Liverpool v Tottenham
Liverpool and Tottenham clash on Sunday in another blockbuster fixture with the high flying Reds well in the title race and Spurs looking to get back into the running for a Champions League spot or at least cement fifth place for a Europa finish. Please note Liverpool’s midweek fixture against Sunderland is yet to be played at the time of writing.
Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick, Martin Skrtel struck twice and Daniel Sturridge added another goal to his tally this season as Liverpool underlined their Premier League title credentials in a thrilling 6-3 encounter in Cardiff last Saturday.
For all their defensive unsteadiness, Liverpool’s attack has been more than able to compensate for their goals conceded, and last Saturday was yet another exhibition of just how potent this Reds forward line can be. We’ve seen all season the electric partnership that has developed between Suarez and Sturridge, but Philippe Coutinho bounced back from a quiet few weeks with two assists – both for Skrtel – and a useful shift at the tip of Rodgers’ midfield diamond.
On the opposite flank to Jon Flanagan, Glen Johnson enjoyed one of his best games in a long while. It was his forward run that created Suarez’s first goal, and his energetic forays down the right flank suggested that he might well be recapturing his finest form. Suarez’s hat-trick on Saturday showed his predatory instincts – he’s now scored 28 goals this Premier League season, on course to beat the all-time record of 34 set by Alan Shearer —while his awareness and pinpoint pass to set Sturridge up for Liverpool’s fourth was equally impressive.
As we enter the business end of the season, every match provides a different challenge to Liverpool: Southampton had been their traditional bogey team, Old Trafford had been a tough away ground, and Cardiff were the resilient relegation-threatened side who had sprung shock results on the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United.
Rodgers’ side passed those tests with flying colours, and while for 45 minutes Cardiff looked like they could put a dent in their confidence, Liverpool emerged and reverted back to their dominance in the second half. In the end, the Reds hit Cardiff for six, making it their 17th league game this season in which they have scored three or more goals.
Gylfi Sigurdsson drove in a stoppage-time goal to complete Tottenham’s fight back from two goals down to beat Southampton 3-2 in the Premier League on Sunday and stay in touch with the Champions League places. Mistakes by Kyle Naughton had allowed Southampton to establish a two-goal lead but Christian Eriksen reduced the deficit from close range in the 31st minute from Naughton’s cross and he slotted in the equalizer a minute into the second half.
Eriksen turned provider in stoppage time to allow second-half substitute Sigurdsson to produce the winner from distance and ensure Tottenham returned to fifth place, six points behind Arsenal, who have a game in hand in the fourth Champions League qualification place. Tottenham’s prospects of rejoining Europe’s elite had been put in jeopardy by back-to-back losses to Chelsea and Arsenal, and the relief at the comeback for Tim Sherwood was clear.
Tottenham’s last two games against Benfica and Southampton are positive signs for the embattled manager. Benfica went 1-0 up in the second leg and had a 4-1 advantage on aggregate against Spurs during the UEFA Europa League round-of-32 last week. However, Spurs’ deep-lying forward Nacer Chadli scored two goals in succession to decrease Benfica’s aggregate lead to 4-3. While the game ended 2-2 and a 5-3 aggregate win for Benfica, Spurs’ willingness to fight foreshadowed a sterling comeback against Southampton.
Liverpool embarrassed Tottenham with a 5-0 demolition in the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane. The Reds were also triumphant in this fixture last season with a 3-2 win. Although Tottenham have done well to win nine and draw two of their 15 away games, they only have a plus two goal difference with 21 goals scored and 19 conceded.
Liverpool on the other hand have scored a massive 42 goals in 14 league games at Anfield, conceding 12 goals. That’s an average of three goals per game. Liverpool are tipped to outscore yet another team and record the all-important three points.
