Liverpool will have no better chance to close the gap on fellow Champions League chasers Tottenham Hotspur than when the two sides face-off tomorrow under the bright lights of Anfield.
After both sides shook off their shaky early season form, they’ve now very much hit their stride and conversations about assaulting the continent next season sound more realistic than ever before. Holding a four point lead over their hosts going into this one, Spurs — who have found trips to Merseyside bothersome as of late — will likely be content to snag a point for their troubles, though three is always a better return. The Reds, on the other hand, don’t exactly have that luxury and will need to get the full bang for their buck if they want to keep pace in a race that’s not about to get any easier.
Coming off a scoreless draw in the Merseyside Derby, they’re not exactly sailing on momentum either. Despite keeping their impressive unbeaten streak alive, Liverpool failed to inspire for large swathes of captain Steven Gerrard’s last visit to Goodison Park before departing for the LA Galaxy when his contract expires this summer. Although the Liverpool skipper won’t have the pleasure of participating should his side secure European football for next term, there’s no question that he wants to help them secure it.
Whether or not he’ll have the opportunity to pitch in tomorrow though remains to be seen; the 34-year old put in a mixed performance in his last encounter with Everton, playing the full 90-minutes in the process. Considering he did the same in the midweek FA Cup replay with Bolton Wanderers, the Reds talisman could be headed for a spot on the bench ahead of their fifth round meeting with Crystal Palace at the weekend. Jordan Henderson, another player that looked a bit off the pace across the park, will take over the armband in his absence with Joe Allen his likely partner in the thick of things with Lucas set for a spell on the sidelines.
There were hints that in the build-up to the derby that Daniel Sturridge could be fit to join the starting eleven for the first time since Liverpool thumped Spurs at White Hart Lane back in August, and though that didn’t end up happening, he could very well line up against the North London club if all goes to plan tomorrow. Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling are also set to be fit after recovering form minor knocks while anything but an unchanged back three in Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel and Emre Can could prove to be not only disasterous, but foolish as well — Spurs haven’t been messing around and there’s no indication that they’ll be starting anytime soon.
Despite shipping 12 unanswered goals in their last three meetings with Liverpool, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have grown in leaps and bounds since looking utterly disorganized and uninspired in the reverse fixture. With three of their last four away fixtures ending in wins for the North London side, a trip to Anfield seems a little less daunting. Throw the next in a long line of apparent England saviours in hot-shot striker Harry Kane, an in-form ‘keeper in Hugo Lloris and former Reds target and late goal specialist Christian Eriksen into the mix and things are looking even better — not to mention their come from behind victory against fierce rivals Arsenal at the weekend.
There’s no question that whomever comes out on top will see their top-four credentials given a much needed boost at a time of the season where building and keeping momentum is paramount. Both sides are well placed to make a charge up the table, but with very little to separate them at the moment, I’m not about to predict which one is ultimately going to be successful.
–Steven
