Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview and Betting Tip
While most of the attention in English football over the weekend will be directed towards the FA Cup semi-finals, there is one particularly attractive fixture in the Premier League as well, where Tottenham Hotspur travel to Merseyside to face Liverpool. While Spurs will hope to maintain the momentum that they picked up having defeated rivals and neighbours Arsenal at White Hart Lane last week, the fixture is particularly crucial for Liverpool. If the Reds are to maintain any serious hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League then they must win this game, as failure to do so will see them still twelve points behind their opponents with only nine league games remaining.
One of the most interesting aspects of this match will be its pitting against one another of arguably the two best players in the Premier League so far this season. Luis Suarez struck a hat-trick last time out to decimate Wigan Athletic, whereas Gareth Bale opened the scoring against Arsenal to continue his outstanding run of form. The two player look likely to feature prominently in the end of season awards, with only Manchester United’s Robin van Persie really in a position to run either player close for the Player of the Year award. Both players are likely to attract the attention of numerous clubs across Europe in the summer, with Bale already heavily linked with Real Madrid.
Daniel Sturridge will return to the starting line-up for liverpool, having recovered from a niggle, which could see Philippe Coutinho switched to a more central role than against Wigan. Stewart Downing is likely to retain his place ahead of Raheem Sterling having scored a rare goal against Wigan. Jermain Defoe is likely to lead the line for Spurs, although this could depend on the fitness of Emmanuel Adebayor and the extent of Defoe’s involvement in Tottenham’s mid-week Europa League tie against Inter Milan.
Liverpool (possible 4-3-2-1): Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard, Coutinho; Downing, Suarez; Sturridge
Tottenham (possible 4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Parker, Dembele; Lennon, Dempsey, Bale; Defoe
Betting Prediction: Tottenham have been the better of those two teams over the season as a whole. However, Liverpool have been in excellent form in recent weeks, with Luis Suarez playing as well as anyone in the Premier League. With Daniel Sturridge returning to the Liverpool starting line-up, the Reds will have their full quotient of attacking talent on the field, and this could be decisive, particularly as the Sturridge-Suarez partnership has reaped such reward. An obvious key to the game will be how well the Liverpool defence is able to deal with Gareth Bale, as the Reds’ backline has looked decidedly vulnerable at times this season.
Nonetheless, I have a feeling that the Reds’ home advantage might see them shade this one. I’m tipping Liverpool to win by two goals to one, but two safer bets would be the both teams to score bet, which I think is quite likely, and the over 2.5 goals bet in the over / under 2.5 market also seems a good option.
