Four things to expect from Liverpool v Tottenham
Liverpool makes a trip down south to meet Tottenham Hotspurs, who took over the Reds Champions league spot last season. Two years ago, Liverpool fans would have taken this fixture like any other in the league, expecting nothing other than three points. However,
this time around they will be happy to come away with just one.
There are plenty of reasons behind that; Gareth Bale, Roy Hodgson and the absence of Steven Gerrard to mention a few. Tottenham on the other hand will be going into this game in confident mood, knowing that they are good enough to take all three points against
a Liverpool team low on confidence.
Bettor.com has come up with four things we can expect from the weekend’s most anticipated game.
1. Bale to dig a tent on the right side of Liverpool’s defence
All Liverpool fans are dreading the fact that Gareth Bale will come up one-on-one against Glen Johnson. Johnson likes to make runs down the right and will get caught out on a number of occasions. That should give Bale enough time to dig a tent on the right
hand side of Liverpool’s defence, and probably cook a meal too, while Johnson tracks him back.
Gareth Bale has pace, and if you go tight on him he runs past you, and if you try to back off then he will whip in those deadly crosses from his cultured left foot. Glen Johnson is in for a real tough time on Sunday.
2. Roy’s tactical switch or more like floptical hitch
During his stint with Liverpool, manager Roy Hodgson has looked clueless and tactically inept for the most part. He has played Raul Meireles out of position on the right, and Kuyt through the middle behind Torres on a few occasions this season. Last weekend
he was forced to play those players in their proper positions, and the results were astounding. Meireles put on a man of the match display, while Kuyt produced one of his best performances this season.
However with Lucas returning to the team, he is bound to make a ‘tactical switch’, and might play Meireles on the right and Poulsen and Lucas in the middle. He will play Kuyt behind Torres and tell his players to defend, defend and defend. This would most
likely result in another dreadful display from Liverpool, and Tottenham will be made to look like the best team in the league.
3. Torres chases shadows throughout 90 minutes but still scores a goal
The Tottenham defence has kept one clean sheet this season and with two attacking full backs, a vulnerable keeper, no proper holding midfielder and second choice centre back pairing; one should put a house on Fernando Torres getting his name on the score
sheet.
If anyone disagrees with that, than they probably have more faith in Roy Hodgson than Fernando Torres, because the Liverpool boss will ask the striker to run up the field and chase long balls played in by Jamie Carragher. It won’t be easy though against
Kaboul and Gallas, but if Liverpool ends up chasing the game they will move the ball more frequently along the pitch, and will give Torres more of a chance to score.
4. Crouch to score the winner
To wrap things up Peter Crouch will come up with a headed goal in the 90th minute to give Spurs a 2-1 win, and inflict more misery on his former club. This will give Roy Hodgson a chance to come out with an excuse, and suggest that his side battled
hard and make his team’s dismal performance look spirited.
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