Liverpool vs Spurs

[Rory Fitzgerald]

 

Our last win against Spurs was over 3 years ago when Kuyt netted a brace at Anfield, the 1st coming from an Aquilani assist. Coincidentally, thats the last time we scored a goal against them at Anfield !! In the 5 games since, we lost 4 and drew 1.

 

Last seasons game was Suarez's return from the 8 match ban when he came on as a sub. We were the better team that night and Modric never had the impact he did the season before when he ran the show in midfield.

 

 

1st goal key

 

The better the quality of opposition, the more important the 1st goal.Here is the record of these 2;

 

Spurs have taken the lead in 17 of their 26 games and their record when they score 1st is W12 D2 L3 - the defeats were all away from home to Arsenal, City and Everton. So, if they take the lead against us, our record is poor at coming back i.e. W0 D4 L6

 

The flip side is that they have only conceded first in 8 games and their record is W3 D2 L3 so (unsurprisingly for a team in their position) they are well capable of getting at least a point after they concede the first goal. However, if we do take the lead, our record is pretty good as well at seeing out games - W10 D3 L2

 

Something worth keeping in mind is that Spurs have the 2nd best record for scoring away from home with 27 goals in 14 games.

 

Spurs could possibly line up as follows;

 

Loris

 

Walker Dawson Vertonghen Naughton

 

Dembele Parker

 

Lennon Dempsey Bale

 

Defoe

 

Defence

Walker and Vertonghen have been the only consistent name in the defense. Vertonghen has alternated between CB and LB.

If he starts at CB - his partner could be either Dawson, Caulker or Gallas with LB probably taken by Kyle Naughton who has played there this season and has the benefit of being right footed to defend against Downing coming in on his left foot.

Assou-Ekotto has only started 5 league games this season. We might get a better picture after we see their line up vs Arsenal.

 

 

Midfield

The midfield of the team is pretty settled and picks itself. Lennon and Bale will start wide. Bale might start out on the left with Dempsey through the center (if he is fit), but he'll likely drift inside as he did in the 2nd half vs Newcastle recently and cause us different headaches. 11 of his 15 goals have been away from home.

Dembele has been in good form off-late and he will make his customary forceful runs through the midfield, while Parker will sit.

 

 

Attack

Defoe (10 goals) is back from injury and Dempsey (5 goals) could be back after a calf injury to start behind Defoe. Outside Bale, they are Spurs's top scorers with Adebayor only having 2 league goals. If Dempsey isn't back, Holtby could start behind Defoe.

 

 

Substitutes

They'll have strenght on the bench - Sigurdsson, Holtby, Adebayor. However, they won't have their back-up CM's as Sandro and Huddlestone are both injured. CM back up will come from Jake Livermore

 

Gylfi Sigurdsson scored his 1st league goal for Spurs against West Ham but has played only a full 90mins once this season in the league and only started 6 times. He has come off the bench a staggering 17 times this season.

 

Aaron Lennon is their most subbed player, coming off 11 times this season – 10 of which were from the 77th min onwards.

 

 

Most assists:

Lennon (7), Walker (4), Bale (4).

 

With the obvious focus on Bale given his 15 goal return with 6 in his last 4 games, there may be a tendancy for some fans to focus on their left. However, in terms of assists, most have come from the right flank with Lennon and Walker being their No. 1 & 2. Lennon has provided 42 crosses with Walker providing 3 more at 45.

 

From the LB spot, Assou-Ekotto, Vertonghen & Naughton have 2 assists between the 3 of them in the league.

 

NB: Spurs stats are prior to their game vs Arsenal

 

 

Reina

 

Johnson Carra Agger Enrique

 

Downing Lucas Gerrard Coutinho

 

Suarez Sturridge

 

Outside Utd, Spurs are the form team in the league winning 7 and drawing 4 of the last 11 games. Their last defeat was 3 months ago when Everton scored 2 injury time goals to beat them in early December.

 

Their set up is ideal for a count-attacking game and by lining up as above, we would be more open. However, Sturridge and Suarez 'have-to' start and we played 2 very good games away to Arsenal & City so I think we should go out at home and play our game rather than adapt it to Spurs. Their defensive record away from home is average and their backline has had no stability all season - I'd like to see us go at them.

 

The caveat, and its a huge caveat, is that we give up space when we don't have the ball and they have the players to capitalise. Furthermore, Bale would be coming in off the left and our right sided CB is Carra.

 

 

  View spoiler

The game is being played on Mother's Day so make sure you have your day/weekend planned in advance to make room for this !

 

[CarraLegend]

Given the recent performances of Sturridge, Coutinho, Downing, Allen and Henderson theres going to be 2 on the bench that can feel hard done by not to be starting which will be nice.

[Clay Davis]

Feeling he might go for Hendo over Coutinho for the defensive duties against Bale/Lennon.

 

Lennon always seems to have a worldie against us.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

  On 03/03/2013 at 13:36, Clay Davis said:

Feeling he might go for Hendo over Coutinho for the defensive duties against Bale/Lennon.

 

Lennon always seems to have a worldie against us.

 

Thats the biggest/most uncertain call I think.

[Red Yoda]

I agree from recent performances i would imagine that our line up would be ....

 

 

----------------------Reina

 

Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique

 

-----------Gerrard--------Lucas

 

Downing---------Suarez-----Coutinho

 

--------------------Sturridge

 

I also agree that Spurs playing on the counter attack and Bale targeting Carragher is a concern .

 

I have to say though we could find situations where Sturridge could target Dawson in exactly the same way .

 

I think the best way to deal with Bale is either cut off any supply to him , if he gets the ball in space at all he very quickly gets up to speed he is then extremely hard to deal with .

 

We must get close to them , press really quickly , force them into quick passes that they dont really want to do and hopefully make them make mistakes .

 

We have the players to cause the them lots of problems in their final third , i think both teams will score , i think it'll end up 3 - 1 to us .

[Earl Hafler]

I think Henderson will start. With Johnson and Carra on the right, Bale could have a field day if Johnson has a bad game. Henderson's fairly quick.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

  On 03/03/2013 at 14:06, Earl Hafler said:

I think Henderson will start. With Johnson and Carra on the right, Bale could have a field day if Johnson has a bad game. Henderson's fairly quick.

 

How would you detail him ? If Henderson starts he normally plays advanced centrally or off the left.

[Tobes Rafa]

Were going to win this 11-8.

[Earl Hafler]

  On 03/03/2013 at 14:33, Rory Fitzgerald said:

How would you detail him ? If Henderson starts he normally plays advanced centrally or off the left.

 

He's played left and centre on the opposite side to Downing. Play Henderson instead of Downing and have Gerrard through the middle behind Suarez and Sturridge or Coutinho. Depends on fitness.

--------------------------Lucas---------------------

-------Henderson---Gerrard-----Allen--------

 

 

Lucas isn't as quick as before the injury

 

Could maybe have Allen on the bench, have Henderson alongside Lucas with Gerrard advanced and Coutinho behind the two forwards

 

I'd definitely have Henderson starting.

[Ethan]

I f***in hate Spurs

[redjersey]

Carra's likely to make his 500th league appearance in this. Need to mark an occasion like that with a win.

[Chewie]

I think it'll be a game where he looks to control the midfield and let Suarez and sturridge do damage...I can see hendo playing instead of Coutinho, heck hendo has an o so could even be hendinho...

[RafaShanks]

We owe these feckers. Would love to beat them.

[Clay Davis]

  On 03/03/2013 at 14:57, Earl Hafler said:

He's played left and centre on the opposite side to Downing. Play Henderson instead of Downing and have Gerrard through the middle behind Suarez and Sturridge or Coutinho. Depends on fitness.

--------------------------Lucas---------------------

-------Henderson---Gerrard-----Allen--------

 

Still banging this drum, eh.

[Sion]

  On 03/03/2013 at 23:57, Clay Davis said:

Still banging this drum, eh.

Its still crap.

 

Dembele missing could mean Livermore and Parker as their two CMs.

Although judging on their last few performances they could play Jon Welsh and Damien Plessis in there and they'd still spawn a win.

[Earl Hafler]

  On 03/03/2013 at 23:57, Clay Davis said:

Still banging this drum, eh.

 

It's gonna be 4-3-3 all season long...

[Red]

Gotta feeling Brendan may crow-bar Allen in there somewhere.

[Farmer's Tan]

I'd keep Coutinho, Johnson is good enough to take care of Bale, Carra will cover to make sure, we need to score, swap Allen for Henderson, that would be the only change i'd make.

[David Hodgson]

  On 04/03/2013 at 04:29, Farmer said:

I'd keep Coutinho, Johnson is good enough to take care of Bale, Carra will cover to make sure, we need to score, swap Allen for Henderson, that would be the only change i'd make.

 

Our best team is currently this one. If all I fit I think he'll be tempted to put it out.

 

 

----------------------------------------------------Reina

 

----Johnson-----------------Carragher--------------------Agger----------------Enrique

 

Downing----------------------Lucas-------------------------Gerrard-----------Coutinho

 

----------------------------------------------Suarez

 

-----------------------------------------------------Sturridge

[schmuckdonald]

Don't fancy us for this one. If we play a team with, essentially, four out-and-out attackers (with the caveat that Downing is becoming more Henderson-like) then we need Spurs to be off the boil or we could get ripped apart. Again.

[David Hodgson]

  On 04/03/2013 at 07:07, schmuckdonald said:

Don't fancy us for this one. If we play a team with, essentially, four out-and-out attackers (with the caveat that Downing is becoming more Henderson-like) then we need Spurs to be off the boil or we could get ripped apart. Again.

 

I think we sit quite deep. Surprise them and play a bit like the away side. Murder them on the counter with that highest line of theirs. I think as attacking wide men go, both Coutinho and Downing show discipline. It's not a 424 with them in.

[schmuckdonald]

  On 04/03/2013 at 07:10, David Hodgson said:

I think we sit quite deep. Surprise them and play a bit like the away side. Murder them on the counter with that highest line of theirs. I think as attacking wide men go, both Coutinho and Downing show discipline. It's not a 424 with them in.

 

I don't think they are quite so high are they? Have only seen them a couple of times, mind. Agree about playing as the away side. They could murder us on the break. Would like to see the team that played Arsenal or City, actually, but for Rodgers to make the changes when they get tired. Not sure about Coutinho tracking back, think he can be tactically disciplined but I wouldn't fancy him in a tackle and think he could probably be bullied.

 

If Johnson plays like he can, he can handle Bale but I'd be worried about him coming inside given how much space we seem to leave in front of our back four at times, especially if we get caught with the ball high up. Would also worry about Enrique against Lennon, if sensible Enrique plays then fine but he's still liable to a lapse in concentration or a bout of wrestling.

[Swipe]

Fancy us against them for first time in a while. Think Sandro is a massive loss for them - Dembele would be too.

 

Sandro and Modric have schooled our midfield for last few seasons.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Spurs have Inter Milan at home on Thursday which could help us - however, the league is their priority, no doubt.

 

Adebayor & Dembele confirmed as available for that game unfortunately so barring anything further would be available for Sunday.

[fred milne]

  On 03/03/2013 at 13:16, Rory Fitzgerald said:

Reina

 

Johnson Carra Agger Enrique

 

Downing Lucas Gerrard Coutinho

 

Suarez Sturridge

Reckon that's too open myself. Downing and Suarez are certs but my guess is one of Sturridge and Countinho will miss out and one of Henderson and Allen will play instead depending on whether Rodgers wants to go 4-3-3 or 4-4-2.