Topic: Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool FC - Sunday October 22 - 16:00 GMT

[JackWard33]

Eriksen is more consistent. Great player who pulls the strings for Spurs.

Yeah without question one of the most under rated players in the league
That rare thing in the modern game -  a super effective final third passer

[BlackandWhitePaul]

Good luck tomorrow   

[Djozer]

Yeah without question one of the most under rated players in the league
That rare thing in the modern game -  a super effective final third passer

He seems to be really good at those little chipped passes over the last line of defence, the ones that Pogba likes too. They can be really effective when pulled off properly. Definitely a brilliant player.

[Flaccido Dongingo]

He seems to be really good at those little chipped passes over the last line of defence, the ones that Pogba likes too. They can be really effective when pulled off properly. Definitely a brilliant player.

Weren't we linked quite heavily with him while he was at Ajax too?

[My Original Username Back]

I see you caveat that with “out and out striker”.

A very, very Spurs thing to do.

Yes, because if I just said striker, someone will chirp in with, what about Ronaldo or Messi 

You know what I mean. Number 9, lead the line etc

[My Original Username Back]

I would sooner keep our front three over yours if that's okay.

Absolutely.

I am a huge fan of Mane, Salah and Coutinho.

[My Original Username Back]

I'm not sure that is the objective view mate, I think that may well be the very definition of a subjective view...

That said, I'd take Kane over Firmino any day of the week. I love our Bobby but Kane is a tremendous striker, even if I'm not sure that he's currently the best striker in world football, or whatever it was you said.

Hopefully it'll be a good game tomorrow. We're a good team, you're a good team, and neither of our managers is a bus-parking Mourinho type so there should be a few moments of entertainment, at the very least.

Agree, and ultimately, it's only 3 points. 

[My Original Username Back]

Rose has the potential to be.

They love a bit of potential do the Spurs fans.

There isn't any potential about it. He's the best LB in the league.

[My Original Username Back]

The impression I get, and I may be way off base here (as I don't watch much of SPurs), is that Coutinho's a better dribbler and has a better shot, while Eriksen is a more consistent passer, more of a "string-puller," as you say. I think Eriksen's indirect freekicks are better than Coutinho's, but prefer Coutinho's direct ones.

You may be correct in that Eriksen's more consistent, but I think Phil's improved in that regard every season and his top level is higher than Eriksen's. I don't think there's an awful lot in it, but I'd definitely take Coutinho over Eriksen, and it seemed like that was Barcelona's thinking too.

You are spot on. Eriksen actually was amazing with direct freekicks when he first joined, but it's been ages since he last scored one. His indirect freekicks are top class though.

They are very difficult to compare as although they operate in similar areas they are different players. Coutinho is more direct, Eriksen is more of string puller. Eriksen assists more, kind of similar level of goal scoring. Both great players.

[surfer. Fuck you generator.]

There's a bit of give but ultimately the level of the players in attack is close enough between us and them, as a team, the level is within range. So the decider usually becomes the tactics, how do you see Spurs approaching this at home, Primativ? Clearly they've got a bit more ambition than Mourinho's Utd, on the other hand our counter attacking capability is lethal. Will you be happy to cede the pitch and the ball for periods, inviting us on, or will you try to impose your game for the full 90?

[Thats So Dimitar]

Weren't we linked quite heavily with him while he was at Ajax too?

A lot of clubs were, I think a lot of links were just media joining the dots, I'm fairly sure there was genuine interest from Barcelona and Man City, but he has always said he has had a plan in his head for his career and he wouldn't take a move that didn't fit it. Not sure how playing under Villas Boas fit that plan but I'm not complaining 

In regards to comparing players, it's always inevitable when two sides are playing each other I guess but it's a bit of an exercise in futility really. Despite some similarities we don't play the same. Our system and the priorities of our system are different. I do think our centre backs our both better than yours in terms of ability plus they have been playing together most of their professional careers. However, they would look nowhere near as good in your current team, I think. Likewise would Coutinho, Firmino, Mane and Salah look as good in ours? That one I'm not so sure about. The only 4 I'm sure would replicate their form in either team is Kane, Eriksen, Mane and Coutinho.

Defence aside, which has a lot to do with system, it all ends up fairly close when you look at the overall picture, so why would I or any of you want to swap our players for someone else's? We wouldn't and we shouldn't.

[Djozer]

They are very difficult to compare as although they operate in similar areas they are different players. Coutinho is more direct, Eriksen is more of string puller. Eriksen assists more, kind of similar level of goal scoring. Both great players.

Agree with all this, though I'd still rate Coutinho just a touch above, but that may well be down to my Liverpool bias. A quick check of the stats suggests that Coutinho's scoring rate has improved season on season and he's probably better in this regard (13 goals in 31 last season vs Eriksen's 8 in 36), though Eriksen used to score more but has honed his creative game to the extent that it has to be considered better than Phil's (15 assists in 36 last season vs Coutinho's 7 in 31). Maybe Eriksen played deeper than Coutinho last season though which could have affected his scoring rate, as I said I don't watch your lads enough to have an informed opinion.

As you say, they're both great. I was a touch surprised that Barca didn't switch their attentions to Eriksen after we flat out refused to sell Coutinho last window, although they're probably happy to play the waiting game in much the same way we were with Van Dijk (though in truth I worry the likelihood of Coutinho ending up at the Nou Camp is probably higher than Van Dijk coming here) and I'd imagine that Levy would just have told them to fuck off.

[rocco]

Friday’s Training photos

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/278863-melwood-gallery-57-snaps-as-reds-get-set-for-wembley-clash-with-spurs

Coutinho rested ??

[sms1986]

Friday’s Training photos

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/278863-melwood-gallery-57-snaps-as-reds-get-set-for-wembley-clash-with-spurs

Coutinho rested ??

I've not seen anything to say otherwise, so probably. He's been busy in the last couple of weeks for club and country.

[RogerTheRed]

Do we know if Phil trained and is fit?

[Anywhichwayicant]

He seemed to be limping in the tunnel after the Man U game but played the full 90 during the week.

Probably just a rest.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

He seemed to be limping in the tunnel after the Man U game but played the full 90 during the week.

Probably just a rest.

Yeah I think he'll play. Well, hope he plays Klopp probably just playing it safe with him.

[rocco]

He seemed to be limping in the tunnel after the Man U game but played the full 90 during the week.

Probably just a rest.

If so , letting him play a full 90 on Tuesday seems poor judgment?

[sms1986]

If so , letting him play a full 90 on Tuesday seems poor judgment?

Not necessarily, Klopp wouldn't have played him if there were signs of any problem by Tuesday. For all we know, if he was limping, it could just have been cramp.

[lachesis]

Don't really see the point in comparing players like for like. We've put out teams over-burdened with quality and turned in turgid performances against lesser opposition and gifted chances and goals. Doesn't really mean a lot with the way our season has gone.

I think it's going to come down to Spurs' ambition and seeing if Firmino or Salah or can take one of those chances they usually miss/slice. Can see Coutinho having close attention considering he's our only 'real threat'. If we're being ambitious ourselves then probably Robertson/Moreno and TAA. The midfield.........pffft.............Milner deserves a shot - probably for Can.

Will be tough, closely contested. I think their best chance is if Pochettino relaxes the chains and basically banks on his forwards hurting our defence more than ours hurting theirs. I also think that's our best chance though, otherwise we'll be heading for the same type of game as United, probably a bit more quality but ending 0-0 or 1-1.

[rocco]

Not necessarily, Klopp wouldn't have played him if there were signs of any problem by Tuesday. For all we know, if he was limping, it could just have been cramp.

Personally wouldn’t have played him the full 90 with the game wrapped up so early , wondering did Klopp want him getting match sharpness and intended resting  him in training ?

[sms1986]

Personally wouldn’t have played him the full 90 with the game wrapped up so early , wondering did Klopp want him getting match sharpness and intended resting  him in training ?

Probably, it would make sense.

[Nick110581]

Play Henderson and Gomez taking out Can and TAA.

Think we will have a really string performance.

[My Original Username Back]

There's a bit of give but ultimately the level of the players in attack is close enough between us and them, as a team, the level is within range. So the decider usually becomes the tactics, how do you see Spurs approaching this at home, Primativ? Clearly they've got a bit more ambition than Mourinho's Utd, on the other hand our counter attacking capability is lethal. Will you be happy to cede the pitch and the ball for periods, inviting us on, or will you try to impose your game for the full 90?

I'd like to see us play a bit more pragmatically than we have against you in the past. Rather than playing our usual game, I'd prefer to see us play similarly to how we did in Madrid, sit deep, play direct counter attacking football, possibly play Llorente up top and Kane in the number 10 role and then having runners off them. The last two seasons our tactics just haven't worked and to be honest, Liverpool play like demons possessed against us. So I am approaching today with some trepidation.

Dembele and Wanyama are a big miss in central midfield. Looks like it will be two of Dier, Sissoko and Winks again in there. I think ultimately both teams will have even number of chances and the winner will be whoever is most clinical or conjures up a bit of magic. I want to see Alli have a strong game, he's been way below par this season so far.

[Hazell]

I'd like to see us play a bit more pragmatically than we have against you in the past. Rather than playing our usual game, I'd prefer to see us play similarly to how we did in Madrid, sit deep, play direct counter attacking football, possibly play Llorente up top and Kane in the number 10 role and then having runners off them. The last two seasons our tactics just haven't worked and to be honest, Liverpool play like demons possessed against us. So I am approaching today with some trepidation.

Dembele and Wanyama are a big miss in central midfield. Looks like it will be two of Dier, Sissoko and Winks again in there. I think ultimately both teams will have even number of chances and the winner will be whoever is most clinical or conjures up a bit of magic. I want to see Alli have a strong game, he's been way below par this season so far.

Uh-oh.

[thelinnen]

If Pochettino has any sense he'll let us have the ball and have Spurs sit deep hitting us on the counter. The last 2 times they've tried to go toe to toe with us and we dominated the game.

[Zoomers]

If Pochettino has any sense he'll let us have the ball and have Spurs sit deep hitting us on the counter. The last 2 times they've tried to go toe to toe with us and we dominated the game.

He did say some shit about expecting surprises in his press conference.

[My Original Username Back]

Uh-oh.

Haha. I'll also add, we've been quite laboured in every single PL game at Wembley so far this season. If that continues again today, I fear we will be in trouble.

Total contrast to our scintillating away performances...

[SerbianScouser]

He did say some shit about expecting surprises in his press conference.

They have no real pace in their front 6, I wouldn't worry about their counter-attacks. Doubt they'd change their identity for a home game against us.

[vicar]

I'm looking forward to this game. Two good coaches with well thought through tactics, both looking to win.

Ordinarily it would be just play your best and see what happens, but dropping points against Watford, Burnley, Newcastle & Salford makes the result more important than it should at this stage of the season.

We have enough to beat them, if we can avoid mistakes and take some of our chances. Think Salah will be key.

[Alonso_The_Assassin]

Come on the Redmen!

Close game that will ultimately hinge on us stifling Eriksen, IMO. He's been their best player so far this season, adding more goals to his game.

Also vital that Hendo tracks Ali in the final third.

[RichardM]

Buzzing for this. Have to say I have a lot of respect for Pochettino and what he's doing there. I'm a huge fan of Harry Kane - he's the only England player with genuine world class potential.

I think if we had Lallana Coutinho and Gini in the middle we'd run rings around their midfield (definitely the weakest part of their team), however with Adam out I hope Milner starts instead. I'm feeling an optimistic 2-1 win here. Kane, Coutinho, Salah.

[Anfield Ed]

Kane is better than Lewandowski.

[Anywhichwayicant]

Kane is better than Lewandowski.

[Gerry Attrick]

Kane is better than Lewandowski.

Nope.

[CrasherKid79]

Yes, because if I just said striker, someone will chirp in with, what about Ronaldo or Messi 

You know what I mean. Number 9, lead the line etc

Maybe if he has a good World Cup you can say that. Bit early with best in world statements yet.

[jillcwhomever]

Kane is better than Lewandowski.

He really isn't. I have every respect for Kane but that comment of yours in just not true.

[classycarra]

Kane is better than Lewandowski.

We already knew your judgement on Europe was clouded, you didn't have to confirm it again!

[Klippity Klopp]

On the Eriksen vs Coutinho...

[SerbianScouser]

On the Eriksen vs Coutinho...

Biggest difference between the two in Phil's favour imo is he delivers much more in big games which are the best barometer of gauging someone's quality. They're practically the same profile of the player but when it comes to who's more likely to deliver on big stage smart money should be on Phil.