Preview of First Place Showdown: Liverpool v Tottenham
By Aaron Coe
Players to Watch
There are several players to watch for on both sides that are going to really decide the game. Here are the ones that will have the biggest impact on the outcome, two for each team.
Andrew Robertson
Andy Robertson is a left back and yet the focal point of the Liverpool attack. So central to everything Liverpool does, Robertson leads the Premier League in touches on the season. How much Robertson can get into the attacking third is going to have a major impact on the game. While Trent Alexander-Arnold gets a lot of recognition, he is recovering from injury and Robertson has carried the load in TAA’s absence. If Tottenham can frustrate Robertson, it can slow the Liverpool attack, by forcing others to facilitate play.
Fabinho
Fabinho is an outstanding defensive midfielder and as we have seen with Eric Dier, a good defensive midfielder can transition nicely to center half. However, as we have also seen with Eric Dier, sometimes that transition takes time. Neither Klopp nor Fabinho have interest in seeing the Brazilian in the center back position permanently, but necessity makes strange bedfellows and often like Fernandino with City, the defensive midfielder goes to defense.
What makes this particularly challenging is not that Fabinho is not a good defender, rather it his trying to fight his own natural tendencies as a midfielder. Midfielders tend to drift further forward than defenders do. Add in a striker dropping deep and suddenly you have a recipe for big space in the back over the top for Tottenham to exploit. If Fabinho can maintain his discipline and resist the temptation to drop with Kane, Spurs will have a hard time finding space over the top. However, if Fabinho starts to roam, look for Tottenham to take advantage.
Son Heung-Min
Son Heung-Min currently is tied with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool for the lead league in goals at 10. For Tottenham to have a chance to win, they need Son to have a big game and make a difference on the offensive end. Tottenham do not have to dominate possession, but they do need to get the South Korean the ball in the attacking third as much as possible.
With makeshift defenders in the back, having Son run at them is an inviting option for Tottenham. Further, how much we see Son playing defense as opposed to offense will be a leading indicator of success in the match. If Son can stay pushed up, it keeps backs with him and out of the attack. If Son is deeper and helping defend more than less, then Spurs may have a harder time getting out of their back end.
Harry Kane
Real surprise here that the two key players for Tottenham are Son and Harry Kane, but the reality is they are the ones who make Tottenham go. Kane has been the chief facilitator on the pitch for much of the season as he has shown an increased range of vision dropping deeper in the set-up. Additionally, his work in hold-up play helps to provide relief to the defense and give the attack an opportunity to form. A couple of assists and a goal or two are likely going to be needed, because as good as Spurs defense has been, the Liverpool offense is that good and Liverpool has not been shutout all year, so that is unlikely to start here at Anfield.
How to Watch
You can catch the game in the UK on Amazon Prime Streaming, and it is available in the US on NBCSports and Universo for a Spanish language broadcast.
Prediction
While some seem to think this will end up low scoring the odds of there being zero goals in the match up with the two of the highest scoring teams in league seems unlikely. That said Liverpool can defend as they do have three clean sheets. Ultimately, this will be an open game and will be decided by who scores most with Spurs winning 2-4, behind another amazing Harry Kane performance, as the talisman gets two assists and two goals in a game that will leave most speechless.