English Premier
2011-09-18 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English Premier League
Sunday 18 September 2011 - Kickoff 1:30pm
This game is live on TV
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur travelled to Greece on Thursday with a youthful and inexperienced side as they have made it clear the Premier League is the priority for the side as they face Liverpool, a team that could be a potential rival for a top 4 finish this season.
Harry Redknapp believes his teams season began last week when they picked up their first points and win of the season at Wolves. Spurs moved up to 15th in the table, but they will be desperate to put in a better performance in their 2nd home game of the season after being thumped 1-5 by Manchester City in their previous home game.
Defeats to City and Manchester United in their opening two games are disappointing but perhaps understandable considering the Luka Modric issue at the time. They also have played a game less than the vast majority of the Premier League as their first game of the season against Everton was postponed and this makes their position look a little false to me.
Spurs have lost just 2 of their last 31 League games at White Hart Lane, although it was too many draws there that cost them a higher finish last season.
Michael Dawson and William Gallas are both out, but Ledley King is back after a top performance at Wolves last week. Vedrun Corluka is a big doubt, as are Aaron Lennon and Rafael Van der Vaart. Emmanuel Adebayor, Jermaine Defoe, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Scott Parker are some of the players that should be restored having been rested for the trip to Greece.
Liverpool
Kenny Dalglish feels the big decisions have gone against his side early in the season, but he may have forgotten about the 2 offside goals his side were granted in a win at Arsenal. A top 4 place is the minimum expectations for the club this season and they have at least made a decent start with that aim in mind.
Liverpool are 6th in the Premier League and have picked up 7 points in their opening 4 games of the season as they have compiled a 2-1-1 record. The Reds have a 1-0-1 record away from home, scoring 2 goals and conceding 1, with their latest result being the 1-0 loss at Stoke last week. Liverpool have also won at Exeter in the Carling Cup this season.
Since Kenny Dalglish has come back to Liverpool, they have been inconsistent away from home, going 5-1-5 in their 11 away games in the League. The tactics employed at Arsenal suggests Dalglish will play a cautious line up, especially after the side lost at Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham last season; however, Dalglish has overseen wins at Chelsea and Arsenal as well as a draw at the Emirates last season.
Steven Gerrard is getting closer to making his return to the side after missing the last 5 months, but that will not be rushed so he will not play a part on Sunday. The only other injury in the squad is Glen Johnson who has no timescale for his return, while Martin Kelly is another that may return at Brighton in the Carling Cup.
Head to Head
Tottenham have won 4 games in a row at White Hart Lane against Liverpool, 3 of those in the Premier League and 1 in the Carling Cup.
They have won 5 of the last 7 meetings between the teams, including completing the double over the Reds last season.
Prediction
The layers have done a good job on me for this game as I can't help but bite on the prices on offer for a Tottenham home win against a side that is still not completely comfortable playing with one another with a lot of new faces coming in over the Summer.
Spurs have had a lot of success against Liverpool at home in recent seasons and I can't believe they are priced as they are considering the results they have had.
There is plenty of quality in the squad and the result at Wolves last week would have given them the belief that their season is beginning in earnest.
Liverpool have had some good performances against Arsenal and Bolton, but they still have the inconsistencies that blight teams that introduce a lot of new faces to the starting line up and that could cost them some points early in the season.
At the big prices on offer for the home team, I think Tottenham are definitely worth having an interest in as I can see them continuing their good form against the Reds.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Tottenham Hotspur @ 2.70
