Spurs match thread

[el matador]

I think our lack of creation up top is partly down to the fact we are so deep. if we moved the another ten yards up the pitch we would perhaps be more threatening.

It will take time to get this right but the tempo is too slow. By the time we get the ball off the.keeper and play three passes in front of him the spaces close up. Its no surprise that swansea didnt score a lot of goals last season.

I dont think we will either but I dont think this is a style of play that will provide a lot of goals.

[Pablo]

That waszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz z

[Nicey]

You could say the exact same for spurs .. truth of the matter is both teams just casually stroked the ball around the farm today in 200 degs ... it looked like a knock about because it really was a knock about .. what you are seeing is not what we will be playing this season .. nor is it ever ... Pre seasons are about fitness nothing else both physical and more importantly match

[Assassin]

That waszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz z

Hardly surprising, early pre season friendlies are all the same.

Bright points

No injuries

Lucas got some more minutes

Some of the youngsters performed well. I thought Sama was quite impressive when he came on

[el matador]

This pre season is different in that as well as getting fit we are also learning a new system of play.

[Nicey]

Hardly surprising, early pre season friendlies are all the same.

Bright points

No injuries

Lucas got some more minutes

Some of the youngsters performed well. I thought Sama was quite impressive when he came on

[Pablo]

Wasn't really having a go, I have faith, just saying that was no more than a glorified kickabout and hence supremely dull.

[Tee]

Wasn't really having a go, I have faith, just saying that was no more than a glorified kickabout and hence supremely dull.

[Assassin]

Wasn't really having a go, I have faith, just saying that was no more than a glorified kickabout and hence supremely dull.

I here you. Every season we go on the "3rd world country" tours in early pre season. It is about bringing in money and getting the players back together again.

[RedReet]

Hardly surprising, early pre season friendlies are all the same.

Bright points

No injuries

Lucas got some more minutes

Some of the youngsters performed well. I thought Sama was quite impressive when he came on

I thought the commentator didn't know the difference between Sama and Wisdom and credited Sama for some of Wisdom's work.

Impressed with Henderson, probably our best player.

[Nicey]

out of the two set of fans, I think boring 0-0 aside ... Liverpool fans can walk away from that feeling better

[Daffy Duck]

I thought Shelvey was poor in the first half but very good in the second, it might have had something to do with the fact that he had Henderson instead of Adam playing beside him. Our game went downhill when he was subbed.

[Phoenix07]

Henderson was excellent with his pressing game and awareness of getting into space. Shelvey in the first half was good at operating the 'Lampard' role under Mourinho, running late to areas outside the box and providing an outlet, even if the other players around him didn't pick him up.

Heat was a major factor for sure. Pressing and passing was better. Not much penetration (kinky) and we need to buy wingers for sure.

Onwards and upwards.

[Nicey]

The pitch was the worse I have seen a Liverpool team play on

[SB]

LIVERPOOL completed their tour of North America with a goalless draw against Tottenham in Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium.

Chances were at a premium throughout a low-key contest played in scorching 35 degree heat.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers used 23 players, including a first outing for new £11million signing Fabio Borini.

The Italian came on for the final half hour along with skipper Steven Gerrard to the delight of the 42,723-strong crowd.


Despite ongoing speculation about his future, Andy Carroll got 20 minutes under his belt with fellow England internationals Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson also involved.

There was little to excite the fans but as a fitness exercise it was beneficial and the Reds will fly back to the UK later tonight to begin preparations for next Thursday's Europa League third qualifying round first leg tie in Belarus against FC Gomel.

Rodgers fielded a stronger side than in the two previous tour friendlies against Toronto and Roma.

Downing made his appearance of pre-season from the start with Gerrard, Carroll and Henderson named among the substitutes. There was also a place on the bench for Fabio Borini as youngster Adam Morgan began up front.

Spurs had started their US tour with a 1-1 draw against LA Galaxy on Tuesday night and new boss Andre Villas-Boas included Gylfi Sigurdsson in his line up.

The Icelandic midfielder, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Swansea under Rodgers, had looked set to make the switch to Anfield last month before being lured to White Hart Lane by a bumper wage rise.

Charlie Adam endured a torrid start as his errors put the Reds on the back foot. Sigurdsson had a shot deflected behind and then Harry Kane got away from Martin Skrtel before firing wide of the far post.

Spurs were angered by Adam's cynical challenge on Gareth Bale in the centre circle and the Wales international needed lengthy treatment before continuing.

It wasn't the first time Adam and Bale have clashed. In May 2011 a poor tackle from Adam playing for Blackpool inflicted ankle ligament damage on the winger.

Liverpool improved as the first half wore on. Joe Cole and Jonjo Shelvey both tested former Anfield shot-stopper Brad Friedel as the Reds started to pick holes in Spurs' rearguard.

Morgan, who scored in the draw with Toronto a week earlier, worked tirelessly up front in the draining heat.

The Academy graduate had a great opportunity to open the scoring in the 28th minute as he found himself with just Friedel to beat. However, Morgan tried to force it inside the near post and Friedel was able to parry it behind.

As the pace of the game slowed, Spurs rallied and should have broken the deadlock before the break.

Firstly, Aaron Lennon latched on to Bale's cross at the back post and fired against the upright. Then Sigurdsson got across Jamie Carragher to power a header goalwards but it was too close to Brad Jones.

Rodgers rung the changes at half-time with the introduction of Peter Gulacsi, Andre Wisdom, Raheem Sterling, Henderson and Nathan Eccleston for Jones, Flanagan, Downing, Adam and Morgan.

Eccleston was soon in the thick of it, picking out Cole in the box who failed to connect, and then working his way into space before firing straight at Friedel.

Skrtel tried to inject some life into the game as there was the rare sight of him embarking on a surging run from halfway. The Slovak reached the edge of the box before unleashing a curler which Friedel clung on to.

Just past the hour mark the thousands of Reds fans were on their feet as Rodgers brought on skipper Gerrard, Lucas Leiva and new boy Borini among another raft of substitutes. Borini played on the left flank with Sterling on the opposite flank.

Carroll's future remains uncertain with West Ham having tabled an £18million bid to take him on loan and then sign him permanently next summer.

But the club's record signing was handed a run out by Rodgers as he replaced Eccleston with 20 minutes to go.

With four minutes to go Andre Wisdom delivered an inviting cross from the right but Michael Dawson did brilliantly to prevent Carroll from converting it.

Prior to that Borini had one sight of goal but couldn't direct his back post volley on target.

*

Liverpool (4-3-3): Jones (Gulacsi 45), Flanagan (Wisdom 45), Skrtel (Sama 61), Carragher (Wilson 61), Enrique (Robinson 61), Adam (Henderson 45), Spearing (Lucas 61), Shelvey (Gerrard 61), Downing (Sterling 45), Cole (Borini 61), Morgan (Eccleston 45, Carroll 71).

Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Friedel, Naughton (Bassong 63), Gallas (Vertonghen 75), Kaboul (Dawson 63), Assou-Ekotto (Walker 45), Jenas (Smith 83), Livermore (Huddlestone 63), Lennon (Carroll 71), Sigurdsson (Bentley 63), Bale (Townsend 45), Kane.

Not used: Archer.

Attendance: 42,723



Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz21xC8llU2