The Soccer Blog: Match Preview: Liverpool v. Tottenham Hotspur, 11.28.10

Sunday 28 November 2010

Match Preview: Liverpool v. Tottenham Hotspur, 11.28.10

By: Ed | November 27th, 2010

Liverpool head to North London for the early evening kickoff on Sunday.

And, unfortunately for Noel, it’s not yet a trip to the Emirates. Bide your time, though.

That link above has something that’s sort of like a preview from the Spurs side of things—it’s got musings on Harry Redknapp, Gareth Bale, the longshot possibility of the aforementioned groundshare, and which famed military figure the current iteration of Spurs most resembles. So I guess there’s really actually quite little information about the football that can be derived from that link, but it’s a much more interesting read than what’s about to unfold.

We all likely know plenty about Spurs already this season, and in the past week they’ve managed a comeback win at the Emirates and a 3-0 drubbing of Werder Bremen at White Hart Lane. Efficient in their efforts to establish themselves as continental yet having some difficulty maintaining their status in league, Harry Redknapp’s side pose just as big a threat as any other host team Liverpool have faced this season. That doesn’t take anything away from the particulars that make Tottenham a quality squad, but when your manager has won only 7 away matches in his last 70 (thanks Natalya), the prospect of any match away from home is frightening.

Let’s cover those particulars in brief, because Spurs obviously have their fair share of talent—Gareth Bale’s the Warren Barton Player of the Millenium, so there’s that, and there’s a bevy of talent in the rest of the midfield as well. They could be without Rafael van der Vaart, who’s struggling with an ankle injury, and Jermaine Jenas, who might miss with a calf problem. But they’ll still have Bale, Luka Modric, and Aaron Lennon, which is more than enough to worry Liverpool’s fullbacks.

Up front they’re familiar enough, with Peter Crouch likely to feature, and Roman Pavlyuchenko or Jermain Defoe possibilities to partner the former Liverpool man. Whoever it is, they’ll likely just fucking run around a bit in attack.

If there’s anything worth noting as a major area of concern for Spurs, it’s in defense—consistent injury worries have made life difficult, and they’ve only kept one clean sheet all season in league. Redknapp has recently gone with Alan Hutton, Younes Kaboul, William Gallas, and Benoit Assou-Ekotto across the back, and unless Michael Dawson makes a full return, that’s what Liverpool will face in front of Heurelho Gomes.

1. Who will start for Liverpool?
2. What’s the most important factor for the Reds?
3. Who’s going to win and what’s going to be the scoreline?

1. Who will start for Liverpool?

Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Konchesky
Maxi Lucas Meireles Cole
Kuyt
Torres

—Joe Cole is apparently back and raring to go, and Lucas returns from his ban. Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger, and Jay Spearing are all ruled out through injury.

—The back line seems to be somewhat solidified with the return of Glen Johnson—after his performance against West Ham, and the resulting self-congratulations from Hodgson, I’d imagine he’s in for the long term. Like, January at least. Nothing like a public dressing-down followed by a good display to make a manger feel good about himself. Carragher and Skrtel continue to look like the first-choice pairing in central defense, and the steely-eyed Englishman will keep Fabio Aurelio from first-team football at left back.

—Hopefully the return of Lucas keeps Christian Poulsen out of the starting eleven, but I doubt there’s any guarantees. The reaction to Poulsen’s shift against West Ham was marvelous—all of a sudden suggesting that he’s still average was blasphemy, everyone knew he had it in him, and he was just treated unfairly. Let’s get real, it was the first time he wasn’t a complete black hole, and it was against a West Ham side that barely had a pulse. So yeah, Lucas. If Joe Cole truly is ready to go, my guess is that it’s he and Maxi in the pseudo-wide areas.

—We’ve seen two men up top since Dirk Kuyt returned for the Chelsea match, and tomorrow could be more of the same. It was the continually improving David Ngog against West Ham, but with this one being on the road in a large-ish match, my feeling is that we see Kuyt playing in a partnering/supporting role with Fernando Torres.

2. What’s the most important factor for the Reds?

There’s something to be said here about self-belief and self-confidence, but I can’t figure out a way to say it without sounding like a complete sap. We’ve seen the glimpses of Liverpool as a forward-thinking side, even away from Anfield. But those have been drowned out by displays marred with the fear of losing—displays which, in a tragic irony, have been losses.

So there’s a level of confidence I’d like to see Liverpool play with tomorrow, and I don’t think it’s a confidence that’s completely incongruous with the level of talent in the squad. It’s probably down to the level of confidence that Hodgson has in the squad, which, to this point, doesn’t seem like much. If they can find a way to change that, I think the result is there to be taken. But if it’s like Stoke or Wigan or Everton, it’s going to be another away day horror show.

3. Who’s going to win and what’s going to be the scoreline?

For whatever reason, I’m saying 2-1 to Liverpool. I don’t know if I’ve been bludgeoned to death by the “Spurs struggle after midweek Champions League matches” narrative or if I just really think Liverpool can grind one out; regardless, I think it’s all three points for the Reds.

Tomorrow will be the first league match this season that I’ll miss completely—my flight back home from the long weekend spans kickoff to the final whistle, so I’ll be watching the recorded version after I get back. I’ll still put the matchday post up with streams and links late tonight, but I’ll have to rely on Noel or others to update team sheets and news in the comments. For those with service, it’ll be on Sky Sports in the UK and Fox Soccer Channel in the US.

Hope you’ve all had a nice weekend so far, and let’s all hope for a nice ending tomorrow.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:Match Preview: Liverpool v. Bolton, 10.31.10Match Preview: Liverpool v. Stoke City, 11.13.10Match Preview: Liverpool v. Sunderland, 09.25.10Match Preview: Liverpool v. West Ham, 11.20.10Match Preview: Liverpool v. Everton, 10.17.10

Category: Match Previews, Miscellaneous, Premier League, Team News

Tags: Christian Poulsen, Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher, Joe Cole, Lucas, Martin Škrtel, Match Previews, Maxi Rodriguez, Miscellaneous, Paul Konchesky, Pepe Reina, Premier League, Raúl Meireles, Steven Gerrard, Team News
« Tea and Crumpets with All Action No Plot | Home | Matchday: Liverpool v. Spurs »GrubbPre-match anxiety has struck here. I can't see us winning when we are away with Hodgson in charge.

Still, we will be fresher than Spurs having been able to rest midweek. Would like to see us pressing and playing possession football - but I know we're going to see 'The Fulham Plan' yet again.LFC4LIFEHey,official squadsheet has been released and comfirmed.

http://lfcglobe.com/ngog-and-torres-to-start-vs-tottenham-cole-on-the-bench/5859/redtrev73With jonno covered by dirky i'd be a lot more confident of stopping the simian-featured tott-ing-ham threat. That would leave maxi on the left and joe in behind nando, as the only changes to ed's predicted 11. We should have a right go at this lot tomorrow as a win would leave us right back in the hunt for fourth but earlier i read quotes from woyston in which he expressed his desire to reach the 19 game half-way stage "in the top half"...now is it just me or does anyone else feel like that's somehow not enough for Liverpool Football Club??!!?! Makes me want to administer the chap a good slap with a life-size cut-out of dani pacheco.....GalahadThreepwoodSo...

1. Ed's 11 looks likely. Would love to see Soto get a start over Carragher, but he probably won't.

2. I want to see us come out with confidence tomorrow. We don't have to be scared of Spurs or Gareth Bale. The squad we have is capable of knocking them out. But this is Roy on the road, and he's already tried to lower expectations for the match ("it won't be a cakewalk" indeed), so I expect to see my hopes dashed.

3. 2-1 Reds. More out of spite than anything else. I refuse to be cowed by a team nicknamed the Lilywhites.NatalyaBlackpool get a draw at Bolton by playing aggressive, West Brom stuff the toffees at Goodison...why not have go out to white hart lane and give it a go? I'd much rather see us lose a lively game where we at least attempt to win. Much better than a drab 0-2 affair where we lose anyway despite playing Roy's negative style. Isn't that demoralizing, playing on your heels for 90 minutes an inevitably giving up a goal late to lose?

I'm worried that Bale will cause us our backs many problems. And for that matter, Lennon has been in good form lately too. If we allow those two much space then it could be a long day of crosses flying into our box.

RoscoWhat I find most de-moralising is us being mentioned in the same breath as west brom and Blackpool!

Don't take this as an attack on your comment, as I'm inclined to agree.ChrisLFCSoto had a good run of a couple games a while back...would be nice to see him get back in there. Besides that, I think Ed's XI will be it.
Thinking we'll see close to the same tactics on Sunday as we saw vs West Ham is wishful thinking on my part...but I'd like to see pressure instead of sitting back inviting the inevitable disaster.
That said, this ends in a 2-2 draw that we will be at the same time frustrated and delighted with.NoelI'd rather see Kuyt on the right (Gareth Bale Gareth Bale Gareth Bale), Maxi on the left, and N'Gog in a slightly reserved second striker role a la the West Ham 4-2-2-2

But really, no matter the exact personnel, as has been repeated ad nauseum: it's the tactics, stupid. On the road, facing a side that will attack and press, a high line, pressure, and possession is needed to neutralize them. Otherwise it'll be another replay of any random 2009 match against a bottom feeder just waiting for the inevitable Liverpool goal. Only Liverpool will be the bottom feeder this time around. In case that wasn't blindingly obvious.

This is a squad capable of winning games like this, or at least giving it a go. But I'm not hugely hopeful. This isn't West Ham at home.Justin BonebrakeMaxi does a pretty good defensive shift in his own right. But I do agree that it would probably be better tactically to play Kuyt out right, and either Maxi or Cole on the left. I wasn't convinced by any of Cole's performances in a central role however. For that reason, I like the idea of a 4-4-2 with Torres/Ngog up top and Maxi/Cole comes on as a late sub for Kuyt.

Realistically, I'm going to have to say 2-0 Spurs, with goals from Crouch and Defoe, assists from Bale and Lennon. Our fullbacks are questionable at best even with Johnson coming off a cracking display against Hammers.

Idealistically, I'll say 3-2 to the good, a brace from Torres and a set piece goal somewhere, hopefully a Soto header.EdI originally responded to this in a mish-mash of half sentences, so I deleted that and will just say, "this was an intriguing read."NoelBut I enjoy barely intelligible mish-mashes of half sentences. For proof, see above.Wet CeleryI don't see why this away game should be any different from the usual sit back and get battered tactics we're used to...KopsI think the Reds have no chance against the Spurs.... Stupid Roy vs Cazy Harry? I go for Spurs... 3 - 0DAVspursI live in Widnes and to say a poor Liverpool side will win is disrespectful to Spurs and the great Liverpool teams of the past. With Gerrard you had a chance without him you will be well beaten and then the Americans will have to spend money to improve your poor Squad. 4=1 tothe mighty Spurs to finish the week on a High and one point behind City . COYS.Red2deathHm, I wouldn't say Gerrard is a determining factor. We've won enough games in his absence before. (And Torres' absence for that matter).

Substitute with Hodgson. Without Hodgson we'd have more than a chance. With Hodgson I'm rating the likelihood of Liverpool getting anything a lot less.

And let's not go with 'mighty' Spurs just yet. Beating a side that sits back and waits for defeat (assuming 35 of years of history doesn't suddenly reverse itself) isn't exactly a momentous achievement.EdThe intention wasn't to be disrespectful to Spurs or Liverpool's history--I'm not convinced Liverpool's squad is that poor. They've certainly played poorly, but the composition of the squad itself isn't in and of itself poor.

But yeah, 4-1 to Spurs is very respectful to Liverpool. Thanks for that.Tom FooleryYup, I think I can agree with you on predictions this time. Especially 'the most important factor' bit. If the squad shows some life we could go into the Lane and come back with a result to 'turn the corner' once again. Sometimes it feels like we've turned so many corners that we seem to be going in circles, chasing our own tail.
And a tail is nothing but a long booty, as the great George Clinton puts it...so...yea...blog comments powered by Disqus