Tottenham 27/20
Draw 23/10
Liverpool 19/10
Jurgen Klopp will take charge of his first game as Liverpool manager with a tricky fixture against Mauricio Pochettino’s fearless Tottenham side at White Hart Lane on Saturday. The Reds boast an excellent head-to-head record against Spurs having won the last five encounters, scoring 18 times while conceding just four times and keeping three clean sheets. However, Liverpool have won just once from their last six games while Spurs are unbeaten in their last seven matches 
with three wins in their last four including a 4-1 thrashing of league favourites Manchester City.
Tottenham
Tottenham will be hoping to return to winning ways after drawing 2-2 at Swansea last time out, but will be wary of the threat Liverpool pose. Spurs have lost their last five encounters against the Reds including 3-0, 4-0 and 5-0 defeats. Pochettino’s side will return to White Hart Lane hoping to find the same kind of form that saw them annihilate Manchester City and will look to upset Klopp’s Premier League debut. Spurs are yet to lose at home this season having won two and drawn two of their four games played, scoring seven goals and conceding three times. Spurs have produced sparkling football on numerous occasions this season and with a touch more luck, they would have beaten Stoke, Everton and Swansea rather than producing the draws that reflect unfairly on them. Last season, there were several examples that something special was brewing at White Hart Lane. Hammerings of Arsenal and Chelsea and a handful of other brilliant performances showed their potential. Now it seems that Pochettino’s team have added consistency to their other attributes. Spurs will have a chance to exact some measure of revenge on a team that have repeatedly embarrassed them in recent years. Clearing that hurdle would only underline the progress that has been made. Pochettino has a talented side at his disposal but could be without the skilful Heung-min Son. The South Korean forward was ruled out for “a few weeks” by Pochettino after sustaining a foot injury in the win against Manchester City two weeks ago. Son’s injury was a blow to Spurs after he had made a fine start to his White Hart Lane career following his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen, scoring three times in his opening four starts. Christian Eriksen will be a key player for Spurs in midfield, starving opposition of the ball and creating goalscoring chances. Pochettino will be relying on Harry Kane to return to goal scoring form against Liverpool. Kane vastly overperformed last season (scoring 31 goals in 51 games) and the chances of him replicating that feat are slim. The sequel to Kane’s dream debut season hasn’t gone to plan so far. He has only scored two goals in the Premier League, and only one in the right end. Kane will be desperate to get on the scoresheet and silence his critics who regard him as a ‘one-hit-wonder’.
Liverpool
The spectre of Jurgen Klopp haunted Brendan Rodgers’ last few months as Liverpool manager, as the former Dortmund boss loomed large in the imagination of Reds fans who were demanding change. Those supporters have now seen their wish come true and the German will be hoping to make an instant impact at the helm. Restoring Anfield as a venue teams are fearful of visiting will be a primary objective for Klopp. Without tempting fate, or going overboard and claiming Liverpool will dominate English football, Klopp will make the Reds a real threat again. The gap between the Merseysiders and their rivals has been alarming since Rafa Benitez’s exit in 2010, with just one trophy lifted in that time. As much as they will deny it, Klopp would strike fear into the likes of United, Chelsea and Arsenal, and would add silverware to Liverpool’s increasingly dusty trophy cabinet. The German excels in a tactical sense but became equally renowned for his peculiarities, his ability to feed off the Dortmund crowd’s passion and to stir up emotion in his players. Klopp needs that intensity to thrive, and it’s something he’ll discover in abundance at Anfield. Equally, Liverpool supporters want someone who buys into the history and culture of the club, someone who appreciates The Kop, someone who will wind up his rivals. Many Liverpool fans will be hoping the ex-Borussia Dortmund boss brings the likes of Marco Reus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mats Hummels when the transfer window opens, but for now it’s sink or swim for the squad he has inherited. Klopp has built his career on convincing players they are world-beaters and then watching them fulfil his prophecies. The players will all be keen to impress their new boss, and that alone could spell trouble for Spurs. The German will know plenty about Roberto Firmino, who arrived at Liverpool from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for £29million in the summer. Firmino scored in a 3-2 defeat of Dortmund in the German Cup back in April, after which Klopp hailed the Brazilian’s performance. Firmino has failed to impress in Liverpool colours but could take his game to a whole new level under Klopp. Philippe Coutinho runs the show for Liverpool with his quick-feet and fantastic dribbling skills. The Brazilian brings the magic that can win matches in one action and has the flair and artist’s touch of the football. Klopp has a plethora of options to choose from in attack with the likes of Christian Benteke, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings and Divock Origi all keen to impress.
Probable line-ups:
Tottenham: 4-2-3-1
Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Alli, Dier; Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane
Liverpool: 4-2-3-1
Mignolet; Moreno, Skrtel, Sakho, Clyne; Lucas, Milner; Coutinho, Firmino, Sturridge; Benteke
Prediction: Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp will be eager to lead his red army to victory in his first game in charge of the club and his players will be doing all they can to make an impression. The Reds have humiliated Spurs in recent seasons and at 19/10, they’re great value. Get on.
Chadley Nagel
