Demolished, destroyed, deluded and sacked, these words were ringing through the Lanes at North London last time the Merseysiders left their mark there. What had been classified as a moment "when Liverpool face ground realities" last December by many, it was the perfect catapult that set their season off and running, however a bit late. Times have changed now, Liverpool don’t have the man who scored twice in this fixture Tottenham on the other hand. Had nothing particularly new to offer as they have changed the man at the helm once again.
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Starting their Premier League campaign in the same way they finished their last, Liverpool took the battle of already battered Southampton with a trip to the Etihad Stadium proving for them as an eye opener. Last season in these two fixtures Liverpool won nothing, this time they are leading by three points however it is this match which will separate and maybe allow them to be channeled away from Spurs.
Having already spent 127million pounds this transfer window by strengthen all the three departments of their team, Liverpool have been compared with Spurs as many times as Steven Gerrard slip on twitter. However as Mauricio Pochetino stated in his press conference that they have spent nothing while Liverpool have gone over the board, it was indicated it is the time pressure will be shifted from the once home favorites to everybody’s 2nd favorite team in Europe excluding the Manchester Citizens of-course.
After scoring in the 5-0 thumping of Tottenham last season, Jon Flanagan has failed to score or assist any goal till now.
When both these sides will meet on Sunday after seeing off the results of Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal before them, a defeat might end certain bandwagons coming out of their sacred places against either of them. While Liverpool have already given huge statement by signing the once UEFA Young Player of the Year Mario Balotelli, Spurs have shown in these early stages of the season that they also mean business -- however, on the pitch this time.
Among the top 7 teams in the Premier League, Tottenham have spent the lowest amount of money this season.
As it would be cruel to lament this match as a must win game this early in a Premier League campaign, both the managers will know this match will have deep and embedded implications just after the final of this game in North London. Last time after Liverpool's 5 - 0 victory, they gone on to an un-foreseeable journey only for a late compound of errors to betray them from the path. Tottenham, on the other hand went down the hill as defeats settled at Spurs as a result of which, the Spurs board-room staff have to sack the former Chelsea boss.
So when the first whistle of the match will be heard at the White Hart Lane, Liverpool and Tottenham alike would know from their recent histories, that this match can be make-or-break for either of them.
Amir Bashir follow him on Twitter.
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