Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool

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Sunday 22nd October 4pm
Premier League
Wembley Stadium​

Real Madrid at the Bernabeu is one of the sternest tests you can face and we came through it well.
Pochettino's tactical change caused them some real issues and surprised virtually everyone.
Now he's got another opponent that he's struggled with in the past.
Can he do a similar job on our guests from Merseyside?

Liverpool's start to the campaign has been quite a roller coaster.
A big win against Arsenal, a big loss to City and a number of draws against teams that they'd expect to beat.
They've put in a couple of good performances this week though, drawing with a dour Utd side before a big win.
NK Maribor might not be the most glamorous opponent, but a 7-0 away win in the Champions League is still rare.

Jurgen Klopp's side has faced similar criticisms to those of previous seasons.
At their best, they tear teams apart and create chances at will, putting plenty of them away, too.
At their worst, they're a shambles at the back and don't do enough to protect their defence.
Is the opposition's answer to shut up shop like Utd and if so, is that something we can manage?
Having gone with an attacking lineup in the week, it seems an unlikely option, but then so was that choice.

This fixture last season was early on in the campaign and we struggled to get up to speed.
The visitors were the better side in the first half and took the lead through a controversial penalty.
Milner's goal was enough to separate the sides at half-time, after Walker had limped of halfway through.
The second half was a better performance and Danny Rose scored a deserved equaliser.

The away game was a terrible performance, as Ben Davies was isolated against Sadio Mane and it told.
The Senegalese attacker ran riot, scoring twice early on and threatening more.
The 2-0 scoreline at half-time wasn't flattering and were rarely looked like changing it in a dour second half.
Definitely one of our worst games, especially in the middle of a very impressive run.

Davies, N'Koudou and Alli are all available, having missed the trip to Madrid for a variety of reasons.
Wanyama, Dembele and Lamela are all still missing through injury, though.
Lallana, Mane and Clyne are all out for the visitors.

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Lloris; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Winks, Dier, Son; Eriksen, Alli; Kane.
Subs: Vorm, Foyth, Aurier, Walker-Peters, Sissoko, N'Koudou, Llorente.
League form: DWDWWW.

Liverpool: Mignolet; Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Can; Salah, Firmino, Coutinho.
Subs: Karius, Klavan, Alexander-Arnold, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke, Sturridge.
League form: WLDWDD.

Referee: Andre Marriner.

TV: Sky Sports.

We now appear to have three systems to choose from, so which should it be?
Should we play our normal game against Liverpool or adjust to counter their game?
Who should make way from our midweek team and who needs a rest?

 

Paul Stewart

 

Pochettino press conference:

 

Logic suggests we draft Ben Davies straight back in, but the DoF's 15 minutes on Tuesday gives us that option or even sticking with the RM formation.

Wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to bring Dele back though. An afternoon on the bench wouldn't do any harm on recent performances.

 

Sorry to be uncharacteristically miserable but why can we never beat these bastards even though we regularly finish above them ?

 

To give the Mousers some PL bragging rights. < charidee >

 

I thought charidee was why we let them steal our car stereos

 

FTFY

 

Excellent press conference by Pochettino.
Sound-bite killing twice, honest statement on
the "formation" shocker.

 

That's got to be the weirdest transfer in British football history.
£20m plus over £1m to the THFC Foundation Charity only to sell him back to us 6 months later for £12m

 

I'd only make one change from the Madrid game and it's a harsh one at that but providing Davies is fit, I'd have him in for Winks. Just feel Dier's defensive skills along with Moussa's power makes for a more equipped CM pairing for this match. I think Tripps will start but feel Aurier's pace will be needed against Pool's attack.

Hugo
Toby, Dave, Jan
Aurier, Dier, Sissoko, Davies
Eriksen
Llorente, Kane

Vorm, Tripps, Rose, Winks, Alli, GK, Son.

 

This is one game I really want you to win.
But strangely, their defence doesn't part like the Red Sea against the top sides.
Nonetheless, I see a narrow Spurs win.

 

Can you post a link to what you are talking about please. @The RDBD

 

It's not good to see Dembele and Wanjama both struggling with fitness. We do need that extra strength in midfield to allow us the possession we have become used to. Dier becomes even more important without both of them. Especially when playing a team like Liverpool midfield control is vital. Having said that the way we played against RM without the midfield domination showed the flexibility of Spurs which seems to be a growing factor.
It's clear that MP looks at how he can increase the flexibility of all his players. Son, Rose, Vertonghen,
Sissoko, Davies, have all been played in positions that were surprising. He seems to be working along the lines of the Total Football invented by the Dutch, which has been incorporated into the modern game in part but rarely in 'Total'.

The developing Pochettino project is very exciting and seems to be unnoticed by our illustrious pundits. The pundits are so conservative in their opinions and rarely seem to bring any real insights into the game. With a little luck MP will be showing them in a couple of years when they finally realise what is going on in the dazzling new stadium in North London.

 

PNP's match day threads are easily the most interesting read in the run up to the games. Well done mate

 

Not featured: Charlie Adam being Charlie Adam.

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Glad to see the back of Skirtel at least that risk to our players has gone.

 

I agree that Alli should be dropped but don't think Llorente will suit this type of game. My my Moussa should keep him out of the side. If Pool bring their A game we may be reduced to playing on the counter, so will need a bit more pace going forward. Davies definitely straight back into the side and our Benevolent DOF back to warming the bench.

Hugo
Toby Dave Jan
Aurier Dier Winks Davies
Sissoko Eriksen
Kane

 

Interesting how many like the praise compared to how many like the object of praise.. Get your likes in to pnps work Gents.

 

Brilliant - well said.
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