Premier League: Does Conte have the measure of Liverpool?

Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool

Liverpool hope to keep the pressure up at the top of the Premier League on Sunday when they travel to North London for a tough examination against Antonio Conte’s Spurs.

The Reds are on a run of eight consecutive victories and sit just a point behind Manchester City at the top of the table, while Spurs have picked up ten points from four outings under Conte, and a win could take them to within a point of a Champions League spot.

There will be limited Premier League 2021 updates this weekend with five games already called off and both sides might have uncertainty around their own COVID absentees. Spurs game against Leicester, planned for Thursday night, was postponed while Liverpool worked hard for a 3-1 win at home to Newcastle United and, while they are at odds of 1.58 to win this game, their hosts will be well rested and ready for them.   

The Premier League 2021 betting odds make Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool second favourites for the title while, under Conte, Spurs look like a top four side again; so this is a big test for the Reds.

Does the Italian maestro Conte have their number?   

Talking Points

Soak up and Strike is Spurs’ strategy 

In just four league games at the club Antonio Conte has transformed Spurs from a flaky, disconnected bunch of stars to a resolute unit with the granite look of a Serie A club. Three league victories on the bounce, all at home, against Leeds United, Brentford and Norwich City and only one goal conceded under his watch, it’s been a decent few weeks for Conte.

And, of course, if they can keep their foes out at their own end, Spurs have plenty of pace and firepower to strike in attack. Heung-Min Son has six goals, bagging Spurs’ third in the convincing 3-0 win over the Canaries, making it six for the campaign, while Harry Kane and Lucas Moura can both hurt defences with their instinctive goal threat and range of passing in the final third. Kane is yet to reach the heights of previous seasons but he is a huge attacking talent and when he comes good the goals will flow.        

TAA is back to his best

Title favourites Manchester City put down a marker with a 7-0 thrashing of Leeds United on Tuesday and the Reds responded by beating Newcastle 3-1 on Thursday night. It wasn’t the easiest of matches for Liverpool as the Magpies fought hard and, despite totally dominating possession and the shot count, Liverpool were only 2-1 head when Trent Alexander Arnold stole the show with an incredible goal. Jonjo Shelvey had given the Geordies a shock early lead but Diogo Jota levelled on 21 minutes, stabbing home at the second attempt following a corner. Just four minutes later Mo Salah turned the game around with his 15^th goal of the campaign. The Egyptian superstar has now levelled Jamie Vardy’s Premier League record for being involved in goals in 15 consecutive games. 

But the moment of the night came three minutes from time when Trent fired a 25 yard bullet beyond the reach of Martin Dubravka and into the corner of the net for his second of the season. The England wingback has also made seven assists already and is back to the form he showed when he and Andrew Robertson terrorised fullbacks during the Reds 2020 Premier League title season.      

This win also meant Jurgen Klopp’s side became the first side to register 2,000 top flight victories. It’s a record the club and fans will rightly be proud of, and they just want to keep on winning.

History

Liverpool’s away record of six wins, one draw and one defeat will suggest they are a good bet for three points here, and Spurs have failed to win any of the last seven games against Liverpool, the most recent being a 3-1 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January. 

In fact Liverpool have won 31 of the 61 meetings in the Premier League era while Spurs have won 14 and there have been 16 draws.

So Conte needs to buck the trend on Sunday if he is to keep his impressive start going.   

Betting Tip

	Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool	Tottenham Hotspur Asian Handicap + 0.75 @ 2.19
	December 20, 00:30 (GMT+8)

With the draw at 3.78 and Spurs at SBOTOP odds of 5.03 it looks like the hosts have a tall order.  

But they are well rested; Liverpool have played three tough matches since Spurs’ last outing on the 5^th December and that might give Conte’s team an advantage. Either way, Liverpool will find this Spurs team unwilling to roll over.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.