Tottenham v Liverpool: Oppose goals in big capital contest

TOTTENHAM host Liverpool on Saturday evening. We asked Tom Love (@TomLove_18) to source the best bets from the Premier League encounter.

Tottenham v Liverpool | Saturday 11th January 2020, 17:30 | Sky Sports

The big game of the weekend takes place in North London on Saturday evening as Spurs host perennial champions Liverpool. Jose Mourinho has an almighty task ahead of him in order to defeat a side who have dropped points just once this season. It’s a quite remarkable record and it warrants the 4/6 quotes available on the Reds, the shortest price they’ve ever been away at a top-six side in the Premier League.

Spurs were dealt a big blow with the news that talisman Harry Kane has been ruled out until April. That’s meant Tottenham are after a possible loan deal until the end of the season for Milan frontman Krzysztof Piatek but any deal won’t happen before Saturday.

The hosts are also without Tanguy N’Dombele and Moussa Sissoko in midfield, which leaves them lacking legs and energy with the possible duo of Harry Winks and Eric Dier at the base. It’s not all doom and gloom though, Heung-Min Son is back from suspension and could lead the line with Lucas Moura.

Liverpool have come through their busy December schedule with flying colours. They came back from Qatar as world champions and got straight back into it with comfortable wins over Sheffield United and Leicester. Jurgen Klopp saw his mean struggle to keep clean sheets in the early part of the season but their defensive process has improved immeasurably since December.

In the last five games the Reds have restricted their opposition to an average of 0.50 Expected Goals (xG) per-game, keeping clean sheets in all five of those. Going forward they have that cutting edge with the front three who were well rested last week as Klopp fielded a youth side in their win over rivals Everton.

Spurs have been dour going forward in the past few weeks too; Jose Mourinho is clearly isn't getting his methods across with these numbers. It won’t take long for things to turn sour in that relationship – Jose has had his day and get’s out-thought too often in this day and age.

Spurs will probably look to sit deep and try and get Moura and Son in behind the flying full backs but it’s so hard to play against Liverpool because their fitness levels are insane. If they bypass the high press then the recovery pace of the back four is superb which make them a frightening proposition.

Oppose goals in the capital

The more I look at it the more Liverpool appeal however with Mourinho historically playing party-pooper there’s another market that makes appeal.

Dipping into the Asian goal line we can see it set at a flat 3.00 and I’m more than inclined to take that on and take the unders at around the 17/20 mark with BetVictor. Backing this selection means we only lose money should there be four or more goals and that’s only occurred in a single Liverpool away game this season.

Spurs will look to limit the threat from Liverpool which hampers their own attacking threat and it could be a bit of a stand-off. Only one of Tottenham's’ last five fixtures have gone Over 3.5 Goals and without Kane and Jose’s usually MO against the big dogs, it may be a game that fails to live up to the hype.

I also think that the odd price of 57/20 from Marathon on the 0-0 half time correct score looks a big price. This market is usually 2/1 or shorter but here you’re getting almost 3/1. I think both sides wouldn’t be too disappointed if they went into the break all square.

The last Spurs game this landed against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and in all honesty I expected it to be a touch shorter so I think it’s worth a small play at the price.