Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen has said that the club has 7 ‘Cup Finals’ between now and the end of the season and they will have to more than likely win all of those if they are to have a chance of winning the Premier League this season. The first of those 7 finals is a visit to Anfield and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
Even after not playing for 13 days the ex Borussia Dortmund Manager will probably still be asking himself how Liverpool didn’t come away from the South Coast empty handed. Part of that question can be answered in two words ‘Martin Skrtel’
He had a 45 minute horror show which conspired to assist Southampton to victory and all but kill off their faint hopes of snatching that final Champions League position come the end of the season. The only thing that is keeping those faint hopes alive is the fact that they still have games in hand over the teams above them.
A win before the break would have seen them sit in 7th and just three points off of Manchester United who they recently disposed of in the Europa League but as it stands they now find themselves 9th and their run of 4 games without defeat was bought to end in dramatic circumstances at St Mary’s.
Their opponents Tottenham will look to close the gap on leaders Leicester this Evening and they know that anything less than a win coupled with a Leicester victory 24 hours later will all but secure the title for Claudio Ranieri’s side
Before the break Leicester had heaped the pressure on Spurs by extending the gap to 8 points but you certainly wouldn’t have known it after witnessing the North London outfit demolition of Bournemouth the following day.
If there were any nerves then they weren’t showing them as Harry Kane got his side off to the perfect start by slotting home Kyle Walker’s cross after just 43 seconds. After that they never looked back as the game almost had the air of a training exercise with Spurs strolling to a routine victory.
That keeps the pressure on Leicester but undoubtedly Spurs still have work to do and their run in is not the favourable of the two sides but a win here today and the pendulum will swing back in their favour with Leicester than having to do their bit a day later
Liverpool will need to win this one as anything less will put an end to their Top 4 aspirations but it will be interesting to see whether Jurgen Klopp puts all his focus into the Europa League tie against his former club in Midweek. Victory in this competition would see them enter the Champions League through the backdoor so maybe he may feel it’s worth putting all his eggs in that basket.
If Spurs can play how they did against Bournemouth then there’s absolutely no question why they can’t come away with the win, last time these two sides met at Anfield Mario Balotelli’s late winner was the difference in a 5 goal thriller.
As much as I want Spurs to win, I’m not sure they will manage to come away with all 3 points which in turn could be the death knell for their title hopes. My heart says win but unfortunately my head is going for a draw. Honours even for me.
