Notebook – Spurs vs Liverpool

As we quickly approach the World Cup break, we face our penultimate home match this afternoon with the visit of Liverpool (4.30pm kick-off).
Ahead of the clash, here are all of the game’s key points of note…

1 – An unwanted record

It has been a difficult period for us as of late against Liverpool. In our last 10 encounters with them in all competitions, we have been unable to win, losing seven and drawing three. In the Premier League, the Reds have lost just one of their last 19 meetings with us (D6, W12).

2 – Finding the target

Liverpool’s record in front of goal against us also backs up their dominance in this fixture. Just once in their last 20 meetings with us have the failed to score - that was Jurgen Klopp’s first ever game as Liverpool manager, drawing 0-0 with us at White Hart Lane in October, 2015.

3 – Conte vs Liverpool

Since Antonio Conte’s appointment as Head Coach though, we have remained unbeaten against the Reds. Facing them twice in Antonio’s first 12 months in north London, we drew both of those meetings, 2-2 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December and 1-1 at Anfield in May.

4 – Resilient Spurs

We have quite the record under Antonio Conte when finding ourselves behind in games. Having shown that in the cauldron of noise that is the Stade Velodrome on Tuesday night as we came from 1-0 down to defeat Marseille 2-1 in our final Champions League group stage game and win group D, we have also shown it in the Premier League. This campaign in the top flight, we have won more points from losing positions that any other side (10). Since Antonio became our Head Coach, only Liverpool have gained more points from losing positions (24), than us (21).

5 – Importance of the first goal

It has become a cliché in football that the first goal is crucial in a game but, as aforementioned, that has usually mattered little to us. For Liverpool this term, though, it is a circumstance they have struggled to overcome. Coming into this weekend, only Southampton and West Ham (9) have conceded the first goal more often than the Reds (8), and they have lost twice the number of games this term (4) as they did in 2021/22 (2).

6 - Liverpool’s form

It hasn’t been the easiest of campaigns for Liverpool so far. A side that, over the past few seasons, has been one of the top outfits in the Premier League, the Reds have struggled this term. Having played 12 games thus far, Jurgen Klopp’s side currently sit ninth in the table having picked up 16 points (W4 D4 L4). That includes back-to-back defeats in their last two outings (1-0 to Nottingham Forest and 2-1 to Leeds United).

7 – Liverpool’s away struggles

Their form on the road has been particularly frustrating for the Reds so far this term. Having played five games away from home to date this season, they are yet to pick up three points. They last went on a longer such run at the start of the 2006/07 season (7). They have also lost each of their last two away games - they last lost more consecutive league away games in the spring of 2012.

8 – An omen?

It has been just over five years since we defeated Liverpool in the Premier League. That came as we put four past the Reds at Wembley in October, 2017 in a 4-1 win. That was also the last time we hosted Liverpool having been sitting above them in the league table going into the game – coincidentally, we do that again today for the first time since that win. With us sitting third and the Merseyside outfit sitting ninth ahead of kick-off, could we achieve that same result again in N17?