The last time that Tottenham Hotspur hosted Liverpool at Wembley Stadium (last October), they thrashed Liverpool 4-1. This time, the result figures to be in stark contrast. The Reds head into the national stadium (instead of Spurs’ new facility, which the opening of is once again delayed) top of the table and having taken all 12 possible points from their first four matches.
Spurs come in having won their first three, but then dropped their fourth match against Watford, who join Liverpool and Chelsea as the only Premier League sides that have been perfect thus far.
This is certainly a major step up in competition for Liverpool, who really haven’t faced that tough of competition thus far. Also, they haven’t looked very convincing in any of their three wins since they routed West Ham United in the opener. Still, you got to give them a big edge here as they’ll head into the clash with a much more fit and healthy squad than Spurs.
Tottenham will be without two of their biggest stars in midfielder Dele Alli and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. The latter, who plead guilty to charges of drunk driving yesterday and received a driving ban and hefty fine, will be out several weeks.
He will retain his Spurs captaincy, in spite of the serious transgression that he committed, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino confirmed.
“He’s punishing himself. But of course we’re not God, that we can judge people. Only we need to try, how he understands that it was a mistake. Then we’re all humans and we can all make mistakes,” said the Argentine today.
“He’s the first that told me: ‘Gaffer it’s a massive mistake and I need to pay, like a man.'”
Heung-Min Son could return to action for Spurs after the South Korean midfielder had been called away for international duty last month at the Asian Games. Despite the heavy workload he has recently put in for his national side, he says he’s not tired and ready to go all in on the club level.
“I miss my team. I am happy to be back playing in the Premier League and Champions League. Over the summer, I think I’ve learned a great deal about football,” the 26-year-old said.
TEAM NEWS:
? @dele_official (hamstring) unavailable this weekend.
? Hugo Lloris (thigh) unavailable and expected to be out for several weeks.
? @JuanMFoyth (thigh) returned to training last week.
? @MoussaSissoko (hamstring) expected to return to training next week. pic.twitter.com/zUBDxf7hZe
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 13, 2018
More Spurs injury and fitness news is in the tweet above. For Liverpool, their main absentee is Dejan Lovren, who has not featured this season after returning from the World Cup with an injury that has been classified in several different ways.
What can be said for certain is that he’ll be out for awhile, as will Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Rhian Brewster.
Liverpool Starting XI Prediction/Team News: go to this link
Tottenham Starting XI Prediction/Team News: go to this link
Kick-off: 12.30pm (BST), Saturday 15 Sept
Odds via Betway: Tottenham 15/8, Draw 5/2, Liverpool 6/4
Prediction: Liverpool FC 2, Tottenham 0
Feel free to post your own Reds and/or Spurs starting XI predictions, as well as your best guess as to what the final score will be.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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