Liverpool come to N17 this Saturday lunchtime for what is very probably their last ever visit to White Hart Lane.
That was then
It’s just under a year since Jürgen Klopp took over at Anfield and as I’m sure we all recall his first came in charge was a goalless draw here. After a fast start Liverpool faded quickly and Simon Mignolet kept them in the game whilst we spurned good chances. It was our turn to tire later on though and we were probably glad of the final whistle as the fresh legs of Jordan Ibe threatened to tip things back in the away team’s favour.
You’re Klavan a laugh
Ibe is no longer with the Scousers, ditto for Martin Skrtl from that side but in general it’s the squad players who have been given their cards as Klopp shuffles his pack. The first XI have just gone through a sort of de-Rodgering exercise. Mane apart, Klopp’s spending over the summer was targeted very much at improving his defence with Klavan, Matip, Karius and Manninger all being bought in an attempt to put a lid on the goals against column – with 5 conceded in the first two games of this season, it’s a plan that currently doesn’t appear to be going well, though some of those players are yet to make their debuts.
When’s Casualty on?
It’s up front that Liverpool are more confident of making an impact with Mane joining a lively looking line up of Sturridge, Coutinho, Lallana, Wijnaldum and Firmino. The last of the these has been leading the line which has peed off Sturridge to the point where he’s had a moan to the press about it. Foolish boy. He should be attempting to prove that he can be relied upon to stay fit wherever he’s selected. It wouldn’t surprise me if the manager responds by leaving him out at the weekend.
This is now
What side Pochettino picks depends on whether Alli is fully back with us after his illness of last week. The manager will have been pleased to see how the Kane-Janssen partnership performed in battle and will have been encouraged, however Alli to Kane is a proven source of goals (as Alli to Janssen should’ve been last week). We should expect to see our new favourite Dutchman at some point though as the Liverpool back four look ripe for his sort of harrying. There is a possibility that Alli could come in in place of Eriksen instead of Janssen. Whatever happens I hope Pochettino goes back to the Lamela on the right, Alli/Eriksen on the left formation that worked so well last year, no-one shone out wide last weekend against Palace.
Whatever side is fielded we will have to up our game if we want a good result. More intensity and far more fluency will be needed than we showed last week.
The ‘Big Clubs’ avoid Spurs
The Moneybags League draw will have left few salivating at the prospect of any of the group games, instead it has raised hopes that we may still be in the competition after Christmas. What it also should do is remind everyone of the importance of putting points on the board before the distraction of the Wembley games begins. Despite their stuttering start, the lack of European football means that Liverpool will definitely be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. Tomorrow is a good opportunity, before they properly find their feet, to make the job of catching us that much harder.
Robert Madley is the referee.
COYS.
By the looks of it, the bookies cannot even split us Bet365 odds are quite even
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