Premier League: Liverpool and Spurs Seek Treasure in the Wreckage

Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur

Third plays fifth in an intriguing clash at Anfield on Sunday, as Liverpool and Tottenham try to salvage something from their very nearly broken dreams.

Just a couple of weeks ago Jurgen Klopp’s Reds were in the thick of the Premier League title race, but two losses and a draw in quick succession have left them in the wake of Manchester City and Arsenal. And to make matters worse, Liverpool were swept away by Atalanta in the Europa League.

Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have been handed consecutive losses, and they must beat Chelsea on Thursday night to keep their top four hopes alive. Then they will have just three days to rest and recuperate before they head to Anfield, and that is not a place to go when you are anything less than 100-per cent. 

So this game is a chance for each team to give their fans something to smile about at a difficult time in their campaigns, and boy do they need it.     

Both clubs have suffered damaging derby defeats over the past week. Liverpool’s 2-0 loss to Everton all but ended their title challenge. while Spurs’ 3-2 defeat by Arsenal left them seven points behind Aston Villa in fourth. 

Talking Points

Salah spat is shocking timing

With just three games of Jurgen Klopp’s superb reign at Anfield remaining, the Reds need to keep it together to avoid dampening the mood before the fond farewells begin at the end of the month.

But one relationship already seems to have headed south as star striker Mohamed Salah had a rather public row with Klopp on the touchline towards the end of the game against the Hammers.

The Egyptian hitman had been relegated to the substitutes’ bench after he had been criticised for a lacklustre performance in the Merseyside derby, and he wasn’t introduced until the 79^th minute, moments after Michail Antonio had scored a late leveller for West Ham.

The two Kop idols were seen shouting at each other, and Darwin Nunez had to step in the keep the peace. It was the last thing Liverpool fans wanted to see at this time of the season.

With just the Carabao Cup to show for their efforts this season, Liverpool need to find their unity again and Salah needs to make a big finish. He has scored 17 goals and made nine assists and, with a period out through injury, that’s still a fine return.   

With 11 goals and eight assists, Darwin Nunez has had an impressive campaign too, and I expect at least one of these two world-class strikers to have an impact on Sunday.

Time for Spurs to fight

The pre-match Premier League 2024 betting odds favour the hosts, and with the added motivation of it being one of Klopp’s last three games, I’m sure the Reds will put on a show. So Spurs need to be at their best and be ready to fight tooth and nail to keep their own campaign alive.

Argentine defender Cristian Romero did just that in the narrow loss to Arsenal, hitting the post with a header and pressing with real energy to pull a goal back for the Whites. Postecoglou was delighted with Romero, saying: “He was outstanding. He’s a World Cup winner and I’ve just got to get some of what’s in him into some of the others.”      

The Spurs boss can certainly count on his captain. With 16 goals and nine assists Heung-Min Son has led from the front and he sits joint-seventh in the race for the Golden Boot, alongside Phil Foden, one of the candidates for Player of the Season, and the Korean has made two more assists than the England man.

History

When the two teams last met Tottenham won 2-1 on their home soil back in September in a controversy-filled game as Liverpool had Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota sent off, and Joel Matip scored a 96^th minute own goal to give Spurs the three points. At that point, Postecoglou’s swashbucklers were second and the Klopp’s Reds were fourth.

Both teams have been in decidedly patchy form recently with two wins, one draw, and three defeats from the last six games.       

Spurs have not won on their last 13 visits to Anfield, and Liverpool’s home record this season is impressive with 13 victories, three draws, and a single defeat. 

Betting Tip

This is a game I really can’t see Liverpool losing. Yes, the wheels have fallen off over the past couple of weeks, but Anfield can be a fortress on the big games and, with the extra time to rest, I think the Reds will come through.

But Tottenham are a team which will go on the front foot on any day, and the Premier League 2024 highlights will be well worth a watch.

And if you think Postecoglou’s men can pull out another spectacular performance, you can back them at SBOTOP odds of 1.92 with the 1.25 advantage.  

 

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