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.
Assistant Kevin Bond was giving little away in terms of team news yesterday while he did confirm
that there were injury doubts over Scott Parker, Younes Kaboul and Gareth Bale,
"Younes missed training on Wednesday, while both Gareth and Scotty had to come out of training
early with slight muscle problems," he said.
Should Tottenham fail to win their gimme game in hand, that hand will be wiping egg off that
puffy face.
For those who don't support Tottenham, the frequently heard refrain of, "we've got such and such
points, and when we win our game in hand..." got old a long time ago. At long last the fixture lost
to the months-ago unpleasantness in London (August riots) will be resolved on Wednesday, and none
too soon.
The prognoses on William Gallas and Sandro are in and it's not good news for the pair who both
suffered injuries in our 1-0 win over West Brom in the week.
"They both have tears," Harry Redknapp said. "it's difficult to know how long they will be out
for."
However, it seems clear that both players will miss most of this month's action so could that
precipitate an early move into the transfer market?
It's a depleted side that will step out on the park to face Cheltenham in the FA Cup tomorrow
but we do know that Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon will play at least.
Elsewhere, injuries and loan departures mean that Harry will pick from whoever is available,
while looking for a chance to rest some of his more influential players
It's great to have Michael coming back, he's been out quite a while now," said Harry Redknapp
about tomorrow's likely skipper.
Crunch time. This one could not be much bigger if it were written in size 72 font, stretched in
a rack and then injected with muscle-steroid-type-things by that Russian giant of a chap David Haye
beat a couple of years back. It's not just the three points, which would give us a five-point
platform from which to wave down at Chelski, with a game in hand.
Harry's pre-match comments have pretty much given us the starting line up for tonight but there
are still some gaps to fill in,
"I was doing a little bit of work with them this morning and there's seven internationals in
there," said Harry.
"Defoe is here, Gio Dos Santos, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Kaboul, Pienaar, Niko, Sandro, they will
all play.
After a run of 10 wins in 11, and six in a row, the true connoisseur does not really want the
record to grind to a halt against Stoke. Against Barcelona maybe, or the Harlem Globe Trotters –
but not Stoke.
Stoke are actually a member of that elite and highly exclusive band of English teams that have
indeed beaten us this season (cast thine mind back to our peculiar Carling Cup exit a few months
back).
Recreating 'Reservoir Dogs' could not lift the boys
After Blackburn Rovers' exit from the League Cup at the hands of Cardiff City on Tuesday night,
Steve Kean suggested his side had "forfeited" the game to concentrate on Premier League
survival.
And, while Tottenham are approaching the halfway point of the season with the opportunity to
strengthen their hold on a place in the top four, Harry Redknapp showed no signs of surrendering
the club's place in the Europa League against PAOK ahead of the clash at White Hart Lane.
Well what a relief that that has been cleared up. Apparently the Defoe goal was disallowed
because of a foul committed by Pavluychenko in the fixture played back in Greece in September. Or
perhaps for a foul by Graham Roberts in our '84 UEFA campaign. Or maybe it was Mackay back in '61.
Well, whatever the incident, it was definitely a foul.
Switching from the all-conquering, award-winning, glitz-laden superstars of our rollicking
Premiership campaign to the prepubescent kids and want-away squad members on our midweek Europa
jaunts is somewhat akin to putting down the Dumas novel in order to tune in to Dogtanian and
the Three Muskehounds – nobody in their right mind would dispute that it remains quite
magnificent entertainment, but the whole forum is perhaps a little more frivolous.
At the weekend, manager Harry Redknapp played down suggestions that Spurs were worth an outside
bet to win the Premier League. Speaking on Absolute Radio the manager said, when asked if odds of
100/1 were an attractive prospect,
"No, they're not going to give you them odds if they really think that you've got a chance of
taking their money.
THFC1882 welcomes back guest writer Mike Hooley with a preview of Wednesday's
Europa League game:
So, Tottenham Hotspur play a European tie on a Wednesday once again, in what all Spurs fans hope
will be a prelude of things to come next season.
However, the fantastic current league run – nine wins and a draw since the Manchester City
defeat – is put to one side this week with the return fixture against the Greek outfit PAOK
Salonika, current Group A leaders.
After we suggested that William Gallas would walk straight back into the side for Monday night's
game against Aston Villa, it was obvious, following Younes Kaboul's performance in the match that
the younger French defender has become one of the first names on Harry Redknapp's team sheet.
Harry himself hailed Kaboul after the match,
"Younes Kaboul's heading was incredible, he dominated," said Harry, before going on to claim
that the centre half is finally beginning to realise his potential.
Remember the Premier League? Yeah, we're finally back in action tonight for our first
league game under the floodlights of 2011/12. Returning to White Hart Lane also happens to be
significant for Alex McLeish, but that's not something we wish to dwell on.
Truth is, coming back from North London with a point has generally been a decent result for us
in the past, you'll do well to find many Villa fans optimistic about grabbing something
tonight.
There have been no further updates on Rafael van der Vaart's injury problem since last Friday
when Joe Jordan stated that the player was 75% fit at the time.
It may be safe to assume therefore that VDV has continued his recover and is in line to take his
usual place in the starting XI tonight.
As Arsenal captain, even your hair has to be neat
Two things got me to write this topic today. First, I'm at the moment in the middle of reading
Alex Flynn's "Arsènal The Making of a Modern Superclub" and I'm currently at the chapter which
speaks about the behaviour of a certain William Gallas after the 2-2 draw at Birmingham.
Ireland assistant boss Marco Tardelli has told Ireland's players they could be preparing for the
most important games of their lives as they attempt to book a trip to the Euro 2012 finals in
Poland & Ukraine next summer.
Ireland face Estonia in a two-legged play-off over the next seven days with a place at next
summer's tournament at stake.
More dedicated followers of AANP will be well aware that when I do eventually conclude
fighting the good fight and prepare to meet my doom, ‘twill not be in a hail of bullets or blaze
of glory, but coronary failure sustained while watching our heroes. While cheering the news that
the various pokes and prods to ‘Arry ‘s cardiac area proved successful, I rather fear for him
if he observed on the telly-box the inept tomfoolery of Monsieur Bassong in contributing to our
downfall.
With no fresh injuries reported, it could well be an unchanged league side at Craven Cottage
this weekend as Spurs make the short trip to Fulham.
William Gallas and Steven Pienaar both seem to have come through last night's game in Kazan
unscathed but may have to settle for a slot on the bench.
Rarely do I expect our heroes to lose – away to the Manchester clubs are about the only
fixtures this season in which I would regrettably project nul points - but to that roll of
dishonour let the epithet "Rubin Kazan. Away. And With Kids" be added. Those Russians can rightly
feel a tad aggrieved at having to slop back off to Siberia with nothing but commemorative THFC
thermal underwear, for they had the woolly mammoth's share of possession and chances that night,
and are likely to cause us a fair degree of bother on their own patch.
It looks almost certain that William Gallas and Steven Pienaar will make their first starts of
the season in today's Europa League Cup tie with Rubin Kazan. The club needs to give them some long
awaited game time but elsewhere, the side features some new names and is largely the ‘young team'
that Harry promised.
William was fooling no-one with his 'steady hand' display.
By Jamie
DunnThe Europa League may not be at the forefront of everyone's thinking at White Hart Lane this
season, but while Harry Redknapp is unable to attend Thursday's game against Rubin Kazan due to his
recovery from minor heart surgery, William Gallas has presented him and the Tottenham faithful with
reason to watch events in Russia with added interest.
William was fooling no-one with his 'steady hand' display.
By Jamie
DunnThe Europa League may not be at the forefront of everyone's thinking at White Hart Lane this
season, but while Harry Redknapp is unable to attend Thursday's game against Rubin Kazan due to his
recovery from minor heart surgery, William Gallas has presented him and the Tottenham faithful with
reason to watch events in Russia with added interest.
Speculation may continue about possible transfer targets for Spurs this January but manager
Harry Redknapp has indicated today that it could be another quiet winter at the Lane.
Speaking on Talksport, Harry did highlight the defensive injury problems that Spurs have
suffered since the start of the season.
Spurs welcome back Steven Pienaar and William Gallas for Sunday's clash against QPR while it's
also felt that Brazilian Sandro is fit enough to make a claim for a place in the starting line
up.
"William is not going to train today, but he's trained all week and will train again tomorrow,"
said Harry Redknapp early on Friday morning.
Our current defensive pairing have been talking about our aims for this season and while Younes
Kaboul is gearing up for a tilt at the top four, Sebastien Bassong admits it will be tougher than
ever to get back into the Champions League.
Speaking on Talksport, Kaboul said: "We're doing quite well this season and for us our target,
most importantly, is to get back into the Champions League next season.
There may be some better news on the injury front ahead of this weekend's game with QPR with
both William Gallas and Steven Pienaar in possible contention for a place in the squad.
Spurs' coach Clive Allen revealed that both are back in training this week as they battle to
make their first appearances of the 2011-12 season.
An injury crisis stripped the club of William Gallas, Michael Dawson, Ledley King and Vedran
Corluka leaving us to field what was practically our only available back four yesterday, but
two-goal Rafael van der Vaart was quick to praise our defence's contribution.
"When you score you're always in the headlines, but I think the defenders were amazing
today.
With Ledley King's latest injury, it seems obvious to most Spurs fans that a central defender is
a priority when the transfer window opens again in January. However, that view is at odds with
Harry Redknapp's latest comments after the draw at Newcastle.
Asked if he would go back in for Gary Cahill, Harry said: "I'm not looking to strengthen in
defence, really.
While Emmanuel Adebayor remains a major doubt for Spurs ahead of this weekend's match at
Newcastle, there was more bad news today with reports that Vedran Corluka and Niko Kranjcar both
picked up knocks while on duty for Croatia in the week.
Both are doubtful for this Sunday's game and while they weren't necessarily expected to play
from the start, the Spurs bench is starting to look a bit thin.
So, what have we missed in the past week or so?
- Tottenblog Hotspur is running a competition to win a new COYS Spurs Shirt. Click here to
enter.
- William Gallas met Snoop Dogg during a gig in London...
- Robin van Persie, following his statement, that "he believes in Arsenal" has put his five
bedroom house in Goffs Oak up for sale.
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.
By CALEB SONNELAND
It isn't getting any easier for Carlos Tevez, especially after FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce
revealed that the disgruntled striker could face a sanction from soccer's governing body.
Boyce himself claims that Tevez should be banned "from taking an active part in soccer" if he
did indeed refuse to come on in Manchester City's 0-2 loss to Bayern Munich on Tuesday in the
Champions League.
After scoring two goals within eight days for Arsenal in both the Carling Cup and the UEFA
Champions League, 18-year old summer signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wants to be a part of the
highly anticipated North London derby this weekend.
The youngster took only eight minutes to open the scoring against Olympiakos at the Emirates
last night and after becoming the youngster scorer in the competition's history, he is eyeing
Sunday's massive fixture against the Spurs at White Hart Lane.
There are some fresh injury worries for Spurs ahead of tomorrow's game with Wigan at the JJB
with news that Niko Kranjcar has been ruled out while left back Benoit Assou-Ekotto is a doubt with
illness.
According to the club website, William Gallas is available ‘soon' so if he misses out
tomorrow, King and Kaboul should continue their centre half pairing in front of Brad Friedel.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is facing what could be his biggest selection dilemma of the season
so far with the return to fitness of William Gallas.
With Ledley King's return, Tottenham have kept two clean sheets at the back as our club captain
forged a partnership with Younes Kaboul and some fans are already saying that the absence of
Michael Dawson has led to what they believe to be our first choice pairing at the back.
We've already seen that manager Harry Redknapp could welcome back both Sandro and William Gallas
for tonight's match with Stoke City and while the rest of the side is still to be announced, the
manager gave a strong hint as to who would be involved.
"We could have Sandro and William Gallas back, Pav needs another game, van der Vaart is back,
Gomes, Bassong, Corluka that's not a bad team, is it?
Europa League or Carling Cup, which ought we to want less? It's a tricky one. The Europa League
trophy is a sizeable beast, and its lack of handles gives it a pleasingly Neanderthalic edge –
one cannot help but handle it in rough, uncouth manner when raising it aloft, which is rather apt
after 90 minutes of blood and thunder.
Arsenal has long been associated with impregnable defences. Superb organization and fantastic man
marking defenders were the hallmarks of many an Arsenal triumph over the years. To watch Arsene's
defenders during the last two seasons have proven to be quite painful. Tony Adams, Martin Keown,
Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn must all be wondering how it has gone so wrong.
