Impressive Liverpool seeks Wembley redemption
loNDoN (Reuters) – liverpool will not have happy memories of its last visit to Wembley stadium and will head south with a point to prove against tottenham hotspur on saturday.
eleven months ago juergen Klopp’s side was swept aside 4-1 by a rampant tottenham leading to a bout of navel-gazing that, as it transpired, helped transform liverpool’s season.
While liverpool became a force to be reckoned with, the damage had already been done though and, just like every other contender, it never got anywhere near a manchester City side that strolled to the premier league title.
It did reach the Champions league final and have continued the momentum into the new campaign, topping the table with four wins from four, scoring nine goals and conceding one.
tottenham began with three wins, but slipped up in its last game before the international break, losing 2-1 at Watford, which is a surprise joint-leader.
early in the season it may be, but the lunchtime clash will offer a pointer as to which club can push on and make a credible challenge to a City side that hosts Fulham.
tottenham’s starting line-up will be similar to the one that started last year’s fixture after the london club bucked the trend by spending nothing in the transfer window.
liverpool, on the other hand, splashed out in the region of 160 million pounds ($209 million) on the likes of Naby Keita, versatile brazilian Fabinho, brazil ’keeper Alisson and swiss playmaker Xherdan shaqiri from relegated stoke City.
the merseysiders have lost only one of their last 11 premier league meetings against tottenham, but were also frustrated by spurs in a 2-2 draw at Anfield last season when harry Kane scored a last-gasp penalty equalizer.
there is an edge between the clubs and Klopp knows three points on saturday would send out a message of intent.
Defeat for tottenham in a fixture that was supposed to be the christening of its new stadium will lead to further scrutiny of the decision to trust the same players that have achieved three successive top-three finishes but no silverware.
Watford’s best-ever start to a topflight season will be put to the test as it takes on a manchester united side without striker marcus Rashford, who was sent off in their morale-boosting win against burnley.
Chelsea, which has quietly gone about its business under new manager maurizio sarri, is also 100 percent after four games and will relish a home clash against Cardiff City.
While liverpool’s outlay on new players has, so far, proved beneficial, the same cannot be said of West ham united.
the london club bolstered its squad with nearly 100 million pounds worth of new signings for incoming manager manuel pellegrini, but is pointless after four games.
things do not get any easier either with West ham away to everton on sunday afternoon.
On TV: English Premier League Week 5: Saturday: tottenham hotspur vs liverpool (live on sport 1 at 2:30 p.m.); Newcastle united vs Arsenal (live on sport 1 at 5 p.m.); manchester City vs Fulham (live on sport 2 at 5 p.m.); Watford vs manchester united (live on sport 1 at 7:30 p.m.).
Sunday: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs burnley (live on sport 1 at 3:30 p.m.); everton vs West ham united (live on sport 1 at 6 p.m.)