Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool

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Wednesday 16th December 8pm
Premier League
Anfield​

Our performance and result against Palace weren't ideal, but we don't have time to contemplate it.
Liverpool also dropped points, so we're still neck-and-neck at the top of the table, separated by goal difference.
It's a big opportunity for one of the teams to make a statement or both to play it safe.
A lot of the big games in the Premier League have been duffers and it would be a shame if this joined them.
Will Mourinho be able to maintain our position at the top of the tree or will Klopp topple it?

The red Scouse had an excellent season last time out, winning the league at a canter.
They went unbeaten until late February before surprisingly losing 3-0 to Watford, who deserved the win.
It marked a stark downturn in their fortunes in the campaign, just before the break for COVID.
They were eliminated from the FA Cup by Chelsea in their next match and the Champions League was next.
A 1-0 win in Madrid took them to extra-time and Firmino added another, but Atletico scored 3 to progress.

Liverpool haven't been quite as impressive this time out, but their form has still been extremely good.
Their one domestic loss was the startling 7-2 loss to Villa, though they also went out of the League Cup.
A 0-0 draw with the filth lead to penalties and they lost 5-4, just as they had in the Community Shield.
They comfortably won their Champions League group too, losing once to Atalanta.
A few injuries haven't really derailed them, despite what's being suggested about a massive crisis on that front.

Our trip to Anfield last time ended in much the same way that it often has, but it started well.
Kane headed home in the first minute, after Son's shot was deflected onto the bar and fell favourably for him.
Gazzaniga did well to keep it that way until the break, after which Son hit the woodwork again early on.
A Danny Rose error allowed Henderon to fire them level shortly after that and things looked bleak.
Another mistake, this time by Aurier, allowed Salah to fire the winner home from the penalty spot:

The reverse fixture saw a depleted side narrowly edged out, after some controversial refereeing, shockingly.
Firmino gave them a fairly early lead, though VAR failed notice the ball hitting Henderson's arm in the buildup.
The visitors had most of the possession, but opportunities were fairly evenly split and it remained tight.
A reckless Robertson tackle on debutant Tanganga also went unpunished, as VAR again went missing.
Son's shooting boots also went missing late on, as both he and Lo Celso had great chances to level:

Lamela and Tanganga miss out again, but Bale should be available having recovered from a mild illness.
Tsimikas, Jota, Gomez, Shaqiri, Milner, van Dijk and Alcantara are out for the hosts.
Keita and Matip may be available. Neither side has any suspensions.

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Bergwijn, Ndombele, Son; Kane.
Subs: Hart, Rodon, Davies, Doherty, Lo Celso, Alli, Moura.
League form: WWWDWD.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Matip, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs: Kelleher, Phillips, Williams, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cain, Minamino, Origi.
League form: WDWDWD.

Ref: Anthony Taylor. VAR: Chris Kavanagh.

TV: Amazon Prime.

How would you like to line up for this one and what would you change from the Palace game?
Would you stick with much of the same lineup, make a few changes or go for a wholesale switch?
Which system and tactics would you use and what are you expecting Liverpool to go with?

 

I wanted a more rotated side over the weekend to allow our stronger players to be fitter for tomorrow and then Leicester but it wasn't to be.

I'd imagine we'll play the same XI that played on the weekend but possibly Lo Celso in for Ndombele.

I really hope Vinicius is on the bench though. It doesn't make any sense for our only other senior striker to not be in the squad. It's made worse when Jose made a public plea (that I backed him for) last January to get another striker in. We could've really done with him to come on after Palace scored the equaliser too.

Can't lie, I'm not expecting a positive result in this regardless of team selection, Pool are a real bogey team for us and their record at Anfield is crazily good.

 

Paul Stewart .

 

Hopefully,like Chelsea,City and Pool will be suicidal today and tomorrow. COYS!!!!!

 

I'd be tempted to start with Vinny. Their defence is at present their weak spot without VVD and Vinny could take aerial control. So I would go 4-4-2 pushing their FB's ( TTA and Robertson ) back.

Lloris
Aurier, Dier ,Toby , Reg
Bale , N'Dombele, PEH , Son
Kane , Vinny

 

The last couple of seasons have shown the best way to beat Norbert's teams is to take the front foot and put pressure on their defence, which is susceptible to balls being played between the lines. But the odds are we won't be doing that tomorrow, as we'll be looking to spring a trap against them - but the point is Norbert's teams thrive on teams inviting pressure upon themselves

The template we need to follow is the Man Utd match, as we put the screws to them so hard it seems to have mentally broken their fanbase judging by them still polluting our Twitter feed several months later, because if we approach it like the Chelsea match it won't work

 

Fffff....

 

You're 15-0 down over recent weeks

 

2-0

Kane
Son

 

@Zanjinho could learn a thing or two from you pnp


And while I'm here..

 

This game will not determine the title, but the winner is going to have a massive advantage going to the festive period.

 

Nah, far too detailed

 

Why will we have more of an advantage than normal?

 

Possibly top at Christmas.

 

do something about your username

that isolated ‘n’ is bad feng shui fam

 

3 pts up for grabs on the "season compass" , and again
some results for this PL match round have gone Spurs way
(much the same as the last game eh ) .

I expect Jose to reprise the Citeh "300", but the Poool will
be far more fast and furious (so will be interesting to see what
happens if Spurs concede first) .

Also has Jose done his homework on recent Klopp era
Poool vs Spurs PL clashes, and realised that the Poool
visibly tire in the last quarter of the game.

My head says a Poool win, my Ha! says a Spurs win with
Jose on the WUM about the Sheffield Utd manager.

 

Spurcat being absolutely brutal, and not taking any potential
illness absences for LDL as excuses for going soft in the Paul Stewart cup,

 

His is nice and simple. He's appealing to your fanbase.