Liverpool host table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, with the two sides separated by goal difference alone. Both teams were held away from home by Fulham and Crystal Palace respectively on Sunday- adding plenty of spice to this Premier League clash.
Table-Toppers Tottenham Hotspur Visit Anfield
Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool Looking to Take Initiative
Both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to take initiative in this match at Anfield. The sides find themselves on the same points with Spurs top virtue of their five-goal superior goal difference. The North Londoners also have the meanest defence in the League whilst Liverpool have the meanest attack. What a prospect this game is for the fans.
Incredibly, both sides not only have the same points but how they achieved their tallies is also identical. Seven wins, four draws and just the one defeat each. Tottenham’s defeat came in an opening day 1-o reverse at home to Liverpool’s neighbours Everton, whilst for Liverpool, it was a rather more humbling 7-2 thrashing away at Aston Villa. So something surely has to give at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Home is Where the Heart is for Liverpool
Liverpool are on an unbeaten run of 65 games at home and have won 31 of the last 32 home games so Spurs will have their work cut out to change that statistic. Liverpool will not be facing a Tottenham side who lay down easily though as Jose Mourinho has made them hard to beat and hard to play against. There have been suggestions from critics that Spurs’ style of play isn’t enjoyable to watch, but Jose Mourinho pointed out after the 2-0 win over Arsenal that if his team is winning, and it is not necessary to leave his defence open, saying:
“You are winning 2-0, why would you expose your defensive block if you don’t have to? It was a very difficult game.”
With Liverpool enjoying the fruits of their attacking style, Spurs fans may well have to settle for a very compact and counter-attacking set up from their team once more.
Away Form Key for Tottenham Hotspur
Jose Mourinho has faced Jurgen Klopp five times in away matches and has yet to record a victory but his sides’ away form since the end of last season has been solid. Four draws and five wins in the last nine show that Mourinho has got his team to be consistent on the road. A win or a draw would be no bad result for Spurs, although whoever prevails will be setting down a marker for the rest of the Premier League season ahead.
The Managers
Jose Mourinho
According to Jose Mourinho, it is all about sticking to the philosophy for table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur, telling Sky Sports:
“It’s a game where we don’t change our philosophy. We don’t change our wishes. We want to win.”
Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool manager Klopp is under no illusions of the job that Jose Mourinho is doing at Spurs, telling Sky Sports:
“I don’t think he was surprised but he showed comeback skills if it was a comeback. Very impressive what he’s done at Tottenham. The way they play this year is really good.
“He turned them into a results machine. They’ve got results, they have good performances – if they’re not at their top, they still win.”
Prediction
With both teams in great form and neither wanting to lose any ground in the title race this could be a very close encounter.
Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
