Spurs (h) build up

[BigChief]

Merson is still a huge bitter drunk cnut.

And what's with that Spurs fan calling us the "Reds" within double quotes. Bitter "white" cnut.

[fah-q]

Lamela's out? Who knew?

[Rigadon]

Liverpool v Spurs - massive game
Subscribed to Sky Sports (3 month deal - £1 per month)
Title run in
Sunday - 4pm
Mother's Day - afternoon tea at a country hotel

[PTP]

times like this it's good that my mum's a season ticket holder for over 25 years haha

[Rigadon]

times like this it's good that my mum's a season ticket holder for over 25 years haha

You've had an excellent upbringing

[john316]

If Adebayor is out then it looks pretty tough for Spurs. Hard to see Soldado giving us a chasing. Lennon up against Flanno might be an area for them if they can get him in trouble with an early yellow. Only area that could be troublesome is Eriksen/Sigurdsson operating in between defence/midfield. Hendo/Allen will need to put a good shift in making sure they don't get sucked upfield and leave those free to attack our back 4.

The SAS and either Coutinho/Sterling can just run riot though against that defence. Any chance Dawson is back for the game? The fact that Spurs realistically need a win to keep a contention works out great for us. The more teams we face who are looking to beat us will just give us more chances to assert ourselves.

[PTP]

- aye, dad had his over 30 years - they've both been to every european cup final

[Liverpool]

- aye, dad had his over 30 years - they've both been to every european cup final

did they enjoy munich dortmund last year?

[john316]

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino, the only coach to win at Anfield this season, limited Suarez and Sturridge’s opportunities in September — just like Poyet — by pressing from high up the field. His players reduced Liverpool to playing the ball long and their defence that day — “like rocks” as Adam Lallana described them — were ready for them.

He did a great job slowing down Suarez - he wasn't even available

[Yozza]

Sherwood gives latest Tottenham injury update ahead of Liverpool trip

Emmanuel Adebayor is confident that he will be ready to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, according to Tim Sherwood.

The Togo international, who has scored eight Premier League goals this season, has been sidelined with an Achilles injury since the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal at White Hart Lane earlier this month.

He’s confident that he’ll be OK. He knows his body better than we do so let’s hope he’s right with that prediction

Spurs manager Sherwood confirmed that the 30-year-old is still nursing the problem but the former Manchester City forward is hoping he will be ready for the trip to Merseyside this weekend.

“We’ve got a doubt over Adebayor still, he’s got a problem with his heel. He’s got a gash on his heel. We’re hoping he’ll be fit to be in the squad,” Sherwood told his pre-match media conference.

“He’s confident that he’ll be OK. He knows his body better than we do so let’s hope he’s right with that prediction.”

Sherwood added that Vlad Chiriches is continuing his rehabilitation from injury and is set to play for Tottenham’s Under-21 side on Friday night but Erik Lamela, Etienne Capoue and Kyle Walker remain long-term absentees.

“With the long-term ones, Chiriches will play for the Under-21s this evening, he’s on his way back,” Sherwood added.

“Lamela and Capoue are still a way off. Kyle Walker won’t be fit. He’s not a long way off, he’s making progress but I’m not sure, we can’t put a time on it yet.

“We’re just playing it by ear and seeing when he feels a bit better.”

[Yozza]

Rodgers: Condition will keep us going

28th Mar 2014 - Latest News

The high level of conditioning within the Liverpool squad leaves Brendan Rodgers with no fitness concerns as his team prepare to navigate a third fixture in eight days this weekend.

Having racked up a 6-3 victory at Cardiff City last Saturday, the Reds saw off a spirited Sunderland side by a single goal on Wednesday evening; and next up are Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.

At his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Northern Irishman was questioned on whether his team's additional game in comparison to Sunday's opponents could have any effect.

His assessment, founded on the precise training regimes undertaken each day at the club's complex in West Derby, offered arguments for why that will not be the case when Spurs roll into town.

"There are different ways you can look at it," Rodgers responded. "We've had it this season already where we've had midweek games.

"Earlier on in the season, we had a cup game that went into extra time - against Notts County at home - and then at the weekend we beat Manchester United 1-0. People thought the midweek game was going to be a really taxing game.

"The condition of our players is very good, physically they are in a really good moment and they have been throughout the course of the season.

"If you look physiologically at the team, because of how we press - our philosophy is to press aggressively at the top of the field - our work on a daily basis is conditioned in order to do that.

"As well as the recovery process, which is important, the condition of the players is very good. We play with high energy, high tempo, high intensity and the players have been exceptional in terms of what their input is into the game."

The manager was also asked for an update on any injuries currently afflicting his players and happily reported no fresh problems - aside from the ongoing rehabilitation of defender Jose Enrique.

Rodgers added: "In terms of the squad, everyone is fine and everyone is fit. The condition of the team is very good; we are looking forward to the game. Only Jose Enrique is still out."

[PTP]

did they enjoy munich dortmund last year?

loved it

cock

[Norbs]

[Yozza]

Boss: We're blessed with balance here

What his team may lack in experience at the upper echelons of the Barclays Premier League is counteracted by Liverpool's 'wonderful balance', insists Brendan Rodgers.

The Reds are locked in a tussle with leaders Chelsea and Manchester City towards the summit of the standings, trailing the former by just one point with seven fixtures remaining this season.

Cardiff City and Sunderland have been successfully seen off during the past week, with rivals Tottenham Hotspur the next obstacle as Rodgers' side search for an eighth straight win.

Reporters at the manager's pre-match press conference were keen to quiz the Northern Irishman on how his team compare to their closest challengers - prompting a glowing report from the boss.

"I'm only worried about Liverpool and the players that we have," he said at Melwood. "We're blessed to have a mixture within our team.

"We've got some world-class talent; we've got some youthful exuberance and hunger to learn; we've got some local talent, which is very important.

"We've got a wonderful balance of what we're trying to do here. It's something that we're looking to continue beyond this year, to hopefully gain success over a period of time.

"It can work both ways. If you've had the experience of it, then you maybe know what's ahead. But you can look at it from the other perspective; our team and the staff are very hungry to succeed.

"That hunger can sometimes be a real advantage. We've seen it already this season. There are other teams with more experienced players than ours, that have won more titles than ours.

"But we're a team that has got quality and got hunger. We're showing that we're developing as a team and growing. We're looking to put something in place not just for this one season, it's a process that started 18 months ago.

"We're looking to make sustainable success; we're looking to build something here."

The Reds are currently 12 points clear of Sunday's opponents, Spurs, and hold an 11-point advantage over Merseyside neighbours Everton with regard to a Champions League qualification berth.

Rodgers warned that a return to Europe's elite competition has not yet been secured, however, as he fielded a question on how many points may be required to ensure a position in the top four.

He continued: "I'm not sure what the number will be. We've got seven games and 21 points to play for, and we're going to go for every point we possibly can.

"The idea was to finish as high as we possibly could; the objectives haven't changed from the beginning of the season. We wanted to fight to get into the top four and we haven't achieved that yet.

"We know it's going to be a tough game. It's only three points per game and the next three points are the most important."

The progress overseen and inspired by Rodgers during his two seasons at the helm has reached heights previously unexpected, with the Reds rising from seventh to second as it stands.

That trajectory is one that the 41-year-old has taken considerable personal pleasure in; particularly as he points to the education he soaked up as a coach as a key factor in the team's development.

"In terms of management, this will have been my fifth season," added the manager. "But I've been stood on the touchline for 20-odd years.

"The experiences I've got, I've been able to put into practice this year, things that I've been working on for many years in youth football, reserve-team football, working across the world and playing against many different teams on many different continents.

"Those tactics and ideas, I've been able to implement at senior level. So it's actually benefited me. There's no doubt that as one of the youngest managers in the league, there's still a lot for me to learn.

"I'm really enjoying it; it's not as if I'm new to it. I'm just enjoying the position and seeing us develop as a team and a club."

[danperkins]

Definitely Sterling in ...

yup