Big Match Breakdown: Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur
Published:
Top-four pair set for thriller at Anfield
Sunday sees two of the Premier League’s most talented and expansive sides face off at Anfield, as Liverpool face Tottenham Hotspur.
The Reds were on an 18-game unbeaten home run before last weekend, only to lose at home to West Bromwich Albion.
Spurs have been strong of late, but are winless in their last half-dozen visits to the Red half of Merseyside.
This is sure to be an intriguing clash, and the Coral News Team have all the pre-game info…
Head-to-Head
Liverpool have mostly had the better of this fixture in recent times, with seven wins and three draws in 11 meetings.
However, Tottenham triumphed in the last Head-to-Head. The Lilywhites produced a 4-1 rout of Jurgen Klopp’s men at Wembley.
The visitors are winless in six visits to Anfield, losing five of those. But they’ll take confidence from that comfortable victory in October.
This fixture almost always throws up goals from both sides. Both teams have netted in five of the last seven meetings.
Likely XIs:
The Reds have tended to go with a 4-3-3 system at Anfield. And having beaten Manchester City using that formation in their last home league game, it’s probable that they’ll stick with it.
Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip are likely to make up the hosts’ centre back pairing. Further forward, there’s every chance of the experienced James Milner returning to the starting XI in midfield.
The front three is likely to be Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
As for the visitors, they’ve gone with a 4-2-3-1 set-up in six of their last seven matches. Their back-four is likely to look the same again, with Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez now a real defensive pairing.
At the other end, Christian Eriksen could move in from the right side to a more central attacking-midfield role, to make space for January signing Lucas Moura.
Key Battles
With Moura likely to start, there should be an intriguing tussle on the right flank. The Brazilian has plenty of talent, but played little this season for Paris Saint-Germain.
So he could well struggle against the energetic, tricky Andrew Robertson in Liverpool’s left-back role.
At the other end, Tottenham’s backline will have their hands full with the attacking triumvirate of Mane, Firmino and Salah, who left Man City – and countless other sides – reeling.
Match Odds:
Despite a Spurs win in the last meeting, Liverpool’s home record means they’re the Coral News Team’s tip for victory at 21/20. The Draw is 27/10, while a Tottenham Win is 23/10.
The Reds have been goal-happy on either side of the interval lately, scoring either side of the break in four of their last five. Liverpool to Score in Both Halves looks good value at 17/10.
With these sides both high-scoring and a history of exciting Head-to-Head games, Both Teams to Score seems safe at 1/2. However, Liverpool to Win and BTTS could be the best call at 5/2.
In the Goalscorer markets, it’s all about Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian has bagged a stunning 26 goals already this term. He’s 13/10 to Score Anytime, while it’s 11/2 for Salah to Score Two or More Goals.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
