Spurs - Liverpool v Spurs preview

By Lev
September 22 2006

Five games. One win. Two goals. No goals in three. These are the facts Tottenham Hotspur and Martin Jol face, coming up to what will be one of the hardest games of the season this weekend, away to Liverpool. However, things have not been easy for Liverpool, either, and before their game against Newcastle on Wednesday night, had only picked up one win from their first four outings. Spurs have become too used to playing well but not picking up wins against the top teams, and this would be a perfect time for that habit to come to an end.

Tottenham should be boosted by the return of £10.9 million striker Dimitar Berbatov from a groin injury, and he will most probably replace Hossam Ahmed Mido, who has recently played three games in a week. His return could improve the chances of Jermain Defoe starting, with it being mooted that Jol sees him as the best partner for the talented Bulgarian. Spurs’ main problem this season thus far has been hitting the back of the net, and after dominating, but failing to convert a number of chances against a determined Fulham side, last weekend, Tottenham need to show a more clinical side to their game. Robbie Keane and Mido have been lacking the necessary punch to punish teams, and it may be down to Defoe to provide the spark Spurs so desperately need, in front of goal.

However, some may put the lack of goals down to a deficiency within the creative aspect of Spurs’ midfield. With the loss of Aaron Lennon to deal with and new signing Steed Malbranque out for another month at least, players such as Teemu Tainio and Danny Murphy need to step up their performances in the attacking third. With an impressive back four and goalkeeper behind them, and players such as Didier Zokora, Edgar Davids and even Tom Huddlestone there to as protection to the rearguard, Spurs do not look as though they will leak many goals. However, they must make more of the terrific outlets they have acquired, in the shape of Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Pascal Chimbonda, who are more than willing to consistently support the attack on both wings. With Jermaine Jenas playing well, there are definitely goals in the side and Spurs cannot afford to continue their goal drought.

It seems that with Zokora continuing to improve his Premiership performances and Jenas athleticism and all-round ability beginning to shine through, these two will most definitely start the game, with the latter again being used on the right. Danny Murphy may get another game, this time against his former employers, but this is by no means certain, with Hossam Ghaly and Huddlestone looking like promising players for the North London club. Tainio will be expected to start, but he must take a leaf out of Jenas’ book and show that, even out of position, he can be as tigerish and as versatile as he has been described.

For Liverpool, Rafa Benitez has a lot to think about in terms of his starting eleven. Some players will be approaching their third game of the week, and Benitez must decide if he will rest some players or not. Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso have already been rested once this season and, in that game, Liverpool still picked up a point with a 0-0 draw away to PSV Eindhoven, so the Spaniard may be tempted to do so.

Up front, he has four top strikers and with Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt playing together of late, one of them may be given a break. In midfield, there are also many options, with Gerrard already been played on the right, on the left, in the centre and also behind a striker, this season. If Boudewijn Zenden, Mohammed Sissoko and Alonso are all fit, Liverpool’s side is difficult to predict. Add the ever-improving Jermaine Pennant and the possible left-wing selection of Fabio Aurelio to this wealth of talent and you can see that Liverpool’s side definitely doesn’t lack options.

At the back, with John Arne Riise out injured, it seems that Steven Warnock will fill in there for the time being, and it also looks as though Daniel Agger has shifted the looming figure of Sami Hyypia, and is forming a formidable, no-nonsense partnership with Jamie Carragher.

Hopefully, the game produces the sort of football that, on paper, it suggests it could. However with both teams not at the top of their games, I can see another close match, like last season’s tie, and a 1-0 win to either side. The optimist in me says that Spurs will play well. We have played our best football this season against Manchester United, the toughest opposition, and I am going to put my ever-growing reputation on the line and predict a 1-0 win for the visitors, with Jermain Defoe getting the winner!

COYS!