Some media sources are talking about Spurs injury worries before this game but I care not to focus on that. Whoever we face tonight Kenny will have done his research and planned his tactics meticulously but the visitors face a tough task with Liverpool finally finding their predatory instinct of winning matches and killing off teams. League position states that this will be a hard game for the reds against a team who beat them at Anfield last season. The performances against both sides of Manchester have shown that when the fans are in buoyant mood and the team play with a quick intensity to their game we offer problems to the best of sides.
Dalglish has commented how he is looking forward to playing Gerrard, Suarez and Carroll in the same team and it is true that despite them having been Liverpool players for one year now, for various reasons have only played a collective 69 minutes of football together. It is an attractive proposition for any Liverpool fan, we just hope that they gel quickly and form a productive partnership immediately. It will be a tossup whether Kenny goes with Adam or Spearing alongside Gerrard in midfield. Personally I would prefer to see Adam as I do not rate Spearing but if he does play I hope he proves me wrong. Adam’s tackling is poor and he gives away free kicks and penalties which is a risk but his range of passing compliments the side.
Tottenham have a lot of attacking threats and Bale in particular will be a dangerous proposition. But good sides with extremely good players have come to Anfield before but when the red machine is at full pace sides cannot contemplate attacking when they are pinned back by wave after wave of Liverpool attack, roared on by the packed Anfield crowd. Liverpool could really make a statement of intent with a win tonight and go into a grudge match with their arch rivals on Saturday brimming with confidence. We need a complete performance tonight with every player in every position, doing the job required of them. If the rumours of injuries are true Tottenham could have to resort to a centre back partnership that has had no game time together. If this is the case Liverpool could really exploit this Andy Carroll’s presence and the movement and pace of Suarez and Bellamy. With Adam and Gerrard pulling the strings in the middle and Downing exploiting the full backs on the wing, a high tempo approach could really test Harry’s side after Harry has had a really testing week on and off the pitch.
The game has the potential for a real clash of the sides wanting to finish in the top four places consistently and with Chelsea dropping points it offers Liverpool the chance to really close the gap while keeping pace with Arsenal and Newcastle. This mouth watering match up has the potential to show all that is good about the Premier League. I would quite happily take the worst game of football the Premier League has ever seen and a 1-0 win as the three points is paramount. A draw is as bad as defeat now due to numerous missed opportunities against lesser teams in the past. One thing is for sure this will really be a good measure of where Liverpool stand currently in the Premiership hierarchy.