MATCH INFO
Venue: White Hart Lane
Kickoff: 12:45 pm GMT | 7:45 am EST
Referee: Craig Pawson (Averaging 4 cards per game)
Odds: H 6-4 A 19-10 D 23-10
PREVIEW & MATCH BUILDUP
A lot can change in the space of two weeks. A fortnight ago, Brendan Rodgers was an embattled manager, but surely the owners would wait until the Christmas break, or the end of the season to make a drastic move? However, soon after grinding out a 1-1 draw, in the derby,Rodgers was fired and the speculation began.
After 4 frenzied days of doubt and conjecture, Liverpool fans could have been forgiven for pinching themselves to check if they were dreaming. Jurgen Klopp - a man whose charisma, history, management style, and with a name that could form the basis for a thousand Anfield puns - was appointed Liverpool's manager.
To say that the mood in Melwood, Anfield, Merseyside and across LFC's global fans is optimistic is an understatement. Surely this is the manager to bring us back to a style of football that we can get behind, to reinstill a sense of belief and purpose?
However, with the weight of expectations, (which Klopp expertly deflected at the pre-match presser,) comes the reality of a manager's first match in charge. Klopp has had only a few days of training with the full first-team after the international break, and faces a Tottenham side that in his words appear 'fine-tuned'.
Liverpool has received bitter injury news in the last 24 hours, with Gomez and Ings both tearing their ACL's in what is likely season-ending injuries. Benteke and Firmino are back from the physio-bed but are not fit enough to train with the first team yet.
Despite the injuries, and Tottenham's run of form (3 wins and 2 draws out of the last 6), Klopp and his team will enter the match knowing Liverpool have had Tottenham's number during their last 5 matches - winning all of them: scoring 18 goals, allowing 4.
Will our lads pull out a win for Klopp? With our away support most likely in full voice, an excitable German on the sidelines, and our players hopefully up for it - it should be a terrific match.
TL;DR: Klopp^pls
TEAM NEWS & LINEUPS
Liverpool
- **Probable
(Update: Wow... Some people seem to have completely taken this the wrong way and decides to be offended and feel patronized when there was absolutely no intention to do so. Completely does my head in at how these miserable people want to nitpick and find fault in everything. It's like you're not allowed to cheer and encourage other fans)
As we all know, Anfield will once again have fans, but capped at 10,000 home fans.
So my message to those of you within the 10,000:
The boys need you now more than ever.
All the Reds fans around the world need the Anfield crowd to do its job now more than ever. I'd argue even more so than that Atletico Champions League game last season.
Please sing and shout as loudly as you can, from the moment you reach your seat, all the way to long after the match. Cheer for every LFC touch, boo for every Crystal Palace tackle.
Also cheer like insane everytime Leicester concedes a goal, for that'll pull the goal difference even further apart in our advantage. (Or if Chelsea is losing and Leicester is winning, also cheer like crazy, as that would mean Chelsea miss out. )
Remeber those brief crazy scenes of jubilation in Anfield two seasons ago, when Man City briefly conceded which meant we might win the title. Let's recreate that as well.
With Bobby returning to form just in time, he's probably the sort of player who will benefit from receiving a further boost from yoy guys.
So COME ON YOU REDS YNWA
