The most attractive and anticipated English Premier League game of the weekend goes Saturday, August 27th at White Hart Lane in London where Tottenham Hotspur will host Liverpool. It’s the third consecutive away match for Liverpool and they’re 1-1 so far. It’s actually their fourth in a row on the road when you consider they played Burton Albion in the League Cup on Tuesday.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool – Pinnacle Soccer Betting Line:
- Pinnacle currently lists Tottenham as the favorite to win the game at +150 with Liverpool +203 and a draw at +244
Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool – Head to Head:
These two teams met twice in Premier League last season and drew 0-0 in London and 1-1 in Liverpool. The clubs have met 165 times in the past with Liverpool winning 78, losing 47 and drawing the other 40. Spurs are winless in the last seven with two draws and five losses. Their last win was 2-1 at home in the league in November of 2012. It’s their lone victory in the past nine meetings.
Tottenham Hotspur – A Closer Look:
Spurs earned their fourth point of the season last Saturday with a 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace in a London derby. Newcomer Victor Wanyama scored the lone goal of the game in the 82nd minute. They now have four points on the season and sit in seventh place in the league after drawing 1-1 with Everton on the road in their season opener. Argentine winger Erik Lamela scored the goal for Spurs in the 59th minute after Ross Barkley put Everton in front after just five minutes. Tottenham held onto second place in the Premier League last season, but a couple of late-campaign defeats saw them fall to third place.
They finished with 70 points from 19 wins, 13 draws and six losses while scoring 69 goals and conceding 35. Manager Mauricio Pochettino acquired a couple of players in the summer transfer window as they signed Victor Wanyama from Southampton and Vincent Janssen from AZ Alkmaar. English international striker Harry Kane led the club and Premier League in scoring last year with 25 goals and newcomer Janssen is expected to help him out this year. Goaltender and team captain Hugo Lloris is out for a few more weeks with an injury and midfielder Mousa Dembele is eligible to return from suspension in week five.
Liverpool – A Closer Look:
The Reds had over 80 per cent of ball possession away at Turf Moor against Burnley last Saturday, but lost the match 2-0. Burnley goals were scored by Welsh international Sam Vokes in the second minute and Andre Gray in the 37th. Liverpool fared better in their season opener though with a 4-3 win in London over last year’s runners-up Arsenal. Liverpool’s Brazilian winger Philippe Coutinho scored a pair of goals at the Emirates. The visitors fell behind after 31 minutes and then scored four straight to take a 4-1 lead before conceding two more to the Gunners. Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane scored the other Reds’ goals. They enter this weekend’s action in 11th place with three points while scoring three goals and allowing five against. They also downed Burton Albion 5-0 in the League Cup on Tuesday with two goals by Daniel Sturridge and singles from Divock Origi, Roberto Firmino and an own goal by Burton Albion.
Liverpool finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League last season with 60 points from 16 victories, 12 draws and 10 defeats with 63 goals scored and 50 allowed. Manager Jurgen Klopp of Germany signed a contract extension in the offseason and has made numerous player moves to strengthen the squad. The club acquired Joel Matip of Schalke, goalkeeper Loris Karius of FSV Mainz 05, Sadio Mane from Southampton, Ragnar Klavan and Alex Manninger from Augsburg and Georginio Wijnaldum from Newcastle. Players who departed include Christian Benteke, Kolo Toure, Jordan Rossiter, Jose Enrique, Martin Skrtel, Joe Allen, Brad Smith, Joe Flanagan, Jordon Ibe and Adam Bogdan. Midfielder Sadio Mane could be back this weekend. On the injury front, goalkeeper Loris Karius is out until October while midfielder Sheyi Ojo should return in September. Midfielder Lucas Leiva and defender Joe Gomez are out indefinitely and defender Mamadou is expected back in September.
Tottenham vs Liverpool – Takeaway:
This is a huge game for both teams as they hope to challenge for the title this season. A loss for either side would put a big dent in those hopes.
by Ian S. Palmer