a doubt along with Lucas out, if all 3 are out we are in trouble. I expect Sturridge to start this one though and he's capable of getting goals.
This is a must win for 'pool as luvgonzo says. For Spurs a draw would be a good/great/useful result. A win would be dreamland for us, 7pts above 'pool and would nearly put them out of the CL race even if its not Spurs that get it. 1pt in it and it could be a massive multi-club ding-dong til the end of the season. Even with our form we have no right to expect to beat 'pool at Anfield.
