Liverpool vs Tottenham – The view from Wembley – Opposition Preview

Liverpool will be looking to kick on from their midweek win over Huddersfield Town when they take on Tottenham in the Premier League’s standout weekend fixture this Sunday.

The other meeting between these two sides earlier this season saw the Reds fall to a 4-1 defeat at Wembley. Following that, Liverpool went on an 18-match-unbeaten run in all competitions.

Spurs are currently two places below Liverpool in the table and can leapfrog the Reds with a victory at Anfield this Sunday.

To get an opposing view of this fixture we spoke to Spurs fan CJ Murray ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash.

LONDON, ENGLAND – Sunday, October 22, 2017: Alberto Moreno (L) covers his face as Harry Kane (TH) walks off after picking up an injury during the FA Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. (Pic by Paul Marriott/Propaganda)

After an encouraging midweek win for Spurs against Manchester United, how confident are fans feeling heading into this fixture?

I’ve never felt confident going to Anfield. Our dreadful record away at the top 6 is well documented so if you offered me a point now i’d definitely take it.

Your assessment of Spurs’ transfer window? Lucas Moura arrived from PSG. Did you need more?

Very happy considering that this is the first time in the Pochettino era that we’ve actually made a first team signing in January.

To get a player of his quality for £25m in this market is tremendous business and should provide us with an impact of the bench which we’ve been sorely lacking.

With both Winks and Dembele’s persistent injury problems this season we could have used with another central midfielder who can dictate play, but those are hard to find and very expensive – especially in January. Overall we’ve come out of the window having improved our squad so I can’t complain.

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Spurs started the season very well but seem to have dropped off slightly in the last few months. What would you put this down to?

The loss of both Alderweireld and Wanyama has been massive for us. We could cope with losing one as Dier would slot into their place but losing both for an extended period of time has really stretched our squad.

Add onto that the frequent injuries to Winks and Dembele and we’ve really been stretched thin in central midfield. Unfortunately this has led to Sissoko playing in the most games out of our entire squad this season. The less said about him the better.

With Wanyama back and Alderweireld nearing full fitness we should be set up for a really strong end to the season.

How would you assess your chances of a top four finish this season?

With us sitting outside the top four at the moment, I felt going into this run of fixtures – Man Utd (H), Liverpool (A), Arsenal (H) – that we’d need at least 5 points and to get results against both United and Liverpool.

We’re off to a good start but if we lose against Liverpool then it will be an uphill battle trying to close the gap to them in the second half of the season.

READ MORE: Why Liverpool are taking a big risk by allowing Daniel Sturridge to leave the club

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND – Tuesday, January 30, 2018: Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Huddersfield Town FC and Liverpool FC at the John Smith’s Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

What have you made of Liverpool this season?

Devastating going forward, particularly in the first half of the season with Coutinho, but they’ve still got the same issues they’ve had for years now in defence.

The arrival of Van Dijk will help, but he’s not the saviour. I don’t think Klopp knows how to organise a defence properly. He’s had plenty of time to sort it out now but they keep making the same mistakes. I look at the Liverpool team and beyond the front 3 there’s nothing overly impressive there.

What’s your likely line-up for this? Back 3 again or will you stick with the back 4 that worked well against Manchester United?

I’d be surprised if Alderweireld is thrown back into action away at Liverpool having been injured for months so I would expect us to continue with the 4-2-3-1.

If Rose and Aurier are passed fit then I think they’ll come into the team ahead of Tripper and Davies and we’ll line up like this: Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Son, Eriksen, Dele; Kane.

READ MORE: Why Sadio Mané’s lack of form will be a worry for Jürgen Klopp

LONDON, ENGLAND – Sunday, October 22, 2017: Emre Can (L) Dele Alli (TH) during the FA Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. (Pic by Paul Marriott/Propaganda)

The Spurs player you think Liverpool need to be most wary of?

Kane is obviously the biggest goal threat but Eriksen is the man Liverpool need to shut down. He’s the heartbeat of the team and if you can somehow stop him playing his game then you can nullify our threat.

Liverpool aren’t the type of team to focus on marking him out the game but if you can press our back four and Dier/Wanyama effectively then you should be able to cut off the supply to him.

The Liverpool player you think Spurs must watch out for?

Mo Salah without a doubt.

Your score prediction?

1-1 with goals from Son and Salah.

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