Liverpool get back on the road for the first time since a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Hull at the start of December to face a Spurs side who have had an indifferent start to the season thus far.
Two impressive home victories for the Reds helped ease the pain of the aforementioned loss to Hull, however while Liverpool have made Anfield somewhat of a fortress this season with 7 wins and 1 loss, on their travels the story has been rather different.
Two wins, three draws and two losses; or nine points from a possible 21, illustrates why Liverpool aren’t closer than the five point margin between themselves and current league leaders Arsenal.
While Liverpool on average score 2.75 goals per game at Anfield, they have only managed an average of 1.7 away from home and the job to score more goals away from home just got tougher.
Talismanic captain Steven Gerrard limped off with a Hamstring injury in Liverpool’s last outing, a 4-1 home win over West Ham, which has seen him ruled out of action for between four and six weeks. With six assists and three goals thus far in the league, Liverpool will have to reshuffle the midfield and hope someone else steps up to provide a similar level of direct attacking output in the absence of the skipper.
Jordan Henderson also looked doubtful after he left Anfield on Saturday with his leg in a protective brace, however manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that the versatile midfielder should be fit to start on Sunday.
Rodgers is now tasked with reshuffling either tactically or with the personnel available to him. Luis Suarez will undoubtedly remain upfront, but will Rodgers bring in Aspas to partner him and return to two up-top, or does one of Lucas or Luis Alberto come into the side to retain three in midfield and match up in midfield to a probable 4-3-3 from Andre Villas-Boas’ side?
Daniel Sturridge and Jose Enrique are still long-term absentees for the Reds, but Martin Kelly has confirmed in the week that he is ready to return to first-team action; although he is unlikely to replace Jon Flanagan at full-back.
Spurs, although having an indifferent start to the season with the integration of so many new players in their squad, might finally have found their feet after consecutive victories against Premier League strugglers Fulham & Sunderland, while cruising past Anzhi in the Europa League.
Roberto Soldado, the £26m man from Valencia, tasked with firing Spurs into the Champions League hasn’t quite adjusted to life in the Premier League thus far; finding the net just four times so far, with three of those coming from the penalty spot.
However after a hat-trick against Anzhi in Thursday evening’s Europa League victory, Andre Villas-Boas now has a selection dilemma as to whether start Soldado or Jermaine Defoe as the spearhead of the Spurs attack.
Spurs also have injury concerns of their own, with influential defender Jan Vertonghen unlikely to start the game with an ankle problem, while fellow defenders Younès Kaboul and Vlad Chiriches are also doubtful, so midfielder Etienne Capoue could be forced to partner Michael Dawson at the heart of defence. Hardly an ideal situation when you are trying to stifle the Premier League’s most in-form forward.
Only Aston Villa (six) have managed to score fewer home goals than Spurs this season (seven), but Liverpool also haven’t managed to win in any of their last six trips to White Hart Lane.
With both sides vying for a Champions League position at the end of May, the result could turn out to be crucial in deciding which side manages to fulfil their European ambitions.
Prediction: 1-1.
Predicted Spurs line-up: Lloris; Walker, Capoue, Dawson, Rose; Dembele, Sandro, Paulinho; Eriksen, Soldado, Townsend.
Predicted Liverpool line-up: Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan; Lucas, Henderson, Allen; Sterling, Suarez, Coutinho.
Betting tips:
1. With Liverpool quick out of the blocks thus far, a Liverpool to lead at Half-time but the end result to be a draw is generously priced at 15-1. To bet on this market with BetVictor, Click Here
2. Luis Suarez, the man currently with the Midas touch, is priced at 19/10 to open the scoring at White Hart Lane. To bet on this market with BetVictor, Click Here
3. If you fancy something slightly more out of the ordinary, Phillipe Coutinho to score and the end result to be a draw is at 18-1. To bet on this market with BetVictor, Click Here
4. If you think the game will be one with lots of goals, Over 3.5 goals is priced at 21/10. To bet on this market with BetVictor, Click Here
