Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Picking a Reds Starting XI to Beat Spurs

This Sunday, Liverpool welcome red-hot Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield in a sure-to-be exciting English Premier League clash between two in-form teams that have been racking up the goals recently.

We have looked at the key matchups on the field this weekend. Now let’s continue our preview series by picking a starting XI for the Reds to beat Spurs on Sunday.

Enjoy, and have your say in the comments below.

Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina

One of the first names on Brendan Rodgers’ teamsheet, Pepe Reina continued his recent improvement with a fine display at Wigan Athletic last weekend.

Following an unsteady start to the season, Reina looks to be approaching his best and will be an important part of the Reds rearguard against a potent Tottenham attack.

Right-Back: Glen Johnson

Andre Wisdom has been an impressive addition to the Liverpool first-team squad from their youth ranks this season, but a big occasion calls for a big player, and Glen Johnson will start on Sunday.

Johnson’s performances this season, both on the right and filling in on the left, have confirmed him as one of the Premier League’s finest full-backs. More so than his underrated defensive skills, he forms an important component of the Liverpool attack, initiating attacks from whichever flank he finds himself on.

But it is his pace and defensive game that will be required on Sunday against an in-form Gareth Bale, who has been remolded into a central attacker but due to his left-footedness may find himself starting his moves from the Spurs left, especially if Johnson vacates his position while venturing forward.

An otherwise relatively static Liverpool backline will need Johnson on his finest—and fastest—form.

Left-Back: Jose Enrique

In recent weeks, Jose Enrique has won his place back in the team with his strong performances at left-back, and his physical strength and pace will need to come to the fore against another in-form Spurs attacker in Aaron Lennon.

Not one to shirk from a matchup against pacy but lightweight wingers, Enrique has performed well against the likes of Arsenal’s Theo Walcott and will be expected to replicate his form against Lennon and the rampaging Kyle Walker.

Center-Back: Jamie Carragher

The question remains: the erstwhile first-choice Martin Skrtel or the retiring evergreen Jamie Carragher?

On current form, it has to be the vice-captain who starts against Tottenham, but his declining pace will be one weakness highlighted by Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas in his team selection.

Emmanuel Adebayor might have failed thus far to replicate his impressive form last season, but Villas-Boas will note the afternoons that many a big physical striker have enjoyed against a brittle Liverpool defence, especially dealing with the counter.

Carragher’s experience, positioning and leadership will be key against a fast and relentless Spurs attack.

Center-Back: Daniel Agger

Just as Carragher will need to be at his sharpest, so too Daniel Agger against the goal-scoring threat of Jermain Defoe.

While Adebayor might hold the key to unlock the Liverpool defence and bring his colleagues into play, Defoe’s role might be more important as he looks to ghost into the penalty area to finish off attacks created by his teammates.

Liverpool have had trouble dealing with similar forwards before: Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez represents a fine example.

Defensive Midfielder: Lucas

While Lucas still has not returned to his peak following a lengthy injury layoff, as the only specialist defensive midfielder in Rodgers’ squad, he will be an integral part of the Liverpool midfield against Spurs.

With his ability to recycle possession towards different sides of the pitch and to restart Liverpool’s approach play, Lucas will need to find his passing and accuracy against a Spurs midfield who, playing away, might be content to sit back, absorb the pressure and wait for the counter.

Scott Parker may be a specialist defensive midfielder who doesn’t roam much into threatening positions, but Mousa Dembele will command attention. So too Lewis Holtby, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Clint Dempsey.

Central Midfielder: Steven Gerrard

Club captain Steven Gerrard is a shoe-in for the team and will find himself next to Lucas reprising his recent role as deep-lying playmaker.

The possibility of a relatively passive Spurs midfield and defence will require Gerrard to display his trademark cross-field diagonals as he will be the central instigator of many a Liverpool attack from the wings.

In the center, if the middle of the park is congested with both teams flooding the midfield, Gerrard might need to roll back a few years and provide the energy and long-range shooting to drive his team on.

Given his record of having the last word on the grandest occasions, we should look forward to a captain’s performance from Steven Gerrard.

Right-Forward: Luis Suarez

Fresh from a hat-trick against Wigan and taking first place on the Premier League goal-scoring charts, Luis Suarez may have found recent joy as the lone striker in the absence of Daniel Sturridge or playing directly behind him, but on Sunday he represents Liverpool’s best option on the right.

The erratic form of Tottenham left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who often roams forward to support the attack, makes Liverpool’s right flank a potential gold mine, and Suarez, with his trickery and pace, would be the ideal player to take advantage of this.

Add to this his relentless pressing and work-rate, and Rodgers has a fine first line of defence that hopefully Spurs will have to spend more attention on.

Central Attacking Midfielder: Jordan Henderson

In the center, we opt for Jordan Henderson, whose recent form has moved him back up the pecking order of Liverpool midfielders, and whose attributes mark him out as a good choice for the central attacking midfield role.

Henderson’s work-rate and energy is well-known, and in a more advanced role, he would be an excellent complement to Suarez’s first line of defence.

Increased self-confidence has seen Henderson assert himself more on the ball and becoming an important part of Liverpool’s attacking build-up: Those previous glimpses of brilliance—the first-time passes, the dribbles, the long shots—are becoming more of a fixture in Henderson’s game.

Left-Forward: Philippe Coutinho

While in recent weeks it has been Stewart Downing on the right, Suarez in the center and Henderson on the left, new signing Philippe Coutinho’s encouraging form means that he should rewarded with a start in what is undoubtedly his biggest game for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield in January.

Early overexposure might be a concern, but there are few players in the Liverpool squad that can genuinely cause an opposing defender trouble by himself. Coutinho’s two excellent assists against Wigan showed that he can provide the tools to unlock a resilient defence.

There are few ways to stop Gareth Bale, but one is to try to put the focus back on Spurs defending and Liverpool attacking. Coutinho might not put in as much contribution defensively as Downing, but his attributes in attack should set him out as a starting option.

Striker: Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge arrived from Chelsea in January and instantly improved the Liverpool attack significantly, to the extent that his place in the starting XI looks almost guaranteed due to his blend of pace, power and finishing.

While he missed last week’s game against Wigan, he has been passed fit to take part in the Spurs clash on Sunday (Liverpool Echo) and should instantly start as central striker.

The fine recent form of Spurs defender Michael Dawson means that he will likely be granted a starting spot by Villas-Boas, which offers Sturridge and co. a fine opportunity to exploit Dawson’s relatively low pace.

Liverpool’s forward line will need to be on top form to ensure that the overriding storyline of the day will be whether Spurs cope with Liverpool’s attack, and not whether Liverpool were able to handle Gareth Bale.

Full Line-Up

So there we have it: our starting Liverpool XI to face Spurs this weekend.

What do you think? Did you prefer Downing over Coutinho? What other changes might you make? Let us know in the comments below.

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