Tottenham news:Liverpool V Spurs pre-game analysis

By Jon H
August 25 2003

Liverpool versus Spurs at Anfield, one of the cathedrals of the English game, is one of the great clashes of English football, replete with both tradition and history.

Who can forget Garth Crooks goal to finally end the hoodoo which had stretched back to when the Titanic was afloat. Liverpool fans no doubt, will still remember the 7-0 drubbing which greeted our return to the top-flight in the late seventies.

Anfield then, is not one of Tottenham’s happiest hunting grounds but, after the performance against Leeds on Saturday, they will travel very optimistic of returning to N17 with at least a point to show for their efforts. Spurs will be desperate to erase the memory of two painful defeats last season. Liverpool on the other hand, will be equally determined to get their season off and running with a morale boosting win after two spluttering performances thus far.

So far this season, Liverpool have looked pedestrian, and rather out of sorts both against Chelsea last week and against Aston Villa on Sunday. They have also looked uncharacteristically frail at the back, which given the personnel at their disposal, is surprising to say the least. Harry Kewell appears subdued and Owen and heskey are yet to shine.

The danger men for Liverpool on Wednesday are most likely to be Steven Gerrard and El Hadji Diouf. Gerrard, for me is the complete premiership midfield player and when he shines Liverpool tend to coma alive. The battle between Gerrard and Jamie Redknapp looks mouth-watering. Talking of mouths, Diouf leaves a nasty taste in mine. There is just something about him which is unpalatable. Another man to look out for is the under-rated Danny Murphy, who always looks likely to pop up and ruin your week. Milan Baros is another who is likely to play a cameo role on Wednesday, probably from the bench, but how Heskey keeps him out of the starting line up is a mystery to me.

For Spurs, the newcomer Ricketts is likely to enjoy the wide open spaces of Anfield. Helder Postiga, that graceful athlete, has the makings of becoming a Spurs legend and his first league goal, on Saturday’s evidence can surely not be long in coming. Fredi Kanoute marked his arrival at Spurs with a goal, and what a cracker it was too. As well as the goal he scored, he was also a general pain for the hard-pressed Leeds defence for the last 20 minutes. Simon Davies and Steven Carr both appear to have rediscovered an appetite for the game and Spurs fans will be looking for both of them to have big performances on Wednesday. The back three of Richards, King, and the impressive Gardner looked confident and assured on Saturday and will be very hopeful of shackling Owen and an improving Heskey. Tarricco appears to have risen to the challenge of the imminent arrival of Bobby Convey with a splendid goal on Saturday, and will relish getting to grips with Harry Kewell.

Much will depend on Redknapp winning the battle with Gerrard in the centre of the park, and Spurs cutting off the supply to Diouf. If Spurs can do this then they have every chance of snatching a goal or two as the game progresses through either Postiga or the languid but effective Kanoute. Harry Kewell is yet to shine in a Liverpool and I was rather hoping that statement will still stand come 10pm on Wednesday.

On Saturday, Spurs were a potent mixture of resoluteness at the back, intelligence and industry in midfiled and pace and power up front, a heady mix indeed, football 'in the grand manner' if you will. If Spurs can repeat that vibrancy on Wednesday then the Reds miserable start to the season could take a distinct turn for the worse.

All in all then, given Liverpool’s hesitancy and Spurs confidence at the moment, I really can visualize Spurs coming away from Anfield with at least a point on Wednesday, maybe even three. Spurs need to start shopping at the Powerhouses of the English game, and come away with a gift or two. What better place to do it than at that greatest of stores - Anfield.

My prediction? 1-1 with Spurs battling back to snatch a point through Postiga after Murphy’s opener for the Reds.

Jon H