The Lilywhites must unleash their “special” forward to propel them to victory…
Tottenham Hotspur will return to the Premier League today, as they host Liverpool looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and secure another tough result against a team expected to finish well above them in the league. charts.
However, the majority of these predictions were made before Ange Postecoglou began to impress the wider football world.
The Australian’s impact has been nothing short of revolutionary, with his tactical philosophy already proving profitable given they have toppled Manchester United, and battled well with a well-drilled Brentford side and last year’s title challengers Arsenal to earn draws on the road.
His summer signings have already integrated well too, and fusing with what stars he chose to retain over a transformative window, already the foundation is in place for unbridled success in the near future.
However, as the old saying goes, if they are to be the best they must first beat the best.
Jurgen Klopp has engineered a fine resurgence in recent months with a few tactical tweaks of his own, and will hope to bring the Lilywhites’ party crashing down. Given the potential absentees the hosts might face, this could actually be an endeavour made much easier…
Who is fit for Spurs vs Liverpool? With many players struggling for fitness, passing a late check can completely change the potential makeup of a match and thus they can have the initiative.
However, one star is definitely absent as Brennan Johnson suffered a groin injury complaint last weekend. Postecoglou then confirms: “Brennan has been missing since last week. It’s nothing too serious, but he’s not fit for this weekend.”
The other big blow from this clash was James Maddison, who despite playing after knocking his knee, had to be substituted before full-time. However, football.london expects the former Leicester City man to dismiss the matter before delivering the coach’s comments: “Madders and Sonny [Son Heung-Min] trained today, they went through it and we’ll have to see how they go. It’s been a busy week in training.”
With fitness concerns wreaking havoc on the front, it seems this position could see the most upheaval if changes were to occur. Finally, Manor Solomon and Richarlison will both be desperate for a starting place, both having excelled in various games this campaign. However, given the history he shares with the Merseyside outfit and his relentless desire to prove they have a thorn in their side, perhaps the Brazilian should be preferred.
Who does Richarlison usually line up against Liverpool? Having moved to north London from Everton, who share a fierce rivalry with Liverpool, the 26-year-old has always had to hold a grudge against the Reds. Especially when the former Watford man was ingrained in the culture at Goodison Park, famously saying: “Everyone in England hates Liverpool. Everyone is obsessed with Van Dijk, but he is not the best defender in the world. Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos is. better than him.”
His controversy is long-standing, but once he was beaten by the giant Dutch defender in an always competitive derby.
In fact, apart from Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton, there is no other club where Richarlison enjoys scoring more.
The 46-year-old star found the net three times against Klopp’s men, one of which helped the Toffees to their first win at Anfield since 1999.
Last season’s second goal marked the £90,000-a-week player’s only strike in the league before Diogo Jota canceled out his late equalizer with an even later winner. Richarlison’s relationship with Liverpool is perpetually strained but always seems to bring out the best in him. It uses everything that makes a striker great, combining his aggression, work rate and quality into one electric lamp. After all, Antonio Conte tried to praise those qualities last season, remarking: “Richy is another player, a strong player, you know him when you stay on the pitch and you know his personality on the pitch. He is a warrior, a fighter and we need that type of player, to enhance this type of aspect.”
Certainly, if Postecoglou is to dominate at home today, he will have to start with a striker and let him lead the press, which could prove crucial in another big win over the North West side. How did Richarlison perform for Spurs? Although the striker has struggled since his £60million move in the summer of 2022, they saw the signing of the tireless forward, who saved his former employers from relegation with ten goals and five assists in the league.
But they have been too rare to justify his huge price tag, with one Premier League goal in all of last season already hitting that mark this season.
Although his average of 6.83 is largely boosted by his substitute appearance against Sheffield United, he is still a threat, registering 1.5 shots and 0.5 assists per game despite playing just 43 minutes per Sofascore.
Although pundit Jamie O’Hara didn’t label him “good enough to fill the Harry Kane void”, it should be noted that no one on the planet can do that. Richarlison offers guaranteed hard work and should he hit a rich vein of form, he could provide an admirable share of the goals to bolster the side. After all, his character is firm, his former teammate Guilherme Xavier arrogantly praised the man who could change everything today: “He was so explosive. He was powerful and really fast. I was also impressed by his desire. For Richarlison, there was no such thing as a loose ball.”
She continued: “He is a special guy and such a pure person. He is simple, modest, with a huge heart. It was great to have those moments with him.
Perhaps now is the time to restart the stuttering period at N17 and finally start a career that was once promising. Who better to do it than his longtime rivals and one of his favorite opponents.
