Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Six Bold Predictions

Nothing makes a game more exciting than a good background story.

After suffering their worst loss of the season to Tottenham at White Hart Lane back in September, a resurgent Liverpool group are hungry for revenge, as well as a second consecutive league win, as they continue to make a push for a spot in the English Premier Leagues' top-four.

Tottenham will not make it easy for them however.

The Spurs bounced back from a tough 3-2 loss against Manchester City to convincingly beat Wigan 3-1, and with Gareth Bale and Luka Modric in top-form, Tottenham will be confident in continuing their title challenge against the Manchesters.

There's no doubt that it will be an exciting game, but what exactly can we expect to see?

Read on to find out.

Craig Bellamy Will Open the Scoring

Craig Bellamy has been Liverpool's best player in recent games.

Even with Luis Suarez returning and Andy Carroll in good form, Kenny Dalglish will surely have no option but to play the veteran Welshman from the start.

When he does start, Bellamy has been very efficient. In 12 starts in all competitions this season, Bellamy has scored nine times, and recorded five assists.

There's no doubt that he'll be highly influential, but I'm backing him to go one step further and open the scoring for the Reds at Anfield.

Gareth Bale Will Equalize

Glen Johnson is not a bad defender by any means, but I don't see him being able to keep Gareth Bale in check. 

With three goals to his name in his last two games, Bale is flying high, and he'll probably be Tottenham's most potent offensive threat with all the injuries to the team.

I don't think he'll have many opportunities to score in this game, and I don't think he he'll score more than once, but I'm backing him to equalize for Tottenham after Liverpool open the scoring.

Louis Saha Will Decide the Game

Many news sources are predicting that Louis Saha will start for Tottenham against Spurs with Emmanuel Adebayor, Rafael van der Vaart and Jermain Defoe all injured.

If that is the case, I expect that Louis Saha's play will decide who wins this game.

He'll either squander a number of chances, or score the winner.

He'll either prove to be completely ineffective against the might of Daniel Agger and Marten Skrtel, or he'll hold-up the ball well enough to allow Niko Kranjcar or Luka Modric to run on to it and smash it home.

Whatever he does, he'll be the reason why Tottenham or Liverpool wins, either by playing exceptionally well or exceptionally poorly.

Luis Suarez Will Struggle in His First Game Back

Luis Suarez is a player of world-class quality, but missing nine games can knock anyone off of their form, and I expect that it will take Suarez some time to get back in sync with his teammates.

Add to that the fact that Suarez will likely have to learn to better communicate with an in-form Andy Carroll, and I definitely think it's too much to expect Suarez to manage all of that, plus have a good game.

He'll toil endlessly as he always does, but I can see him being more frustrated than effective in this one.

Steven Gerrard Will Score or Assist a Goal

Steven Gerrard has had a tendency to pop-up just when it seems everyone has forgotten about him, and I think that tendency will prove itself true against Tottenham on Monday.

With all the Liverpool hype being placed on Luis Suarez's return, Craig Bellamy's good form, Andy Carroll's first goal in ages and Dirk Kuyt's back-to-back goals, not too many people are talking about Steven Gerrard right now.

But he'll change all that as he stabilizes Liverpool's midfield alongside Charlie Adam, and either scores Liverpool's second goal himself or plays through a perfect through-pass for one of Liverpool's offensive players to score.

Final Score Prediction

Liverpool will score at least two goals.

With Bellamy, Gerrard, Kuyt, Carroll and Suarez all available, and most of them in good form, two goals is almost assured, even if Tottenham have a good defense.

Tottenham on the other hand, will score either one or two goals.

As I talked about in my other prediction article, Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Six X-Factors to Watch for at Anfield, this will depend on who starts up front for Tottenham.

If it's just Saha or Saha and Giovani dos Santos: 2-1 to Liverpool

If it's Saha and Adebayor or Defoe or Van der Vaart: 2-2 draw.

Leave your predictions below, and make sure to check out the game, which will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPN3!