Tactics cancel each other out at Lane

The talk before this game was all about Klopp. He is the new manager at Liverpool and the man tasked with reviving their fortunes. Liverpool, just as Spurs have massively underachieved since the Premier League's inception and today 2 managers who like high energy pressing games came head to head.

Pochettino had been given the September manager of the month award and that is usually a bad omen!

Liverpool were by far the better team in the first 20 or so minutes and hit the bar on 9 minutes with the Spurs defence all over the place. Thankfully no whistle came from the Ref and the ball bounced well in front of the line rather than behind and the score stayed at 0 - 0.
Spurs had already lost Chadli by then and the injury list is starting to grow. N'Jie was the man to replace Chadli and to say he was underwhelming would be a grand overstatement of the facts. He tried hard but nearly every ball he touched ended up with a red shirt.
On 27 minutes though he had a real chance to become a Spurs favourite but his outside of the foot shot was well saved by Mignolet.

Spurs started to get a foothold in the game and Eriksen started to pull the strings, first nearly putting in Kane and then Kane again after great play by Dembele.
Kane hit a low shot straight at Mignolet when he should have scored and the ball then fell to Alli whose shot was blocked when a cool head would surely have seen Spurs take the lead.

Liverpool hunted in packs of 3 and Spurs had little time on the ball, although they didn't help themselves with some very pedestrian football. At times it was pre City but Klopp had clearly put his mark on his new charges.

Spurs started brightly in the 2nd half and a lovely free kick from the left by Eriksen just eluded a touch that would have seen Spurs go in front.

And that was really that. It certainly wasn't a game for the football purist by any means. Both teams pressed. Both had periods of possession and Spurs just shaded it in terms of chances but both teams were sorely lacking in firepower and for Spurs it is to be hoped that Son is back from injury soon to aid the hardworking but mis firing Harry Kane.

The absence of Dier seemed to make the back four a little more shaky today but Dembele grew into the game and was deserving of his man of the match award. He was good on the ball and good in defence. He showed signs of being the player we all know that he can be.

Walker has forgotten how to control a ball this season. Twice again today the ball rolled under his foot and he needs to up his game.
Lloris was solid without being troubled and played his sweeper keeper role very well.

The one area I still question Pochettino at times is his use of substitutes. Of course one was enforced today but why wait until 4 minutes from the end to bring in Townsend. Although he is frustrating, surely 15 or 20 minutes would have provided a chance to make some impact?

That aside, the team worked hard and kept another clean sheet. Today we saw two teams destined for the top 6 without doubt. As for the top 4, the jury is still out on that one.

As ever, come on you Spurs!!!

 

Big game and chance to get a big result in terms of kicking on and putting liverpool back. I'd expect a pumped up team from the off being at home, back from international break & chance to lay down a marker.
What we got though was a typical sluggish start, a predictable formation- Chadli Eriksen & Lamela cannot play together at the same time for this formation to work !!!! ( how many times?)
Some of our passing and control is shocking and we had great difficulty at times keeping hold of the ball.
Chadli went off n Njie had a dodgey start but we then finally started to grow into the match.
We created a few good chances but the pressure is getting to Kane badly and he needs not dropping but a rest just to take the burden off but hang on a minute thats right he is our ONLY STRIKER so this isnt an option.
Poch like 95% of his games incharge seemed content with his side producing gritty rigid football that never looked like taking the points.
As the clock ticked down the game was Screaming out for a tactical change or Substitution most critically another goal threat to go for the win but thats right we ONLY HAVE 1 STRIKER so Poch waited until the death to send Andros on and we finished as we started.
The mentality was poor from the off, the team selection (not the defence) was poor, the tactics were non existent (again) and imo is a very poor overall performance. And is exactly the reason this season will be like usuall totally fruitless.

 

Dembele excellent in the Dier role. N'Jie honestly wasn't that poor, yes frustrating but he was our best offensive outlet I felt

 

I think he gave us a good outlet, yes, but his distribution was awful. To be fair, that was to be expected with a lack of game time and he will get better but basic ball skills are needed!!!

 

Here comes Klopp with 4-2-3-1 and inversed wingers. Have LFC also sold its star player and subsequently wasted money gained on fringe signings? And fired their manager who was not able to deliver with mediocre group? Just being curious... because it appeared Spurs played themselves.

 

Lol. It did appear that way.