Liverpool Vs Tottenham Hotspur - Sunday 30 April at 16.30

[AngryOfTuebrook]

This could be interesting.

 

When Spurs come to Anfield, it's usually eventful. (A few years ago some poor sod in the next block along from me had a heart attack as late goals were flying in. Fortunately he survived that day; unfortunately, so did Spurs.) It's been a while since our league positions have meant that we're actually competing against each other, so that will add a bit of spice.

 

We've somehow found something approaching consistency; we've looked decent ever since Trent squared up to Xhaka. For their part, Spurs would rather not talk about recent results. If we win this, we start to look well placed for a UEFA Cup place next season and I want that. It's a beautiful trophy and the capitulation in 2016 still feels like a wrong that needs to be righted. (Of course, if either Newcastle or Man United collapse and we end up in the Champions League... well, I could live with that, too.)

 

Anfield should be bouncing for this.

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

[an tha]

Smashed at Newcastle, they'll lose to the mancs tomorrow and then they'll dig out a result at Anfield with sky fawning all over Sir Lionheart Harold of Kaneshire....

 

Urrrrrrghh.

 

Or alternatively we'll fucking swill them!

[Creator Supreme]

L0 Spurs 1 (Sir Harold 90+22, penalty (retaken 4 times until he scores)).

[Anubis]

We will prevail and Sir Harold will whimper and crawl at the feet of Luis Diaz, First Sword of Braavos.

[Trumo]

Momentum. That’s what it’s all about now. There’s a faint glimmer of a chance of sneaking into the top 4, but it requires us to have all the momentum while the others have a dip. Three home games in a row is a real opportunity to keep up our momentum and start asking questions of the rest, but it requires us to do our bit. No messing about. What do we need?

 

Gumption. Energy. Ruthlessness. Tactical nous. Class. Heart. Awareness.

 

I don’t ask for much.

 

Last season’s corresponding fixture came at the beginning of May. We’d won one cup, would be playing in the final of another and were attempting to reach the final in a third. All while putting pressure on City at the top of the table. Playing against Conte-ball at home wasn’t really the ideal fixture for us. We’ve always done well when playing Conte’s teams on their own patch because the onus is more on them and he doesn’t like his teams to have the onus. He wants to defend deep with a back 3, use wing-backs and play with pace on the counter. It’s easier for his teams to do that away from home. This was a tricky game where we struggled to find space in the first half. The best chance fell to Virg whose header from a corner bounced onto and over the bar. Spurs’ best reply was a long range effort from Hojbjerg that also came off the woodwork.

 

The second half was more of a struggle and it was Spurs who took the lead when a long up-and-under was brought down neatly by Kane. He was allowed room to carry the ball forward unchallenged and find the unmarked Sessegnon, who squared for the unmarked Son to tap in from six yards. Kane’s goalscoring brings him all the plaudits but his all-round forward play is of a very high level. He’s a Shearer/Sheringham hybrid. Our title challenge was on the ropes a little and we needed to find something from somewhere. Enter Lucho. He got the ball 25 yards out, cut past a couple of half-challenges and fired in an effort which took a hefty deflection. We didn’t really create anything after that and Spurs had a great chance to clinch it late on when two players were unmarked at the far post. Instead of heading for goal, the ball was heading towards the centre of the six yard box where we mopped up. A point was far from ideal in the title chase, but we remained unbeaten at home.

 

https://youtu.be/2pztCtwwojU

 

A more conclusive performance came at the start of September 1978. Liverpool were reigning European champions and were looking to make it 3 in a row while also reclaiming the league title they relinquished to Brian Clough’s Forest side the previous season. Spurs meanwhile had been promoted back to the top flight the previous season, and their squad contained a young Glenn Hoddle plus a couple of Argentina’s World Cup winning squad from that summer, Ricardo ‘Ricky’ Villa and Osvaldo ‘Ossie’ Ardiles.

 

We were way too good for them though, routing them 7-0. Kenny got the scoring underway with one of his typical back-into-the-defender-and-turn-him efforts to slide the ball under the advancing goalkeeper. He got his and the team’s second of the afternoon by turning home a wayward shot from the edge of the area after Spurs had scrambled clear from the initial attack. The third goal came when Terry Mac’s right wing cross was headed goalwards by Ray. A Spurs defender got the last touch so it went down as an own goal. It was 3-0 at half time and we could have had 6 or 7. There was no let up in the second half either as Doc got in on the act, first smashing home the rebound after Kenny’s effort was closed down by the Spurs keeper, and then running onto Kenny’s through-ball to run into the box past a wilting Spurs defence to hammer the ball through the keeper’s legs. Stevie Heighway was brought down in the box meaning Phil Neal would step up to bury the spot kick with his usual coolness. Only this time he telegraphed it and saw his effort saved low to the keeper’s right. The ref however thought otherwise, awarding a retake as the keeper had moved before the kick was taken. Neal made no mistake this time, hitting the ball high into the net out of the keeper’s reach. The game simply needed some icing on the cake, and it got it with goal number 7. Kenny in his own half turned and playing a ball to Doc in space on halfway. Doc turned infield and hit a beauty of a pass with the outside of his right boot over the covering right back into Stevie’s sprint down the left wing. Stevie didn’t even need to look up. He just hit a first time cross that landed on the head of Terry Mac steaming into the box from seemingly nowhere to bury a header into the top corner. A glorious move with a glorious finish, and one of the finest goals ever witnessed in this stadium. Here are some highlights of the game.

 

 

John Travolta was box office gold in the late 70s, and in September 1978 the musical rom-com Grease was top of the pile. Olivia Newton-John achieved film stardom (she’d already had success in the music biz) off the back of her role as Aussie exchange student Sandy who has a summer fling with Travolta’s high school gang leader Danny, before enrolling at the same high school where they rekindle their romance - he mellowing a touch, and she turning from straight-laced white girl into a female version of him. The film was hugely popular then, and both the film and the songs within have remained enduringly popular, leading to numerous stage revivals. Probably every actor or actress who is not Shakespearean-trained has starred in a version of Grease at some stage I bet. It’s polished and familiar, but no way can I sit through it. That means I get bored by the way, not that I jump up and start throwing shapes with reckless abandon!

 

 

I said before that momentum is key. We’ve been better in recent weeks while Spurs have sacked their coach, then sacked his former assistant as the temporary replacement, dropped their goalkeeper and contrived to put in one of the worst halves of football in their shambolic defeat at Newcastle. Coming back from 2 goals down at home to the Mancs will have given them a bit of a lift.

 

We need to make sure we have the correct mindset, be fully switched on, concentrate and do all the right things. No “lads, it’s Spurs” complacency. As ever, it’s all about motivation, attitude and application. Get those right and do what we can do, and we stand a great chance of coming out of it with the 3 points. All we can do in the league at this stage is continue claiming the 3 points. Let’s get it done!

 

[Rushies tash]

Still pissed off that Origi didn't get brought on in this game last year. We'd be looking at number 20 now.

[gkmacca]

I'd say Son is the major danger. The way we're playing now will create a bespoke space for him to exploit. Who we get to compete with him in midfield and face him in defence will be a key decision.

[Razoray]

2 hours ago, gkmacca said:

I'd say Son is the major danger. The way we're playing now will create a bespoke space for him to exploit. Who we get to compete with him in midfield and face him in defence will be a key decision.

Son played on the right last night and Richarlison played on the left so if the go with that again, I presume Robbo will be on Son duty and Richy will play where Trent vacated. Hopefully, Konaté boots him into the main stand

[manwiththestick]

I hope that misery faced twat doesn't get his first league goal against us, you can imagine the shit cunt going absolutely berserk.

[Creator Supreme]

30 minutes ago, manwiththestick said:

I hope that misery faced twat doesn't get his first league goal against us, you can imagine the shit cunt going absolutely berserk.

It's inevitable!

[VladimirIlyich]

46 minutes ago, manwiththestick said:

I hope that misery faced twat doesn't get his first league goal against us, you can imagine the shit cunt going absolutely berserk.

As long as its a late consolation and the last goal of the game after we've bagged a few.

[Bjornebye]

3 nil Red men it is

 

 

 

 

[gkmacca]

9 hours ago, Razoray said:

Son played on the right last night and Richarlison played on the left so if the go with that again, I presume Robbo will be on Son duty and Richy will play where Trent vacated. Hopefully, Konaté boots him into the main stand

If you were managing them against us, where would you play Son?

[an tha]

9 hours ago, manwiththestick said:

I hope that misery faced twat doesn't get his first league goal against us, you can imagine the shit cunt going absolutely berserk.

Bet your fucking life the pigeon faced nomark does.

[Razoray]

1 hour ago, gkmacca said:

If you were managing them against us, where would you play Son?

On the left probably, but Konaté is a match for Son's pace. It just depends on how we can manage around that. 

[bossy]

We should beat them on present form but I’m not completely fooled by our recent wins.  Need to be on our mettle here as Son and Kane could really hurt us. Come on Red men. 

[an tha]

Never mind Sir Harold Dribble chin and Son.

 

These two are the biggest threat....

 

Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Richard West, Matthew Wilkes. Fourth official: John Brooks. VAR: David Coote. Assistant VAR: Wade Smith.

 

 

[Daisy]

Tierney and Coote. Cunts

[sir roger]

I wondered where Wade Smith had gone, was the go to place in Liverpool at one time.

[diamondjoe]

Spurs the kinda team were some cunt who never scores spanks one in from 30 yds. 

That said 4-0 to us. 

[an tha]

34 minutes ago, sir roger said:

I wondered where Wade Smith had gone, was the go to place in Liverpool at one time.

Must be nearly 20 years since it closed now. Sad to see it working for Howard Webb - should be on our side today!

[magicrat]

10 hours ago, Daisy said:

Tierney and Coote.

Sounds like a very expensive law firm

[Jennings]

I've got a ticket on the Kop today, so if you get to be wondering why its in such fine voice - that'll be me.

[Raymond Duck]

I’m taking my 12 year old daughter for her first game today. She’s a bad crank most of the time lately and I’m regretting it already. My son, who is also coming, keeps giving me the “I told you so” look.

 

Let’s hope the Reds get it done for my sake. 

[VERBAL DIARRHEA]

5 minutes ago, Raymond Duck said:

I’m taking my 12 year old daughter for her first game today. She’s a bad crank most of the time lately and I’m regretting it already. My son, who is also coming, keeps giving me the “I told you so” look.

 

Let’s hope the Reds get it done for my sake. 

All the best mate, and may God have mercy on your soul.