12:45pm local time on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at White Hart Lane, North London
Tottenham
$2.50 at Sportsbet.com
Table position: 8th
W-D-L record: 3-4-1
Recent results: W D D D W
Liverpool
$2.88 at www.CrownBet.com
Table position: 10th
W-D-L record: 3-3-2
Recent results: L L D W D
Draw – $3.50 at Bet365
Last five EPL meetings
Liverpool 3-2 Tottenham
Tottenham 0-3 Liverpool
Liverpool 4-0 Tottenham
Tottenham 0-5 Liverpool
Liverpool 3-2 Tottenham
JURGEN Klopp will take charge of Liverpool ($2.88 to win at CrownBet) for the very first time as the Reds open up round nine of Premier League 2015-16 with a tricky date at White Hart Lane.
The former Borussia Dortmund head coach was installed during the international break following the dismissal of Brendan Rodgers, who was dumped just hours after the 1-1 draw with Everton two weekends ago.
If the timing was somewhat surprising, the verdict itself was not, as Liverpool currently sit 10th and have managed only eight goals (an average of one per game) for the season so far.
There has been plenty of speculation regarding how Klopp’s Reds will deviate from the Rodgers setup, but a more adventurous and incisive brand of football appears to be at the forefront of the German’s plans.
“Winning is important but so is how you win and how you play the game,” Klopp said during his first press conference on Merseyside.
“I believe in a playing philosophy that is very emotional.”
He added: “My teams play at full throttle. They must take it to the limit every single game.”
One man relishing the change in management is Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana, who spoke glowingly of the incoming gaffer after watching his unveiling ceremony last week.
“I am excited, very excited, to work with the new manager,” Lallana told reporters while away on international duty with England.
“I saw the press conference and, like everyone at the press conference and the reaction he is getting, it is going to be exciting.”
Whatever Klopp has in store, he could do much worse than pinch a few ideas from the opposition playbook this weekend.
Tottenham Hotspur ($2.50 to win at Sportsbet) have now gone seven games undefeated in the league, with their only defeat – a 1-0 reverse at Manchester United – coming on the opening day of the season.
That solid stretch of form includes wins over Sunderland (1-0), Crystal Palace (1-0) and league leaders Manchester City (4-1), although the top-half logjam means they presently reside mid-table in eighth.
Much of the credit must go to Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino and his investment in the club’s young talent, as the likes of Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb, Eric Dier and Dele Alli have flourished under his stewardship.
The Argentine has also tightened up the traditionally leaky Lilywhites back line, as no team has conceded fewer than Tottenham’s seven goals against in the Premier League this season.
But Pochettino and his charges face two big stumbling blocks this weekend: a Liverpool side rejuvenated by an exciting new manager, and recent history.
For Spurs have lost each of their last five EPL matches against the Reds, conceding a whopping 18 goals in the process.
The question is: have the Londoners really shaken off their defensive frailties, or will they revert to type against a bogey team with plenty to prove?
We’ll find out Saturday lunchtime.
Tottenham team news
Spurs fans will be delighted by the news that both Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb are in real contention to rejoin the matchday squad this weekend.
Mason has missed a month after injuring his knee against Sunderland on September 13, while an ankle problem and various other niggles have kept Bentaleb sidelined since late August.
Their prospective returns would be very timely indeed, as Eric Dier – who has performed superbly in midfield this season – will miss Liverpool’s visit through suspension.
Possible Spurs XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Bentaleb, Alli; Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli; Kane.
Liverpool team news
There was a pleasant surprise awaiting Jurgen Klopp when he arrived for his first training session at Melwood on Monday.
Philippe Coutinho was among the nine senior players to hit the track, meaning the 23-year-old playmaker – who withdrew from Brazil’s recent international fixtures – could well pass fit for the journey to North London.
Not sighted at training were Christian Benteke (hamstring), Roberto Firmino (back) and club captain Jordan Henderson (foot), who are stilled marooned on the treatment table.
Joe Gomez was subbed out of the England under-21 team’s win over Kazakhstan on Tuesday with a knee injury, but follow-up reports suggest it isn’t serious and the young defender may be available to face Spurs.
Possible Liverpool XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno; Lucas, Can; Coutinho, Milner, Lallana; Sturridge.
Match betting predictions
- Draw ($3.50 at Bet365.com)
- Correct score 1-1 ($7 at CrownBet.com)
- Under 2.5 match goals ($1.95 at WilliamHill.com)
You know it’s a tough one to call when there’s less than 40 cents between the two sides in the match betting markets.
The leading Premier League bookmakers can barely split this one, and neither can we.
Liverpool’s recent record at the Lane is terrific, but Tottenham now look a far less porous team than they’ve been in previous years.
Besides, just how much of an impact can Klopp really make when half his squad won’t return from international duty until a couple of days before Saturday’s clash?
We’re calling a draw, with each side to find the score sheet at some point.
Spurs first goalscorer odds
Harry Kane ($6 at William Hill)
The Spurs vice-captain has had a funny old start to the 2015-16 Premier League campaign, capped by his spectacular own goal in the 2-2 draw with Swansea City a fortnight ago. But Kane is still the main man in the Tottenham forward line, even if his goal tally this season (one) doesn’t seem to suggest it.
Christian Eriksen ($8.50 at Bet365)
We’ve been backing in the Danish playmaker for a few weeks now, and he delivered in marvellous fashion at Liberty Stadium with two superb free-kicks. He’s an obvious threat around the edge of the box and, behind Kane, is probably Spurs’ most likely goalscoring option.
Liverpool first goalscorer picks
Daniel Sturridge ($6.50 at Sportsbet)
Sturridge has been quite lively since returning to the first team about a month ago. The 26-year-old England striker scored a super brace against Aston Villa on his second match back from injury, and he’s definitely Liverpool’s best bet to find the score sheet at White Hart Lane.
Philippe Coutinho ($10 at Bet365)
The Merseysiders’ attacking line will be that much more potent if Coutinho is declared fit to start on Saturday. The Brazilian has that happy knack of netting crucial goals in stunning fashion, as he did against Stoke City in round one, so $10 odds look like very good value.