Despite Recent Slip Ups, Tottenham Can't Underestimate Liverpool

Tottenham cannot be lulled into complacency by the surprising fact that Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool haven’t yet won a Premier League match in 2017.

Now, let’s not be too naive. Tottenham should still feel buoyed by this run of three draws and two losses in the past five games.

Two of those games, to be fair, came against Manchester United away and Chelsea at home, and Liverpool managed draws in each. Under normal circumstances those would be considered fine results.

These, however, are not normal circumstances. The other three matches came against relegation candidates Sunderland, Swansea and Hull City. In the latter two matches, despite fielding strong teams, Liverpool conspired to outright lose.

It’s far too soon to speculate about Klopp’s job security, but these are profoundly discouraging results all the same. Prior to the match against Tottenham on Saturday, they sit 13 points off the top of the table and four points behind their visitors.

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As ever, there were some uncontrollable circumstances around this dip in form. Sadio Mané was away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Joel Matip was suffering a lengthy and strange pseudo-suspension. Meanwhile, injuries and lack of form left the squad lopsided.

If any Liverpool fan thought that recombining all those parts might yield better results, last Saturday’s trip to Hull served as a wet blanket. The Reds were held goalless as Hull scored twice to earn a memorable victory.

Even if Tottenham struggled to earn their 1-0 win over Middlesbrough later that same day, that Liverpool result delighted fans. There are few things better, after all, than a punch drunk and profoundly dispirited opponent.

Is that what Tottenham can expect though?

As he look for an answer, consider the last supposedly “slumping” opponent Spurs faced. Less than a week after being routed 4-0 by Everton, Manchester City came close to rolling over a visiting Tottenham side. Only two fortunate goals in the second half sustained Spurs’ unbeaten streak.

Liverpool, like City, are not suddenly easy pickings because of a bad few weeks. They remain the side that have fought Spurs hard for three consecutive Premier League draws. Mauricio Pochettino would be smart to treat them as formidable opponents, Hull result be damned.

Mané remains perhaps one of the best wide players in England. Roberto Firmino might not be a natural choice for a centre-forward, but the Brazilian’s talents are perfectly suited for a false-nine role. Alongside both of them, the strings will be pulled by Coutinho.

Liverpool’s midfield is hardly anything to dismiss either. He doesn’t often get the recognition he deserves, but Jordan Henderson’s fine long distance distribution makes him a great fit for Liverpool’s reactive style. Adam Lallana, meanwhile, is enjoying his best season yet at Anfield.

Pochettino will be focusing mostly on exploiting what’s proved an surprisingly porous defense however. Mignolet is only part of the problem here. Dejan Lovren and Matip are both good centre-backs, while Nathienel Clyne and James Milner are doing jobs on the flanks.

Somehow, though, Liverpool have conceded the most goals — 30 — out of the top eight teams in the league. That they also concede the least amount of shots from the opposition per WhoScored only deepens the mystery here.

Next: Kane Reflects on Tottenham's Rise and Pochettino's Methods

Finding an answer won’t bother Pochettino so much as finding a way through. He will have a full compliment of attackers to do so, but might be wary on the other end. Stay tuned for a piece later today about how Spurs will line up come Saturday.

Despite Recent Slip Ups, Tottenham Can’t Underestimate Liverpool

By Ryan Wrenn | Feb 9, 2017

Tottenham cannot be lulled into complacency by the surprising fact that Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool haven’t yet won a Premier League match in 2017.