MARTIN KEOWN’S
IT’S DESPAIR WITHOUT DELE
EVEN before we discovered that Dele Alli would miss this match, I thought Tottenham would find it tough to beat Liverpool. They will find it even harder to win without their influential midfielder. We talk of Harry Kane’s importance to this Spurs team but Alli is just as vital. Since his debut in 2015 he has missed just eight Premier League games for Tottenham, highlighting his importance to manager Mauricio Pochettino. Spurs have never lost when Alli scores and in those matches where he has been absent, Spurs have won just once. His partnership with Kane has been crucial in establishing Tottenham as a top-four side. Since the start of last season, between them the pair created 32 chances for each other. There have been questions about the English players’ workloads after a long World Cup campaign. It looked like Alli had a hamstring issue in the summer and I hope this is not a recurrence of that problem.
MANE ON A MISSION
SADIO MANE (right) is playing like a man on a mission to overhaul Mo Salah (left) as top dog at Liverpool. He has returned this season even sharper and is looking utterly ruthless in front of goal. He has already scored four goals this season and will be a real handful for Tottenham centre backs Toby Alderweireld and Jan
Vertonghen. Salah, meanwhile, is missing the sort of opportunities that we have seen him put away routinely. And that is the most worrying thing for the rest of the Premier League. Liverpool’s stars are yet to click into top gear and yet they have maximum points!
NOTHING WRONG WITH HARRY!
DO not write off Harry Kane making an impact in this mouthwatering clash. Many argued that he should not have featured in the friendly against Switzerland but I thought he managed his substitute appearance well. He nursed himself through the game and will not be any more exhausted for it. What Kane’s appearance exposed was the lack of options for England manager Gareth Southgate. Contrast this with Portugal who allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to put his feet up on a yacht during the international break. Kane may not have started the season looking his sharpest but he has still scored goals and has plenty in the tank to do some damage today. PREDICTION Liverpool to win 2-1.