Liverpool must take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur’s considerable weaknesses and will be confident of victory on Sunday according to Reds expert David Lynch.
Arsenal’s victory against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon saw the Gunners close the gap to Arne Slot’s Merseysiders to just three points, though the Dutchman’s team do have two games in hand.
More positively for the Reds, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa, effectively knocking the champions out of the title race.
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs side stand in the way of another three points for Liverpool, but Lynch believes that the Reds should be very confident of victory, telling Sports Mole: “I think Liverpool will go into this one with a lot of confidence that they can hurt spurs.
“The big problem [Spurs have] got is that [their] defensive issues and structural issues are repeatedly being exposed. When Arne Slot and coaches look through the analysts’ work and have a look at how they can hurt Tottenham, there are about 50 different ways to do it because they have structural issues in the way that they press that allows them to be passed through quite easily.
“They’re a team with serious weaknesses and if Liverpool go there and show the best versions of themselves, they’ll feel like they can really hurt Tottenham and get a big result.”
The two sides will also meet each other in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup next year, and Sunday’s game could perhaps be an insight into how the tie will play out.
Tottenham defeated Manchester United 4-3 in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Thursday, showcasing impressive attacking prowess. However, their defensive performance raised concerns.
Key players, including first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, were unavailable. Fraser Forster stepped in as goalkeeper, while Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin formed the central defensive pairing. Forster was blamed for two of United’s goals, and Gray, more suited to midfield, struggled in his defensive role.
Sports Mole’s Lynch highlighted these vulnerabilities, suggesting Liverpool could exploit them: “Tottenham, at their best, can beat anyone in the league. But their defensive frailties give Liverpool an edge, especially with key injuries to Vicario, Van de Ven, and others.”
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah will likely relish the chance to face Spurs’ makeshift defense, aiming to build on his record of 12 goals and two assists against them.
While Liverpool has been dominant this season, Chelsea could temporarily overtake them at the top of the table with a win over Everton. However, a Liverpool victory against Spurs would restore their position. Despite City’s setbacks, Slot’s side remains title favorites, having lost just once across all competitions.
Lynch dismissed the idea of Liverpool feeling pressured by Chelsea’s proximity, noting the points gap appears smaller due to Liverpool’s postponed match. He stated: “If Liverpool had played the same number of games, the gap would likely be five points. Their focus will be on beating Spurs, not Chelsea.”
He also questioned Chelsea’s ability to maintain their form, citing their defensive struggles, including just one clean sheet in their last 11 league matches. Regardless of Chelsea’s result against Everton, Slot’s team must concentrate on their clash with Spurs to stay on track in the title race.
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