Tottenham vs Liverpool – Preview

Zee Media Bureau/Jayanta Oinam

London: Biggest of the big news ahead of Liverpool’s visit to White Hart Lane is the injury of mercurial Steven Gerrard, a name that has adorned every football lover’s lips for over a decade. The Reds skipper, with over 450 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, has been the epitome of loyalty when the players, how gifted and talented they are, change their jerseys as if changing their towels. The 33-year-old midfielder has scored more than a century of goals, and marshaled many a triumphs for the Reds. However, for at least a month, he will be in the sidelines after picking a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s 4-1 home win over relegation strugglers, West Ham United the previous Saturday. Other big news is off course the goal scoring exploit of the now-reformed Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan forward has scored, so far, 15 goals – of which six in the last two outings and an incredible 12 in the past seven matches. In fact 15 is the exact number, Tottenham Hotspur have managed to score this term so far, as a team. However, today’s fixture at White Hart Lane will not be an easy one for Brendan Rogers’ side. Spurs have able to defend their fortress, every time the Reds visit there, in their last six meetings. And the Reds, without the services of Gerrard, who was still leading the assists tally with six, there will surely be some limitations in their creativity. That’s where Andre Villa Boas would like to dictate. Both the teams, riding on a recent spurt of fortunes will fight for all three available points. If the visiting Reds win, they will jump into second in the table, on 33 points with Chelsea but on better goal difference. For the Spurs, a win is a must to keep a realistic tab on their title campaign, in fact for a top four spot. Unlike previous seasons, the fight in the top of the table is really tight, to say the least. The top eight, which is without champions Manchester United, are divided by only 11 points.