EPL ~ Tottenham 2 - 1 Liverpool ; Tottenham Do It Again. . .
-
Tottenham are very weak at the back so attack them - Liverpool legend Phil Thompson's message to Roy Hodgson
Weak link: Tottenham's Benoit Assou-Ekotto doesn't help his 'defensively frail' side according to Phil Thompson
Sunday, November 28 2010
Tottenham v Liverpool 12:00 (Mon) Mio 102 / 110
Former Liverpool coach Phil Thompson has urged current boss Roy Hodgson to throw caution to the wind and exploit Tottenham’s ‘defensive frailties’ at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Thompson, No. 2 to Gerard Houllier prior to their departure in the summer of 2004, pinpointed left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s positioning as a weak point and claimed Tottenham had missed Ledley King and Michael Dawson at the heart of defence.
He saluted the attacking enterprise responsible for eye-catching recent wins over Inter Milan and Arsenal but insisted Liverpool can catch them out, provided Hodgson adopts a bold strategy of using either Dirk Kuyt or David Ngog alongside Fernando Torres.
Writing in the Liverpool Echo, the ex-Liverpool and England skipper said: ‘I really hope Liverpool play 4-4-2 and try to exploit Tottenham’s weaknesses. Spurs are very offensive and have a lot of top-class players, but they have defensive frailties.
‘They miss King and Dawson, and their replacements, William Gallas and Younes Kaboul, have struggled at times. Ekotto’s positional play is poor, and Alan Hutton is more of an offensive right-back.
‘They leak goals, and you have to try and capitalise on that by putting them under pressure and getting at them. They have had some problems with League matches, following European games. After beating Inter Milan, they lost at Bolton, and if there are some tired legs, we need to make the most of that.
No King and Dawson: Central defenders Younes Kaboul (right) and William Gallas are there to be exploited according to Phil Thompson
‘Going forward, Spurs are exciting to watch, and they produced a fantastic fightback to win at Arsenal.
'The good news is that we are going there on the back of our biggest win of the season (3-0 against West Ham). The players pulled together and proved they can perform without Steven Gerrard. It was pleasing to see Roy Hodgson play 4-4-2, and I hope he sticks with it this weekend.’
-
-
I agree that Benoit Assou-Ekotto is the weakest link in Spurs defence if you happen to watch them play. He's more concerned at going forward rather then defence.
Speaking of which, where is Jonathan Woodgate?
-
spurs goalie a bit dodgy at times.
-
I am looking forward to this match... Don't know which side I am supporting to win yet... Maybe Spurs lah...
-
I think spurs will win this match. unless the midweek CL exertions strike. otherwise I dun see how liverpool can win this match. at most this is a draw.
-
I heard Hodgson interview before the match and this make me laugh. He said his team play compact, and has the players to win away matches. look at his track record of away matches for a start. so far how many away matches did his liverpool win? win at white hart lane with no gerrard and a half fit Torres, who just recovered from his injury?
is he deluding himself or kidding the interviewers?
-
Tottenham v Liverpool
Line-ups
Tottenham
- 01 Gomes
- 02 Hutton
- 03 Bale
- 04 Kaboul
- 13 Gallas
- 32 Assou-Ekotto
- 07 Lennon
- 11 Van der Vaart
- 12 Palacios
- 14 Modric
- 15 Crouch
Substitutes
Liverpool
- 25 Reina
- 02 G Johnson
- 03 Konchesky
- 23 Carragher
- 37 Skrtel
- 04 Raul Meireles
- 17 Maxi
- 21 Lucas
- 09 Torres
- 18 Kuyt
- 24 Ngog
Substitutes
Ref: Atkinson -
Bale vs G Johnson... One word, interesting...
-
I am thinking, the new owner has taken over for while now and O Neil is available at the moment, having quitted Villa before the season started.
I am very surprised Hodgson has lasted this long.I expected him to be replaced, but this has not happened. I will be surprised if he can last to the end of the season.
-
Chances of Carragher giving away a penalty... I think quite high...
Torres and Kuyt will be Pool's player to watch.
On another note, Spurs are playing their 3rd match in 7,8 days while Pool into their 2nd only... So Pool players should be fresher for this and it might show in the last 20 mins of the match...
-
Wah, Gallas doing the team talk just before the start... He look very impressive leh... lol.
-
Wah... Bale got the ball and started his run and immediately 3 Pool players come closing in on him... Looks like that's Pool's game plan. Triple mark Bale...
-
liverpool scored. spurs have 2 players thru injuries. the midweek CL curse reared its head again for Spurs.
-
the whole world took liverpool on asian handicap.
I took spurs.
so happy until i can't sleep.
Liverpool revival?
fuck off la, liverpool will be liverpool. standard. -
Skrtel should be the man of the match... he scored 2 goals today!
Watch it here: http://eplmatchestalk.blogspot.com/2010/11/tottenham-2-1-liverpool.html
-
Wow
Seem like Spurs really strong
after missing a penalty
they work hard
gd job spurs