- Oct 17, 2006
- 10,856
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SPURS 1-3 LIVERPOOL
Hojbjerg Firmino, Alexander-Arnold, Mane
Hojbjerg Firmino, Alexander-Arnold, Mane
Spurs: Lloris (c), Aurier (Winks), Rodon, Dier, Davies, Doherty, Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Bergwijn (Bale), Son, Kane (Lamela).
Subs: Hart, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Sissoko, Lucas, Vinicius.
Liverpool:
Official Site Match Centre
10 changes from Monday night's FA Cup win at Wycombe, with Ben Davies the only player to stay in the starting XI. It's one change from our last Premier League outing at Sheffield United, with Matt Doherty coming in for Sergio Reguilon.
Referee: ------------Martin Atkinson ???????
TEAM FORM: ----- Spurs - WWDWW ---- - Liverpool LWDLL ----- (All competitions)
Having previously been tipped for Premier League glory, we and Liverpool find ourselves on the periphery of the title-chasing pack as we prepare to lock horns in the capital on Thursday evening. We were neck-and-neck at the top of the table during the early stages of the campaign, but dismal spells of form have seen us slip to 6th while Liverpool has slipped to 5th.
We head into this game having enjoyed a 4-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup, whereas Liverpool were dumped out in the fourth round by Manchester United in a 3-2 thriller. In a tale as old as time, we did not have it our own way away from home as Wycombe drew first blood in the FA Cup through Fred Onydinma, and the prospect of yet another giant killing in England's most historic competition was on the cards.
However, Bale finally managed to put his plethora of missed opportunities behind him as he equalised for us on the stroke of half time, and it was the introduction of a certain French midfielder that helped turn the game on its head during the dying embers. A delightful effort from Winks propelled us into the lead with only five minutes remaining, and Ndombele soon netted a quick-fire brace off the bench to ensure that we did not have to go to extra time before Thursday's visit of Liverpool.
The unforeseen revival of Ndombele has certainly been a shining light in an underwhelming couple of months for us, especially with Dele unable to get a look-in, and the eight goal contributions (5 goals 3 assists) that the Frenchman boasts across all competitions has seen him quickly become one of the first names on Mourinho's team sheet - barely a year after his Tottenham career looked over before it had even started.
Monday's thrashing of Wycombe means that we have now tasted success in five of our last six matches across all competitions - scoring 18 goals and conceding just three in that run - but Mourinho still has his work cut out for him if we are to mount another charge for a maiden Premier League title.
We have eased past Leeds United and Sheffield United either side of a draw with Fulham in 2021, but we have only managed to take maximum points from two of our last seven Premier League outings to sit 6th in the table - one behind fifth-placed Liverpool and eight behind leaders Manchester City - who have both played a game more. The visit of the holders would normally evoke fear into the hearts of most teams, but we marched to a 2-0 win over then-defending champions Manchester City in the 2019-20 campaign, and victory here would see us beat the reigning champions in successive seasons for the first time since 2001. On an individual level, the ever-controversial Mourinho will be determined to get one over Liverpool, whom he has lost his last three league meetings against - a run which represents his longest losing streak against a top-flight opponent.
As the only team in the top 13 without a win in their last five league matches, Liverpool's hard-earned crown is slowly slipping off amid their alarming goal drought. A 1-0 home defeat to Burnley - their first top-flight defeat at Anfield since April 2017 - represented their fourth league game in a row without finding the back of the net, meaning that the Reds are suffering their worst goal drought for over 20 years.
It is simply unfathomable to imagine a team that boasts the famed attacking trio of Salah, Mane and Firmino struggling for goals, but whispers surrounding the former's future are not helping matters in the slightest, although he did manage to break his duck against Man United in the FA Cup. However, Salah's brace at Old Trafford was in vain as another FA Cup passed by at the weekend. With the tie delicately poised at 2-2, a pinpoint free kick that condemned Liverpool to back-to-back defeats for the first time since October.
The Reds have been afflicted with numerous injuries to key players this season - not least the long-term absences of and - but even the most ardent of Liverpool supporters will surely accept that they are now outsiders in the title race. Manchester City has opened up a seven-point lead over Klopp's men at the top as they overcame West Bromich Albion 5-0 on Tuesday evening, and no matter what happens elsewhere this week, Liverpool cannot rise any higher than 4th up the table with a win in the capital. The Anfield faithful are growing restless for a long-awaited three points, but they can at least take solace in the fact that they have taken the spoils in their last six games with us - including a 1-0 win in this fixture last season thanks to Firmino's winner - although only two of their nine top-flight away matches this season have ended in victories.
This week's fixture at our ground represents the first ever top-flight match between us and Liverpool on a Thursday, and having managed to beat us on the other six days of the week, the Reds could follow in Everton and West Ham United's footsteps by beating us on all seven should they prevail in the capital. We are already have to make do without the injured Lo celso, and Mourinho reported a few more concerns before Monday's showdown with Wycombe.
Aurier fought off a bout of illness in time to make the bench, but Doherty remains doubtful with an unspecified problem, while Alli was not involved whatsoever due to a reported tendon injury. Changes of the team that played on Monday in FA Cup could see Aurier, Lloris, Reguilon, Dier and Rodon, all return to the fold, while Hojbjerg and Ndombele could occupy spots in the engine room. Mourinho has a big call to make on the right-hand side, with Bale starting to look sharper after being told he must fight for his minutes, but Bergwijn is expected to get the nod regardless.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are sweating over the fitness of Captain Henderson, who played no part against Man United or Burnley and remains a major doubt for this one. As a result, Thiago and Wijnaldum look set to be joined by Oxlade-Chamberlain in the middle of the park, although the ever-reliable Milner is another option for Klopp. Fabhino and Matip should pair up in defence once again with Gomez and Van Dijk injured, while Keita and Jota will also be sidelined for a little while longer. Salah and Firmino were surprisingly benched against Burnley, while Mane appeared as a substitute against Man United, but the trio will certainly feature from the off as the visitors hope to avoid a fifth league game
Thursday's game represents the 177th meeting between us in all competitions, with the Reds boasting 86 wins compared to Tottenham's 48. December's game at Anfield was one of the few Premier League matches with fans in attendance before another national lockdown, and a 2,000-strong Kop witnessed their team come up trumps in a 2-1 thanks to Firmino's bullet header. The Brazilian has often been criticised for his lack of goals, but he has managed to find the back of the net in four of his last five league matches against us.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will deploy a gung-ho approach or sit back and hope to attack Liverpool on the counter, although that could prove costly against a Reds side desperate to break their goalscoring duck. We have undoubtedly improved in recent weeks, but for 85 minutes against Wycombe, our ongoing problems were evident.
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