Premier league runners-up Tottenham Hotspur got off to an unconvincing start at Goodison Park when they managed to salvage a 1-1 draw with a rejuvenated Everton under their new coach-cum-manager, Ronald Koeman. Although Spurs dominated possession in the latter half of the match, goals apart from Erik Lamela’s equalizer were hard to come by.
The vigor of the previous season seemed to be missing and Mauricio Pochettino will sorely need to revive the same when Spurs run into a rampaging Liverpool at home at White Hart lane on August 27. Pochettino may have to experiment at the back with fresh blood and new signing Victor Wanyama from Southampton, for the normal back formation consisting of the Walker-Alderweirel-Vertonghen-Rose combine have yet to find their feet.
Vincent Janssen is another good signing for the Spurs. The 22-year old Dutch striker was able to inject life into the proceedings in his very first appearance for the Spurs at Goodison Park and it was just within two minutes of his introduction that the visitors got their equalizer. He will play a key role upfront in tandem with Del Alli, Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen and focus on the one area where Liverpool have shown a little vulnerability – defense. Clyne, Lovren, Klavan and Moreno have been a somewhat callous at the back and that could negate the effect of those tons of goals that Liverpool have been getting.
But, Spurs need to watch out even though they will be enjoying a home advantage. Jurgen Klopp’s men seemed to getting goals just everywhere as they demonstrated away at the Emirates in their 4-3 win against Arsenal last Saturday. The likes of Saido Mane, Firminio and Coutinho could cut through any defense considering the form they are in and it’s hard to imagine that they will draw a blank at White Hart Lane on August 27. Liverpool’s pre-season bout and EPL beginning for 2016-17 show a haul of 8 goals from 3 matches in which they won 2 and lost 1 (They conceded 7 goals underlining the fact that they need to seriously do something about their defense) .By contrast, Spurs lost 2 and drew 1 from their 3 outings and could find the back of the net only twice. A head to head count of their of their last 5 encounters show how heavily the Reds have scored against Tottenham and despite the fact that the Spurs are a much improved side than two or three seasons before, these numbers will not be lost on spectators at the White Hart Lane arena when the two meet on the 27th.
2015/2016: Liverpool 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
2015/2016: Tottenham Hotspur 0 – 0 Liverpool
2014/2015: Liverpool 3 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur
2014/2015: Tottenham Hotspur 0 – 3 Liverpool
2013/2014: Liverpool 4 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur
It promises to be a mouth-watering contest, but with the goal-scoring form Liverpool are in, only a mystifying loss of form or a spate of key injuries could prevent the Reds from getting the better of the League runners-up. But strangely odds seem to suggest otherwise. But who knows, through the week the momentum could change.
Recommended Tip: Liverpool to Win, best odds 2.95 @ Unibet