CHRIS Graham (@chrisgraham79) dips into Liverpool's match with Tottenham this Saturday and plucks out best bets.
Liverpool v Tottenham | Saturday 17:30 | BT Sport 1
No doubt about what the most intriguing match of this Premier League Saturday is. Liverpool, having the worst comedown of all time for a New Years Eve party, up against a Spurs side who quietly and efficiently go about their business.
There are many strands to this game that make having a strong view on it hard to crystallise. My first starting point in all cases is the odds and I feel it's Spurs who look too big at 13/5.
Second best
The North London side sit second in the table and on what we've seen so far in 2016/17 that's exactly where they deserve to be. I happen to believe they are the second best side in the league.
While their squad can look bony at times, they have a spirit, togetherness and energy that stands them above Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Manchester United.
If personnel can remain the same, then surely this team can improve further in the next couple of seasons. It's feels an exciting time to be a Spurs fan and this has to be the year they finish above Arsenal.
Injuries
Spurs have fewer defeats than any other side in the division with two. That is testament to the determination of their squad. They sit five wins shy of Chelsea though and one off Man City and those numbers chime with the limitations of that very same squad.
While their first eleven is a match for anyone, they can struggle to put teams away when injuries ravage their personnel. With Danny Rose and Jan Vertonghen out of Saturday's match that has to be respected.
Dreadful
Liverpool have had a truly dreadful start to the year with just one win in 10 matches and it's a slump that Jurgen Klopp simply has to arrest as soon as possible.
This kind of fixture might just give him that platform. The German and his team relish matches against their direct rivals and they're unbeaten against fellow Top 6 sides this season.
Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal have all been beaten this campaign and you'd be a fool to completely write off their chances of seeing off Spurs here on Saturday.
But how can you back a side at 13/10 who face a better side than them and are on their worst run of form in years? I certainly can't, but with Rose and Vertonghen out it's asking a lot of Spurs to take them out. Therefore, the draw at 49/20 looks a sensible shout.
Best Bets
Liverpool v Tottenham – Draw (49/20 Bet Stars)
