Tottenham Hotspur welcome Liverpool for the weekend Premier League fixture at the White Hart Lane on Sunday. The hosts were subjected to a 5-0 mauling by Brendan Rodgers’ side last campaign which ultimately resulted in the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas. A lot has changed from then and now, Liverpool are without Luis Suarez but have made eight additions to the squad in the summer transfer window that is due to conclude on Monday at 11:00 pm BST (3:30 am IST, early Tuesday morning).
Meanwhile, Spurs have made five additions and centre-back Eric Dier has been the shining star, netting two times in as many league fixtures. After registering a narrow 1-0 victory over West Ham United on the opening day, the north London club thumped newly promoted side Queens Park Rangers 4-0 at the White Hart Lane. Dier’s goal was sandwiched between Nacer Chadli’s brace in the first-half and Emmanuel Adebayor put the game beyond doubt in the 65th minute.
Mauricio Pochettino also appears to have managed to bring out the best from the players he inherited from his predecessors. Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela, Etienne Capoue and Roberto Soldado all raising their performance levels to help Spurs register a 5-1 aggregate victory over AEL Limassol to secure their place in the group stages of the Europa League. The former Southampton boss is well aware that Liverpool will prove a tough test and will be looking to give the home side something to relish against the Merseyside club.
“We’re all looking forward to Liverpool. It’s a tough game but for me, every game is a test. It’s true, Liverpool were second in the Premier League last season and they have invested a lot of money in players. It’s a big test but we need to try to get the points and we need that mentality on Sunday, just like we’ve played the last games,” said Mauricio.
“I’m sure it will be a good game to enjoy, both teams will try to play the same way with the same philosophy and I think that’s good for our supporters and football people. We will try to win three points, that’s important,” the 42-year-old Argentinean concluded.
Meanwhile, Liverpool come into this clash following a 3-1 defeat against the reigning English champions Manchester City at the Etihad. A Stevan Jovetic double coupled with Sergio Aguero’s strike gave the Citizens a comfortable three-goal cushion. The Reds fought back with a header from Rickie Lambert, which went into the books as a Pablo Zabaleta own goal.
However, Brendan Rodgers will be rooting for his side to bounce back from the setback against Manuel Pellegrini’s men and come home with three points from north London ahead of the international break.
Rodgers’ latest summer acquisition was former City striker Mario Balotelli, who sealed his return to England from AC Milan. The Italian international has a history of being a bad boy in the past but will the former Swansea City boss tame him and extract the best football from the 24-year-old remains to be seen.
Liverpool’s spending has been compared to that of Spurs’ last summer but Rodgers reiterates that there is nothing similar to the transfer executions of both clubs.
“I think it is totally different circumstances, but obviously over the course of the coming years we will see. Spurs were a strong squad, had a top, world-class player in Gareth Bale and they will have their reasons for bringing in their players. For us, I think it is pretty obvious we were very low in terms of our numbers and that quality and depth,” Rodgers explained.
“So, irrespective of Luis staying or going, it was something we had to do and I’m very glad we did it, because I look at the quality in our training and it has gone up a level. I see the hunger that the young players coming into the squad have given and the boost that has given the senior players as well,” the 41-year-old concluded.
Team News
Tottenham Hotspur
Kyle Naughton is available after serving a one-match ban. Spurs’ latest signing Federico Fazio is also available but right-back Kyle Walker remains sidelined with a hip problem.
Probable Lineup: Lloris; Naughton, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Lamela, Chadli, Capoue, Bentaleb, Eriksen; Adebayor
Liverpool
Glen Johsnon is sidelined with a thigh problem and Martin Skrtel is reportedly nursing a knee injury while left-back Alberto Moreno twisted his ankle in the closing stages of the match against Manchester City. The latter duo will undergo late fitness tests to determine their availability.
Adam Lallana and Mario Balotelli could make their competitive debuts but the former is unlikely to start on Sunday.
Probable Lineup: Mignolet; Manquillo, Lovren, Sakho, Enrique; Henderson, Gerrard, Coutinho; Sterling, Balotelli, Sturridge
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