Tottenham have nothing to lose when they host Liverpool

Nobody expects Tottenham to come away with anything from this evening’s match with the runaway Premier League leaders, hopefully allowing the home side to play free, unhinged and fluid football. 

Liverpool are looking for their 12th top flight win on the trot. They are the only undefeated team in the Premier League and have an outstanding record against Spurs recently. Liverpool have lost just once in the last 14 matches against Spurs. The stats get even worse when you look at Jose Mourinho’s record against Jurgen Klopp. Mourinho has won two of 10 encounters with the German, a meagre 20 percent winning ratio. According to PremierLeague.com, Mourinho only has a worse winning percentage against Ronald Koeman.

On to the good news now I’ve gotten all the foreboding statistics out of the way. Unfortunately there isn’t too much on that front in terms of personnel, with Spurs’ being hit hard by the injury bug last week.

Saturday’s match does, however, provide Spurs with a rare opportunity to surprise a few folks. Very few people expect the Lilywhites to get anything out of the daunting test. Which can sometimes help a team play more freely, devoid of apprehension and angst.

Liverpool haven’t yet played at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, something Spurs will look to take advantage of. It’s imperative Tottenham boss possession in the first half while keeping it tight at the back. They can’t allow Liverpool to get on the ball and dictate proceedings.

Son Heung-Min and Dele Alli will have to be in immeasurably better form than they were against Middlesbrough for Tottenham to have any chance. The home side need to be lethal in front of goal while getting some luck in their own end to hopefully snatch an unlikely draw.

Usually prone to at least one individual error per match, Spurs will have to play flawlessly to stay in touch. Paulo Gazzaniga must have his best match yet as stand-in keeper.

There are heaps of variables that have to go Tottenham’s way this evening, but the lack of expectation could spearhead the home side to their best performance all season. For anything else will mean certain defeat.