Tottenham and Liverpool Draw In America

Tottenham and Liverpool played out a tedious scoreless draw in Baltimore in the second match of Tottenham’s tour in America. After opening with a draw against LA Galaxy, on Tuesday evening they play New York Red Bulls to complete the three game tour. Spurs best period was in the final period of the first half through the play of Gareth Bale and Gylfi Sigurdsson. In the second period Liverpool were more dominant without causing any major concerns.

Much Work Still Needed to be Done!

Tottenham Hotspur 0 Liverpool 0

Team: Friedel; Naughton (Bassong), Gallas (Vertonghen), Kaboul (Dawson), Assou-Ekotto (Walker); Jenas (Smith), Livermore (Bentley); Lennon (Carroll), Sigurdsson (Huddlestone), Bale (Townsend); Kane

In high temperatures in Baltimore, Spurs started the better winning a corner in the opening seconds. Tottenham played the ball forward from defence much quicker on occasions by-passing midfield. The uneven, bumpy surface made it difficult to play passing football. Downing put in a dangerous cross from the right but Gallas left it to drift past the far post. Harry Kane as the lone striker was getting little opportunity against the tall Skrtel. Aaron Lennon and Bale switched wings as Liverpool had a shot on target, straight at Brad Friedel who then made a better save from distance.

After 16 minutes, Harry Kane had his only opportunity when Gylfi Sigurdsson played him into the box. A good touch from Kane took him past the defender and his cross shot went just past the far post on his 19th birthday. Bale was taken out by Charlie Adam as he went past him and needed a lengthy period of attention. Once he had recovered Bale put in a dangerous cross from the left which went just beyond Lennon.

Much of the game was being played at a slow, lethargic pace but a good ball by Sigurdsson almost went through to William Gallas who had advanced into the Liverpool penalty area. Spurs’ passing was sharper but they were caught out with a ball over the top and Friedel had to save Morgan’s shot for a corner. Kyle Naughton defended well as Enrique came forward from full back. Lennon chased a good ball forward and put in a cross from the bye-line but no-one had got forward in support. Another cross from Lennon was just beyond Bale at the far post with three players forward. Spurs finished the stronger as a Bale cross was just beyond Kane and fell to Lennon who hit it against the post. Bale headed the ball over from the resulting corner. In the final minute Bale with a cross found an advancing Sigurdsson whose header was saved by the goalkeeper.

Second half substitutions saw Liverpool start quicker and looking more dangerous. Kyle Walker had replaced Benoit Assou-Ekotto with Naughton switching to left back while Andros Townsend replaced Bale. Friedel made an early save before Walker was brought down as he moved forward into the Liverpool half but Sigurdsson’s free-kick was straight at the goalkeeper.  A long ball by Liverpool was well defended by Gallas and then Friedel had to be quick off his line to claim a ball behind the defence.

Liverpool were playing at a much quicker tempo as Spurs forays forward were restricted to lone runs on the break. Townsend got a run on thev left and put in a cross which went over everyone to Lennon on the right but Liverpool closed him down. Skrtel made a run forward, getting between Jake Livermore and Jermaine Jenas to shoot on goal which Friedel took cleanly.

For the last half-hour both sides made numerous changes – for a period it quickened Spurs play with Tom Huddlestone displaying his ability to pick a pass. Gallas rampaged forward onto a Huddlestone pass but lifted the ball over the goal as the goalkeeper challenged.  Through the final minutes neither side threatened as the game drew to a close.

For Spurs, none of the long time squad players, Bassong, Jenas or Bentley, did anything to suggest they’ll be getting, or deserving of, another chance at Spurs under Andre Villas-Boas. The only positives that the Head Coach will have taken from an uninspiring game, apart from it being another step towards match fitness, will have been the play of Sigurdsson and Bale, although he will be concerned about Bale’s fitness following Adam’s tackle in the first half.

The simple lesson from this match is that there is still a lot of work to be done both on and off the pitch. Spurs need to step up their performance but also need to make a number of signings to strengthen the team and improve the squad to provide competition for places.