Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
6 February 2012
20.00 GMT
Anfield

History:
Total: 153
Liverpool Wins: 70
Tottenham Wins: 45
Draws: 38

Last Premier League Meeting: 18 September 2011 – Tottenham 4-0 Liverpool

Form:
Liverpool: The last three games have been perhaps the best run of three games Liverpool have had this season, advancing in both cups with first a 2-2 draw against Manchester City in the League Cup then a 2-1 win over Manchester United in the FA Cup, before pulverizing Wolves a weekend ago by a 3-0 scoreline.

Most Spurs fans will be grateful for an early weekend kick off as a chance to get back to the football after a mixed week at the club. Watford will host us in our fourth round FA Cup tie and one player almost certain to feature is the versatile Jake Livermore.

Jake has appeared regularly in the cup competitions, even filling in at right back against Cheltenham and has therefore underlined his potential to the club in more than one area of the pitch.

Images: twitter, Mike Hewitt/Getty Images.

Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone has had a lot of time on his hands since his ongoing ankle injury started acting up again. But don't be thinking he's wasting it playing FIFA, pimping out his wheels and falling out of clubs like most footballers do.

szólj hozzá: Tottenham H. 2-0 Everton

Benoit Assou Ekotto's spectacular 30 yard strike continued a tradition of Spurs long range bombs in recent times - Danny Rose, Rafael Van Der Vaart, Tom Huddlestone, Kyle Walker, come to mind. The first goal came from Aaron Lennon, cutting past Leighton Baines, after the left back completely missed clearing a long diagonal ball from Ekotto, and then shooting past the diving Tim Howard.

Spurs were already in the midst of an injury crisis when Brazilian midfielder Sandro limped out of action on the half hour mark of yesterday's win over West Brom. The news got worse as Sandro's replacement Jake Livermore left proceedings after a clash of heads with Younes Kaboul.

The situation has left the club with few right sided options in midfield with Scott Parker nursing a knee injury and Tom Huddlestone a long term absentee.

There's a buzz about Spurs at the moment. Everyone is talking about Harry Redknapp's team electrifying the Premier League. There's even talk of a title challenge! After the first two games of the season, who would have thought that?

Brad Friedel has made the goalkeepers position his own by offering calm and confidence in place of Gomes panicky flappiness.

The Eden Hazard rumours persist this morning amidst claims that Spurs a preparing a £45m January bid for the Belgian midfielder and his compatriot – Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen.

Since the rumours started, prices for Hazard alone have varied from around £20m to £35m and while all the usual suspects – Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City etc etc have been linked, some of the stories suggest that Spurs are in pole position and that Harry Redknapp is trying to convince the board that Hazard is the man to cement Champions League football for next season.

THFC1882 presents a guest preview of Spurs visit to Fulham by Ciaran Griggs:

Premier League; Craven Cottage; Sunday 6th November; 1600 KO. Sky Sports 1/HD1

Before getting into detailed discussion about the likely lineups, tactics and outcome of yet another Sunday afternoon Spurs match, let's get one thing out of the way first.

In an extremely dubious 'exclusive' yesterday, the Daily Mirror claimed that Liverpool are interested in signing Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone. There are dozens of sites making up stupid transfer rumours on a daily basis but this must be one of the most ridiculous.
The Mirror claimed:
"Liverpool are ready to swoop for Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone.

When Tom Huddlestone first began to experience injury problems around 12 months ago, he was first choice at the Lane for defensive midfield duties. However, as he continues the rehabilitation from his latest setback, he suddenly faces a battle to take the field when he finally regains fitness.

Tom Huddlestone on Liverpool radar

Liverpool are weighing up a move for Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone. The 24-year-old has been out of action since August but is expected to be back at the end of the year.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-11-02 09:43:37 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool plot swoop for Spurs midfielder

Tom Huddlestone has fallen down the pecking order at White Hart Lane

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-11-01 22:25:31 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

A strong feature of the early part of Tottenham's season has been the use of various youngsters in our non-Premier League campaigns. Anyone who was at Hearts away and Shamrock Rovers at home would have been impressed by Andros Townsend's electrifying contributions. Harry Kane might have missed a penalty in that 0-0 bore-fest against Hearts at the Lane but his general performance in that game and away against PAOK Salonika demonstrated that he might be able to make something of his career at Spurs.

Maddy's Note: Baby step number 2 towards making this a regular feature on BigFourZa. Spot Kick is back taking a look back at the weekend's events. What the heck is it with NLDs and long range screamers? Danny Rose, Tom Huddlestone and now Kyle Walker. Being a gooner is hard work.

All the team news, key facts and stats ahead of the Premier League clash at White Hart Lane.

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will revert to his first-choice line-up for the derby, meaning Emmanuel Adebayor is in line to face his former club Arsenal at White Hart Lane.

Vedran was reasonably certain he knew the Croatian for 'unmentionables'By the time Arsenal came to White Hart Lane for the return game, the buoyancy surrounding Spurs' season was starting to dissipate. A succession of agonisingly frustrating draws against bottom half sides had unravelled the chase for a second successive fourth place finish and where Spurs were floundering, Man City weren't.

Yesterday we asked what the future held for Tom Huddlestone and while opinion is divided on his long term role at the club, news has come through today that answers that question in the short term at least.

Tom hasn't appeared for Spurs since the defeat by Manchester City and has struggled with injury since the start of the season.

Carlos Tevez created quite the sideshow during Manchester City's UEFA Champions League loss to Bayern Munich on Tuesday after refusing to enter the match as a substitute.

After acknowledging that he wouldn't go into the match, the Argentine striker is now backtracking a bit with his latest public comments.

Yesterday we asked whether Harry should find a place for both Sandro and Scott Parker in his first choice starting line up. While injuries and rotation will often have their say in who takes to the field, if and when everyone is fit at the Lane, there are some serious selection headaches looming for the manager.

Tottenham play host to Liverpool on Sunday with both sides looking to enhance their top four aspirations.
Both sides will be aiming for a UEFA Champions League finish come the end of the season and they will be hoping to gain an early psychological edge with victory at White Hart Lane.
The hosts go into the game buoyed by their first win of the season over Wolves last weekend, while Liverpool will be seeking to bounce back from their defeat at Stoke last time.

Tottenham play host to Liverpool on Sunday with both sides looking to enhance their top four aspirations.
Both sides will be aiming for a UEFA Champions League finish come the end of the season and they will be hoping to gain an early psychological edge with victory at White Hart Lane.
The hosts go into the game buoyed by their first win of the season over Wolves last weekend, while Liverpool will be seeking to bounce back from their defeat at Stoke last time.

It's back to the first choice line up for Sunday's game with Liverpool and manager Harry Redknapp has enjoyed better news on the injury front after a bad start to the week which saw Michael Dawson ruled out for two months.

Harry could welcome back Aaron Lennon, William Gallas and Rafael van der Vaart for this televised game while Steven Pienaar, Ledley King and Tom Huddlestone all face late fitness tests.

This is probably the hardest team to predict so far this season as we have been promised as many as ten changes for tonight's match against PAOK.

"We've got a lot of senior players injured," said Harry Redknapp. "William Gallas, Michael Dawson, Danny Rose, Steven Pienaar, Tom Huddlestone, Sandro, Aaron Lennon, Rafa van der Vaart, all not fit.

As 11pm came on Wednesday there was a palpable sigh of relief from many Spurs fans. Finally all the press speculation about who was on their way in and out of the club could be put to bed and now the focus would be on the football. At least until December, just before the next window opened.

With a few hours to go before the transfer window closes, the only confirmed deasl involving Spurs to date is the signing of Scott Parker from West Ham and David Bentley's loan to the Hammers.

Beyond this, there is a lot of momentum concerning a bid for Gary Cahill which may involve Sebastien Bassong going the other way.

There appear to be no new injury concerns for Spurs ahead of tonight's game against Manchester United and with Luka Modric ruled out, manager Harry Redknapp may well stick with the starting XI from last week's Europa Cup Tie against Hearts.

The back five look set to stay as they are unless Harry decides to change the keepers around, otherwise Walker, BAE, Dawson and Kaboul should start ahead of Gomes.

Spurs' Michael Dawson takes his shirt off to celebrate his side's 5-0 win over the SPL's Heart of Midlothian. Maybe this Europa League stuff isn't as bad as we thought... Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe/Zimbio.

As you know, we can't be bothered to write stuff about the Europa League until someone actually wins it.

With Tottenham heading to the capital of Scotland with more walking wounded than a scene from Braveheart, one player's ill-fortune is another's chance.

Tottenham have five first team central midfielder's out, with Tom Huddlestone, Wilson Palacios, Luka Modric and Sandro all falling foul to the rigours of the summer break!

Quick Reminder, Real Life With Manchester City a stronger outfit it was always going to be difficult for Tottenham to repeat their Top 4 finish - especially with their first Champions League campaign running in parallel - but they didn't do themselves any favours in the Premier League. They added quality/experience in Van Der Vaart and Gallas and had Bale, Modric, Dawson and (the underrated)

Finally, I am writing about a football match. Not a good match but a match nevertheless.

Tottenham's pre-season tour of South Africa, under the guidance of Kevin Bond and Joe Jordan, started with defeat as George Lebese's stoppage-time goal earned a 1-0 win for Kaizer Chiefs.

These are worthy a few minutes of your life but not too many more than that. Safe to say that if TBFWHL was forced to choose out of these two who to spend an hour down the pub with, it'd probably choose, erm, Crouchy. Don't go on TV after you've retired, eh lads?
The lowhighlight? "I don't know about Mastermind, what's that?

"Get away from me Jermaine, you're still a bit of a nothing player", Kaboul probably said. Way back in August at the start of the season, TBFWHL drew up a little wishlist for the impending year. Now that everything is done and dusted, it's the perfect time to take a look at that list and see whether or not any of those desires were granted.

Having given your verdict on the player of the season, it's time to have your say regarding your favourite goals from the last campaign.

As you would expect from Spurs, there were some stunning strikes and many of our goals from 2010-11 featured on Match of the Day and Sky's regular competitions, but which of these really stands out?

Today's 'It's Only A Game' is brought to you in a slightly tired and distorted fashion. Rather than this being a result of celebrating the Nations Cup, I merely decided to enjoy the fruits of my labour (ahem) – but needless to say, I still managed to glean this morning and yesterday's top stories, starting with.

Spurs and Villa fans, prepare for shame Tottenham duo Aaron Lennon and Tom Huddlestone, and Aston Villa's Ashley Young, have flown to Marbella to join the cast of chronically poor reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex. The Premier League stars are set to take up supporting roles in the somehow BAFTA-winning series, along [.

The one area where Spurs don't look to need any strengthening is in midfield and although there is potential for a Charlie Adam or Scott Parker to come in as cover, it's hard to see how they would justify a place above Sandro or Hudd.

The priority for Harry Redknapp this summer will be to hold on to Sandro, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale as the rumours increase.

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- Photo from Bushman's Archive: Remembering QPR's 1968/69 Season (Their First-Ever in the First Division)
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Liverpool welcome Tottenham to Anfield on Sunday in a shoot-out for fifth spot in the Premier League.
The Reds are in pole position to finish fifth and claim a place in next season's Europa League as they are two points ahead of Spurs.
A win for Liverpool will guarantee fifth spot with just one game left after this weekend in the Premier League.

Liverpool welcome Tottenham to Anfield on Sunday in a shoot-out for fifth spot in the Premier League.
The Reds are in pole position to finish fifth and claim a place in next season's Europa League as they are two points ahead of Spurs.
A win for Liverpool will guarantee fifth spot with just one game left after this weekend in the Premier League.

In the annual Tottenham/Arsenal sex face competition, Huddlestone was a clear winnerWhat a week that was. In the space of just a few days, Harry's boys played out two relatively high-scoring draws - one, a frenetic, all-guns-blazing, high stakes shootout with the Arsenal that we did well to get a point out of, and the other, a game that personnel, location and logic all dictated that we should have won and we didn't.