06 October 2007

Liverpool v Tottenham


Liverpool will have Jermaine Pennant back in their squad after suspension.
Fabio Aurelio is a doubt but Javier Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt, Alvaro Arbeloa, John Arne Riise, Ryan Babel and Andriy Voronin are available to return.
Tottenham's Jermaine Jenas could return from an abdominal strain, while Dimitar Berbatov and Pascal Chimbonda should be back after being rested.
Aaron Lennon has been suffering from swelling on his knee but should be fit, while Teemu Tainio is back after a ban.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Aurelio, Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Mascherano, Babel, Benayoun, Crouch, Voronin, Torres, Kuyt, Leto, Itandje.

Tottenham (from): Robinson, Cerny, Chimbonda, Stalteri, Lee, Bale, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Gardner, Kaboul, Huddlestone, Zokora, Jenas, Lennon, Malbranque, Tainio, Boateng, Taarabt, Berbatov, Keane, Defoe, Bent.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez:"I want to see character from the players.
"It is the only way to react after what happened against Marseille. Now I want the side to stop teams even creating chances against us.
"That will boost our confidence. I think we are defending well, but we must improve and I am sure we can."

BIG-MATCH FACTS
Liverpool will want to return to winning ways immediately, after their first defeat of the season, home to Marseilles in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Their opponents, third-bottom Tottenham, made progress in Europe, qualifying for the group stages of the Uefa Cup.
The Reds have won four of their seven league games this term; Tottenham have lost four of their eight and made their worst ever start to a Premier League season.
Rafael Benitez has not named an unchanged starting 11 for Liverpool since 31 October last year (v Bordeaux, CL) and has only done so once in 152 games.

Spurs have failed to win the league match immediately after a midweek Uefa Cup tie on the last three occasions; Liverpool have won only one of the last six Premier League fixtures staged on the weekend after a Champions League clash (v Derby, 1 September).
The Merseysiders have not conceded a goal in five league games or 478 minutes (seven hours 58 minutes) of Premier League football since Frank Lampard netted for Chelsea from the penalty spot at the Bridge on 19 August. They're yet to concede a league goal from open play.
Only one (winning) goal has featured in Liverpool's last three league games; Spurs shared eight goals with Aston Villa on Monday (recovering from 4-1 down).
Liverpool are unbeaten in six Premier League matches against Spurs, and were one of only three clubs to do the double over the Londoners last season.

CLUB FORM
LIVERPOOL
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Lost one of 12 league and cup games this season.
2. Unbeaten in eight in the Premier League; won four and drawn four since losing 1-0, away to Fulham on 5 May.
3. One of two clubs still unbeaten in the Premier League. The other is Arsenal.
4. One of two clubs to have conceded just two Premier League goals so far.
5. The only club yet to allow the opposition to open the scoring in a Premier League match this season.
6. Made their best start to a Premier League season since 2002-03, when they eventually finished fifth.
7. Claimed 14 of the last 21 available points at Anfield.
8. Lost one of the last 38 home league games; 0-1 to Manchester United on 3 March 2007.
9. Lost only one of the last 11 Premier League clashes with London clubs; drawn the last two.
10. The next fixture after the international break is the Merseyside derby, away to Everton.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Pressing for a first win in six league outings.
2. Drawn three and lost two in the Premier League since defeating Derby 4-0 at the Lane on 18 August.
3. One of four clubs with just one Premier League victory so far this season. The others are Bolton, Derby and Fulham.
4. Managed just one clean sheet in the league so far this season, and only three shut-outs in 36 Premier League matches.
5. On the longest current run in the Premier League of 36 matches since a goalless draw.
6. Holding the third strongest attack in the Premier League, yet third bottom in the table.
7. Their eight games have yielded 30 goals (14 for, 16 against); at 3.75 goals per game, it's the highest current aggregate in the Premier League.
8. One of eight clubs still searching for a first away win in the Premier League this season.
9. Not won a league game on the road since the 0-2 triumph against Charlton at the Valley on 7 May.
10. Chasing their 75th away win in Premier League history.

KEY PLAYER NOTES
LIVERPOOL
Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with six goals, and top Premier League marksman, with three.
Only Alvaro ARBELOA and Jose REINA have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
REINA leads the race for the Barclays Golden Glove, with Manchester United's Edwin VAN DER SAR. Both have kept five clean sheets.
If selected:-
Sami HYYPIA will be playing on his 34th birthday.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Robbie KEANE is Tottenham's leading scorer with four goals.
Only goalkeeper Paul ROBINSON has been on the field for every minute of every one of Tottenham's Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
Jermain DEFOE will be playing on his 25th birthday.

HEAD TO HEAD
Liverpool have won twice as many Premier League matches against Spurs as they lost (won 14, lost seven)
Tottenham have only won once in this league at Anfield; a 1-2 triumph on 25 August 1993 when Teddy Sheringham scored both their goals - one from the penalty spot. Since then, Tottenham have drawn four and lost nine of 13 visits to Liverpool.
Liverpool inflicted on Tottenham their heaviest ever League defeat, with a 7-0 thrashing at Anfield on 2 September 1978.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 60 wins, Spurs 35, Draws 33Prem: Liverpool 14 wins, Spurs 7, Draws 8
at Liverpool onlyLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 41 wins, Spurs 5, Draws 18Prem: Liverpool 10 wins, Spurs 1, Draws 4

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur 23 September 2006
Liverpool scorers: Gonzalez 63, Kuyt 73, Riise 89

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