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Liverpool's recent record at Tottenham is pretty erratic, having lost there on their last three visits and not having won at White Hart Lane since 1997. So what can the stats tell us ahead of this encounter?
The most significant stat is that of the two respective teams' shooting ability. Only Arsenal can better Liverpool's shooting accuracy of 49%, while conversely no team have been more inaccurate with their efforts on goal than Tottenham. With just 39% of their shots hitting the opponent's goal it is clear to see why they have struggled to impose themselves on this season's title race.
Steffen Iversen and Teddy Sheringham have at least started to turn the tide though. They have notched seven goals between them in the last six Spurs Premiership matches, representing 88% of all Tottenham strikes over that period. Moreover, the goals came at the rate at roughly one every fourth shot between them, which is clearly a step in the right direction.
When it comes to hitting the target with shots, Michael Owen is not surprisingly the most prolific at Anfield with 36 accurate efforts so far this season, but can you guess who is second? Step forward, John Arne Riise, with 23 accurate efforts this term. For those of you who - not unnaturally - guessed it might have been Owen's strike partner Emile Heskey then you may be surprised to learn that he has hit the target just 16 times - fewer than England midfielder Danny Murphy.
This game will have some effect on the destination of the title - even if it is just delaying the outcome. But it is well worth bearing in mind that, although on paper Liverpool would be expected to come away with a positive result, Spurs have picked up 27 points in their last 14 home matches and are more than capable of racking up a win.
Matt Pomroy
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Fri 26 April 2002, 12:00
Tottenham Hotspur
Match referee: P. Jones
