Allen Hamilton
What: English Premier League
Who: Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool
When: Wednesday, 28th November, 2012, at 19:45 UK Time
Where: White Hart Lane, London, England
Spurs Still Unsure of Andre Villas-Boas
Tottenham have had an up and down season so far which has at times promised much, but ultimately seen the side fall short of going on the winning run that was expected. New manager Andre Villas-Boas has still not won over the White Hart Lane faithful and the jury is still out on whether the Portuguese can improve upon his predecessor Harry Redknapp’s finish of fourth last season.
A 3-1 victory over West Ham at the weekend was Spurs’ first Premier League win in November, with defeats suffered against Wigan, Manchester City and Arsenal. The latter, a 5-2 drubbing at the Emirates Stadium, contained a get-out-of-jail card for Villas-Boas, as Emmanuel Adebayor’s sending off left his team up against it. But, aside from a 3-2 win at Manchester United back in September, and that against an unusually leaky Red Devils’ defence, Spurs have come up short against top four rivals. At present, sacking Redknapp appears to have moved the club two steps back.
While Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale are on form though Villas-Boas has more than half a chance of powering Spurs towards the top four. Defoe was superb against West Ham, while Bale again showed why he is rated as one of the best left-sided players on the planet. Spurs also have an excellent record here against Liverpool in recent years and have won their last five games against the Reds. They also face a weaker Liverpool side than at any point during those five years.
Brendan Rodgers Banking On Liverpool Faith
Liverpool come into this clash on an eight-match unbeaten run in the Premier League. For Brendan Rodgers, that is the good news. The bad news is that his team can’t score the goals needed to put teams to the sword.
Much may be laid at the door of only boasting Luis Suarez as the side’s realistic goal threat, but there is a genuine concern that Rodgers’ possession-based style of play is not clinical enough. At Swansea his sides were criticised for passing too much without any real end product and, with 44 goals scored last season in the league, they even managed less than Kenny Dalglish’s toothless Liverpool, and less even than two of the three relegated clubs.
Rodgers has declared any finish above last season’s eighth would be “fantastic”, but the Northern Irishman may come to find that even if he can convince Liverpool fans of that, the club’s corporate sponsors, who pay top four prices to be associated with one of the biggest teams in the world, will walk away if the best the Reds can do is upper mid-table. The pressure then, despite Rodgers’ words, is on.
An unbeaten run should have bred confidence however and if Suarez can fire and Liverpool can win at White Hart Lane it could provide the entire club with a huge boost. And there is no doubt Suarez is skilful enough to win this match on his own.
Recent form
Tottenham Hotspur:
Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham Hotspur (17/11; Premier League)
Lazio 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur (22/11; Europa League)
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 West Ham (25/11; Premier League)
Liverpool:
Liverpool 3-0 Wigan (17/11; Premier League)
Liverpool 2-2 Young Boys (22/11; Europa League)
Swansea 0-0 Liverpool (25/11; Premier League)
Key absences
Tottenham Hotspur: Sandro; Benoit Assou-Ekotto; Younes Kaboul; Scott Parker; Emmanuel Adebayor (suspended)
Liverpool: Andre Wisdom (doubt); Fabio Borini; Martin Kelly; Lucas Leiva (doubt)
Players to watch
Tottenham Hotspur – Jermain Defoe: Liverpool could certainly use Defoe and he would be sure of a spot in Rodgers’ team every week. Enjoying life at White Hart Lane at present, the England striker looks deadly when given the chance and has a habit of scoring not just once in games, but multiple times. And fresh off a brace, he will fancy his chances here.
Liverpool – Jose Reina: There was a time when the conversation around the Premier League’s best goalkeeper simply had to involve Reina, but his standards have slipped over the last two years. However, on his day the Spaniard is still able to prove a difference-maker and, with Liverpool struggling up front, it is essential he keeps a clean sheet.
Match Prediction
Tottenham have struggled to really produce consistently this season and that means it is quite possible Liverpool could win this game. The key for Spurs is goals as if they can fire, hitting two or even three, it is unlikely the Reds will be able to live with them in a high scoring game. Spurs should be able to breach the Liverpool defence, but Suarez is capable of ensuring the Reds extend their unbeaten run, even if it is with another draw. Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Liverpool.
