How Tottenham Hotspur can beat Liverpool on Sunday in EPL

Getting that first goal is always helpful but you cannot count on one goal being enough against the Reds. Liverpool has scored in every match this season and has scored three or more in eight of 17 games. Keeping a clean sheet would be great but seems kind of wishful, instead, Spurs need to play smart.

Tottenham needs to limit Liverpool’s looks

At 2.8 goals per match, no one in the league – not even might Manchester City – is scoring at the pace of Liverpool. There is good reason for this output, beyond the great players, which is Liverpool take a lot of chances.

According to footystats the Reds take over 20 shots per match, which is 60% more than the 12 per game Tottenham take. Those 20 attempts are converted into some seven shots on target per match. With that kind of volume, it is no wonder Liverpool are scoring like they are.

That production is the equivalent of one shot every 4.5 minutes and one shot on target approximately every 12 minutes. The Reds are like a machine offensively and Tottenham needs to work hard to limit their opportunities to shoot and work to limit those shots on target.

In the five matches where Liverpool have dropped points, they have averaged just 15 shots and less than five on target. It may not seem like a big difference but five extra shots with two more on target can be all the difference in the world, Spurs need to keep Liverpool’s shooting under control to win.

Spurs need to play until the bitter end

One of the keys to Liverpool’s success is their relentlessness. Liverpool seems to keep coming and coming, which is why they often turn one-goal leads until three-goal leads. A big part of this drive is that Liverpool plays until the final whistle, in both halves.

Five of Liverpool’s 48 goals, just over 10% have come in added time. Twice  – once in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in August and again in a 5-0 drubbing of Manchester United in October – has Liverpool scored in first half extra-time.

The Reds have added a further three goals past the 90th minute. Two of the three were just padded stats in a 0-3 win over Leeds and a 0-5 win over Watford. However, Divock Origi‘s goal in the fourth minute of extra time against Wolves just two weeks ago was the game-winner in Liverpool’s 0-1 win.

If Tottenham takes any time off before the final whistle – in either half – the Reds are likely to make Spurs pay for it. However, if Spurs can play the full 90+, limit Liverpool’s chances, and maybe even score first, Tottenham can beat the Reds. But those are some pretty big ifs.