Tottenham v Liverpool – Pain Preview

Spurs go into tonight’s game unbeaten under Harry Redknapp as well as having beaten Liverpool 2-1 earlier this month at White Hart Lane. This will be a quite different Liverpool side with Rafa Benitez likely to give his fringe players a game while resting his stars. Will this make things easier for Tottenham though? Possibly not…

Team News
Ledley King is likely to be rested for Tottenham, who are also missing Benoit Assou-Ekotto through suspension and Giovani dos Santos through injury. Redknapp may elect to give some of his squad players a run out but don’t expect wholesale changes from Spurs as this competition is very important to the club.

Liverpool are reportedly resting Captain Steven Gerrard as well as former Spur Robbie Keane. Fernando Torres may start after recovering from injury.

Head To Head
Tottenham more than hold their own against Liverpool at White Hart Lane over recent years. Of the last 10 encounters, Tottenham have won 4 and drawn 3. Liverpool have managed 3 victories.

Current Form
Both teams are on top form. Spurs are unbeaten in 5 games winning 4 and drawing 1. Liverpool have only lost 1 of their last 5, that defeat coming at the hands of Tottenham.

Conclusion
Liverpool dominated the meeting at the start of the month but Tottenham still managed to engineer a victory. Theoretically, tonight’s match should be easier for the home side with Liverpool likely to field a weakened team. The downside is those fringe players will want to take their chance and show their manager what they can do.

If Spurs can continue to make use of the little genius from Croatia the way they have been doing recently, and with Darren Bent in such blistering goal scoring form, I would fancy Spurs to make it into the next round tonight. It won’t be easy but Liverpool’s priorities lay elsewhere and the Carling Cup means a lot more to Tottenham.

Best Bets
Spurs to win 3-1 @ 20/1 with Betfred

Luka Modric to score first @ 12/1 with Betfred