Tottenham v Liverpool preview

Tottenham Look to Build on last Weekend's Success

Having sent a young squad to Greece for Thursday's Europa league game, Harry Redknapp will be expecting his senior players to repay him with the first home win of the season and add to Kenny Dalglish's agitation after last's week's defeat at Stoke.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Tottenham enjoyed their first League win of the season at Wolves last weekend with the new signings, Emmanuel Adebayor and Scott Parker, having an immediate influence on the team while Liverpool experienced their first defeat.  Tottenham have Michael Dawson, Aaron Lennon, Steven Pienaar and Tom Huddlestone out with injury but will be hoping that Ledley King will again be available after last week's return.  However, Sandro and Rafael Van der Vaart while returning to fitness after injury will probably still be missing.  Redknapp will probably play the team which won at Wolves if everyone is fit although he will have to make a difficult decision whether to include Van der Vaart ahead of Defoe, if the Dutchman recovers in time.

Liverpool are not expecting Steven Gerrard to have fully recovered from his injury although his return to the team can not be far away.

Liverpool who added to their squad during the summer with Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and the late signing of Craig Bellamy opened the season with a home draw against Sunderland.  They then won at Arsenal with two late goals before a 3 - 1 home win over Bolton.  These players and the January signings - Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll have strengthened their squad and with Dirk Kuyt there is the potential for Liverpool to become a strong attacking force once all the new players have settled into the team.

Last Meeting
Spurs ended the Anfield jinx with a two goal win in the penultimate game of last season guaranteeing their participation in the Europa League.  Goals from Luka Modric and Van der Vaart secured Tottenham's first win there since August, 1993.

Last 6 Visits to White Hart Lane
28th Nov. 2010 PL Won 2 - 1  Opp. o.g., Lennon 
A late goal from Aaron Lennon secured the points for Spurs after Skrtel had given Liverpool a half-time lead.  He then conceded an own goal midway through the second half after Jermain Defoe had missed a penalty.  Jamie Carragher going off injured late in the game helped Spurs' cause as Lennon scored the late winner.

16th Aug. 2009 PL Won 2 - 1 Assou-Ekotto, Bassong
The opening game of the season and two players scoring their first goals for Spurs secured the points, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Sebastien Bassong on his debut.  Assou-Ekotto scored with a great shot following a Spurs free-kick just before the interval.  Gerrard equalised early in the second half but Bassong headed the winner from a corner on the hour.

12th Nov. 2008 CC Won 4 - 2 Pavlyuchenko (2), Campbell (2)
Roman Pavlyuchenko and Frazer Campbell enjoyed this match both scoring twice.  Tottenham took a 3 - 0 half-time lead and never looked like relinquishing it as they took another step towards a return to Wembley.

1st Nov. 2008 PL Won 2 - 1 Opp. o.g., Pavlyuchenko
Tottenham's '2 points form 8 games' season and Harry Redknapp had just been appointed manager in place of Juande Ramos.  A late goal had earned Tottenham a point at Arsenal in midweek and a late goal from Pavlyuchenko brought to an end Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season.  Kuyt had scored an early goal and Liverpool were dominant.  An own goal from Carragher, his third for Spurs, levelled the score and set Spurs up to snatch the three points with Pavlyuchenko's late strike.


11th May, 2008 PL Lost 0 - 2
Two second half goals gave Liverpool victory in the final game of a season which had seen Tottenham lose focus following their Carling Cup success over Chelsea.

30th Dec. 2006 PL Lost 0 - 1
Tottenham ended their attempt on their record run of successive home victories and Liverpool won their first game at White Hart Lane since 2003.  Spurs conceded a soft goal on half-time and the injury weakened team couldn't find a response in the second half.

They Played for Both Clubs
Ray Clemence, Neil Ruddock, Ronnie Rosenthal, John Scales, Robbie Keane, Paul Walsh, Paul Stewart, Nick Barmby, Oyvind Leonhardsen, Christian Ziege, Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness.

Souness who captained Liverpool during one of their most successful periods started out at Tottenham as a youth player, making one appearance for the team as a substitute in a UEFA Cup game in Iceland.  Homesick and impatient for progress, Bill Nicholson sold him to Middlesbrough.

Memorable Matches
Over Easter of 1963, Tottenham and Liverpool met twice in four days.  
Liverpool won 5 - 2 at Anfield but Spurs got revenge winning 7 - 2 at home.  Jimmy Greaves (4, 1pen), Cliff Jones (2), Frank Saul were the scorers.

The young players played their part for Tottenham in midweek, now it is up to the senior players to show their ability and face up to the challenge from Liverpool and take three points to put Spurs' season on a more secure footing.