Liverpool vs Tottenham – Match Preview

This weekend brings us another blockbuster match-up in this tight top four race in the Premier League. Liverpool vs Tottenham is the Saturday evening kick off. Spurs are flying high, as possibly the only team left who stands a chance of catching Chelsea at the top. Liverpool, meanwhile, have only one win in 2017 against Plymouth in the FA Cup 3rd Round Replay. They now face a tough run of games to try and get back into the Champions League places.

Form and team strengths

Liverpool have been hugely lacking the pace, movement, intensity and overall creativity that has been their earmark for the first half of the season.

Though Sadio Mané, who has nine goals and four assists so far this season, has returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, the Reds are still yet to re-harness his pace and ability to stretch defences and use it to their advantage. It will be important that the likes of Mané make big contributions on Saturday to revitalise this Reds attack.

It is worth noting that Liverpool clearly turn up in the big games under Jürgen Klopp, and are yet to be beaten by any of the top six this season. When teams go toe to toe with them, it leaves more space in behind both on possession and on the counter attack to create more opportunities. Klopp’s side will look to add to their 52 goal tally.

At Tottenham, Mauricio Pochettino is building a brilliant team that look to be improving every season. The defensive base is fully in place with a world class goalkeeper and strong, settled back four. As a unit they have only conceded 16 Premier League goals this season. Whilst the Anfield side have kept six clean sheets in the Premier League, the travelling North London side so far have an impressive 11 clean sheets. In addition, Spurs average a mere 0.67 goals conceded per game, compared to Liverpool’s 1.25 goals.

Liverpool have been poor in defence, conceding 30 goals so far littered with defensive and goalkeeping errors. Pochettino’s side will look to use this to their advantage, with the pace on the wings from their fullbacks, as well as the opportunities to spring counter-attacks against a vulnerable defensive unit. Harry Kane will be given the opportunity to add to his 14 goal tally.

Other Key Players and Match-ups

As with the majority of high profile, high stakes games, the most important battles will take place in the midfield. For Tottenham, the solid defensive midfield unit of Moussa Dembélé and Victor Wanyama will look to stifle Liverpool’s attack further by pressing their attacking players and giving them very little space and time. Cutting off deep lying midfielders like Jordan Henderson, who is the only Premier League midfielder to make over 2000 passes so far this season, will be an area where Spurs can take out a large proportion of potential Liverpool attacking opportunities.

Liverpool will hope the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana in particular are given this space to bring back their much needed creative spark from an offensive standpoint. Lallana has been instrumental to the successful Liverpool performances, and has cloaked up seven goals and seven assists so far. Meanwhile, Coutinho is yet to add to his five league goals and five assists since his return from injury. His return to form will be crucial in the upcoming fixtures, starting with the game against Spurs.

The White Hart Lane side boast an array of attacking options themselves that will look to take advantage of a side low on confidence and defensive solidity. Fullbacks Danny Rose and Kyle Walker have combined for seven assists so far. Unfortunately, Pochettino stated in his press conference that he doesn’t know when Rose will be fit again. Ordinarily, they ctreate space for the likes of Delle Alli and Christian Eriksen, who has five goals and eight assists. If Rose is unfit, Welsh left back Ben Davies may get the nod.

Klopp will hope the pressing and aggression his teams are known for returns to Liverpool’s midfield. Henderson could be accompanied by the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can (should they both play) in winning balls and making tackles in the middle of the park to end further potential Tottenham chances and to kick-start Liverpool attacks.

The Last Word

Liverpool vs Tottenham has the potential to give us plenty of goals. Spurs will look to leave Anfield with a positive result and keep up their growth and momentum under Pochettino, whilst this is a must win game for Klopp’s men in the fight for a return to the top four and to the Champions League.