2017 is turning into Liverpool’s annus horriblis. In the space of six weeks, they have fallen from 2nd in the Premier League to 6th, as well as exiting the EFL Cup and FA Cup on their hallowed Anfield turf.
By contrast, Tottenham are coming good just at the right time. They’ve moved to second in the table, albeit still a distant nine points behind leaders Chelsea.
Belief would surge through both squads if they were to win this fixture. Liverpool’s swagger needs to return at Anfield where they still have eight games to play while victory for Tottenham could be crucial if they are to finish higher than Arsenal for the first time in more than two decades.
LIVERPOOL
Jurgen Klopp must be wracking his brains to remember when he ran over the lucky black cat which crossed his path. From being contenders for silverware, their form has slumped, and now they are nervously looking over their shoulders at Everton in 7th. Their Merseyside rivals are just six points behind; a gap easily closed within a matter of games.
The goals which flowed freely earlier in the season have dried up. An indication of the problem comes with Sadio Mane’s return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite missing four Premier League fixtures, he remains the club’s top scorer in the competition.
The Reds have scored seven goals in eight league and cup games. That becomes a big issue when they have conceded twelve. Klopp’s media friendliness means that Liverpool’s form is ignored, but another defeat will see that situation change.
Mane’s absence isn’t the only problem. Confidence is at an all-time low as the defeat at Hull proved last weekend. It was a poor performance with slipshod defending. Klopp will have welcomed the opportunity to work with the players all week and try to reinvigorate their season.
His main cause for concern remains goalkeepers. Simon Mignolet is never far from one mistake, and that came at the KCOMM Stadium so it could bring a reprieve for the equally calamity-prone Lorus Karius. The summer can’t come quickly enough for Liverpool’s long-suffering supporters when they hope for reinforcements in this area.
The Reds have a relatively injury-free squad at the moment with the only absentees being long-term injuries to Danny Ings and Marko Grujic. Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan are expected to recover from minor concerns.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
While Liverpool are reeling from their start to 2017, Tottenham are thriving. Since January 1st, the Lilywhites have turned a four-point deficit to their hosts into a four-point lead, swapping places with them in the Premier League table.
The wheels on the bandwagon came a loose a little at the Stadium of Light recently with a goalless draw, but Spurs overcame an obdurate Middlesbrough last weekend to capitalise on Arsenal’s defeat at Chelsea.
That said, they go into this match with the influential Belgian, Jan Vertonghen, missing and Danny Rose also out. While that means an unchanged team from the side which kept a clean sheet last Saturday, the standard of opposition and a hostile 54,000 crowd make this a different kettle of fish.
Ben Davies’ form has been unconvincing on the occasions he has replaced the England defender, and this is an area Liverpool will look to exploit.
At the start of the season, Spurs suffered a hangover from last year’s failed title change but rediscovering their verve has paid dividends with Dele Alli in particular, thriving with the space being created.
Of concern is the poor return on the investment in Vincent Janssen. There was speculation in the winter transfer window that he may return to his native Netherlands on loan to recover his confidence in front of goal.
Tottenham supporters will be hoping that no misfortune befalls Harry Kane; there isn’t much depth in his absence. Heung-min Son was in fine goalscoring form earlier in the season but coming in and out of the side ended that spell.
FORM (Last six games)
Liverpool - WDDLDL
Tottenham Hotspur - WWWDDW
STATS
- 9 – the number of own goals in previous matches between the two, the most in any Premier League fixture.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League games against Tottenham
- Liverpool have lost one of their last nineteen Premier League fixtures
- Tottenham are unbeaten in their last eleven games in all competitions
- The last three Premier League matches between the two sides have been drawn
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CURRENT MATCH ODDS (BEST PRICED ODDS)
Liverpool: 5/4 (bet365 – Bet Here!)
Draw: 12/5 (Paddy Power – Bet Here! )
Tottenham: 12/5 (BetVictor – Bet Here!)
HEAD TO HEAD
Last six meetings
25/10/2016 EFL Cup Liverpool 2 – 1 Tottenham
27/08/2016 Premier League Tottenham 1 – 1 Liverpool
02/04/2016 Premier League Liverpool 1 – 1 Tottenham
17/10/2015 Premier League Tottenham 0 – 0 Liverpool
10/02/2015 Premier League Liverpool 3 – 2 Tottenham
31/08/2014 Premier League Tottenham 0 – 3 Liverpool
SUMMING UP!
Winning is all that matters to Liverpool, but recent form and a miserly Tottenham defence suggest there won’t be many goals in the game.
Unbeaten in the last eight against the North Londoners, the Reds hold a mental edge and may need to rely on this against opponents who are on a better run in the top flight. With Tottenham’s habit of collapsing when the pressure is on, there’s good reason for Klopp and his men to be favourites in this match.
That and an impressive record against the top seven this season. Unbeaten in their nine meetings with the sides in this ‘mini-league’, they registered a draw in this fixture at White Hart Lane while winning the meeting of the reserve sides in the EFL Cup.
Harry Kane is Spurs best bet to score and having been involved in Tottenham’s last three Premier League goals on this ground (two goals, one assist), he has decent odds for as an ‘anytime goalscorer’.
Despite their impressive form, it’s hard to see a Tottenham win. History is on Liverpool’s side, and I’m going for a low-scoring home win.
Prediction: Liverpool 1 – 0 Tottenham at 8/1 (Bet365 – Bet Here!)
MY RECOMMENDED BETS
- Harry Kane, anytime goalscorer – 9/5 (Paddy Power – Bet Here!)
- Liverpool to win, -1.5 goals – 15/2 (Stan James – Bet Here!)
- Sadio Mane To Score Liverpool To Win 1-0 2-0 Or 2-1 – 8/1 (William Hill – Bet Here!)
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Click to ClaimFrancois is one of Howtobet4free’s co-founders and has written many of Howtobet4free’s popular Betting Guides. Francois also helps run the @howtobet4free_ Twitter account
