By Sam McGuire
Historical past favours Liverpool
Ange Postecoglou has confronted the Reds 5 instances as Spurs supervisor throughout all competitions.
He’s been the victor on two events. One was the controversial recreation through which Liverpool had Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota despatched off, in addition to a respectable Luís Diaz purpose wrongly dominated out after a VAR miscommunication. The opposite arrived earlier within the season within the first leg of the Carabao Cup. Once more, there was some controversy with the match-winner, Lucas Bergvall, avoiding a crimson card simply moments earlier than scoring the one purpose of the sport.
Liverpool have gained the opposite three matches. And when the Reds win, they do it emphatically. They romped to a 4-2 win beneath Jürgen Klopp, a 6-3 triumph within the league beneath Arne Slot after which a 4-0 victory within the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
The Reds have scored 15 targets in 5 video games towards Postecoglou’s Tottenham, averaging three per recreation. You wouldn’t essentially be shocked in the event that they handle that once more this weekend, with Spurs being a little bit of a catastrophe defensively this season.
Tottenham’s defensive woes
Solely six groups are conceding extra targets than Spurs (1.5) on a per 90 foundation and three of these have been relegated to the Championship.
Tottenham are struggling. They’ve six clear sheets this time period and solely 4 groups have fewer. Once more, three of them have already been relegated. Their xG Conceded whole of 54.3 is the fourth worst within the English top-flight. Yep, you guessed it. The one groups with a better xG Conceded whole are Leicester Metropolis, Ipswich City and Southampton.
Spurs final saved a clear sheet within the Premier League in February. Their incapacity to defend is why they’re in actual hazard of ending seventeenth this season. It’s why they’ve taken simply three factors from the final 15 on supply.
Proper now, West Ham are occupying that place, one level behind Postecoglou’s males with 5 video games remaining. And the 2 groups face off subsequent weekend.
Are Liverpool stumbling over the road?
The narrative being pushed lately is that the Reds have struggled over current weeks and their season has stuttered. Defeats to Newcastle United within the Carabao Cup and Paris Saint-Germain within the Champions League little doubt play a component on this concept. The loss to Fulham gained’t have helped both.
However Slot’s males have really taken 12 factors from the final 15 on supply. Actually, they’ve gained eight of their final 9 within the Premier League. If that is stumbling over the road, what has Arsenal’s title problem been? The Gunners have taken simply 17 factors from the previous 30 out there.
The Reds may not be sweeping groups apart, they’ve scored simply 9 throughout their final 5 outings, however they’re maintaining clear sheets and profitable video games. They’re doing what’s required to win the Premier League.
The present state of play
Joe Gomez goes to overlook this recreation for Liverpool. The versatile defender continues to be out with a hamstring concern. Apart from that, the Reds have a full squad to select from. Trent Alexander-Arnold returned final week to attain the winner towards Leicester Metropolis and he would possibly power Conor Bradley onto the bench for this recreation.
Spurs, in the meantime, could be with out skipper Son Heung-Min whereas Radu Drăgușin is unquestionably out with a cruciate damage. Son missed the defeat to Nottingham Forest on Easter Monday and could be saved for the Europa League clashes.
Prediction
Liverpool solely want a draw however we predict they’re going to win. And we predict they’ll do it in fashion with a 3-0 win.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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