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. Last Year's Game - Spurs won 2-1
. This week - last year
. What happened in the Premiership in Match 1 2008-09
. See the current injury list for all Premiership Teams
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
Full League Record of Spurs -v- Liverpool
Premier Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 17 7 5 5 22 -22 26
Away 17 1 5 11 15 -36 8
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Total(Prem) 34 8 10 16 37 -58 34
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Football Lge
Home(Div 1) 49 24 10 15 71 -58 62
Away(Div 1) 49 4 14 31 38 -95 24
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Total(Div 1)98 28 24 46 109 -153 86
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Total(Prem) 34 8 10 16 37 -58 34
Total(Div 1)98 28 24 46 109 -153 86
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Grand Total 132 36 34 62 146 -211 120
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Last Six Premiership results:-
Spurs
Spurs 1-0 Newcastle
Man Utd 5-2 Spurs
Spurs 1-0 West Brom
Everton 0-0 Spurs
Spurs 2-1 Man City
Liverpool 3-1 Spurs
Liverpool
Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal
Hull 1-3 Liverpool
Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle
West Ham 0-3 Liverpool
West Brom 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool 3-1 Spurs
Final Position 2008-09
Pos P W D L F-A GD Pts
2 Liverpool 38 25 11 2 77 27 50 86
8 Spurs 38 14 9 15 45 45 0 51
Defoe MUST start
At long last it's time for the start of the 18th Premier League season. Only 7 clubs have been ever-present in the competition, and 4 of those meet each other this week-end. That is Everton v Arsenal, and Spurs v Liverpool. The other three founders of the Premier League are of course Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa. There have now been an incredibly 43 different teams in the top flight since 1992-3, with Burnley becoming the latest of those members.
In all those seasons, this year is only the fifth occasion that we have started with a home fixture. The last occasion was against today's opponents, Liverpool in August 2004, when we drew 1-1. Jermain Defoe scored the Spurs goal to equalise Djibril Cisse's 38th minute effort. Cisse, who was at one time linked to us, has now moved from Sunderland (where he was on loan from Marseille)to Panathinaikos.
We haven't got a great record in those 4 home starts, with a win against Ipswich in 2000, a defeat against Man Utd in 1997, and a draw against Villa in 2001. Apparently it suits the club to start away as a rule, and in return they usually get a home match for Boxing Day. This year we will be away, but in London at Craven Cottage. (Check out the Spurs Odyssey archives for results since 1998-99)
The two teams played each other in their last Premier League game on 24th May. Former short-term Liverpool player Robbie Keane scored the Spurs goal, but by that time (77th minute) the game was up, and with that any chance of Spurs being involved in European football this season.
There have been very few occasions in our history when we have met the same team at the end of one league programme, and at the start of the next.
The last time this occurred was in April and August 1964 against Leicester City. Both games were at home and Spurs won in April 6-2, with goals by Jimmy Greaves (2), Alan Gilzean, and Cliff Jones (3). In August we won 4-2. Jimmy Greaves was on the score-sheet again, joined by the late Cyril Knowles, Derek Possee and Jimmy Robertson.
Previously we had beaten Blackpool 2-1 at home in April 1958 (Medwin and Smith), and lost away in the following August 3-2 (Smith and Brooks). In our Southern League days there were two such events, against Millwall and Fulham.
Note that we did start the 87-88 season with a game at Coventry to whom we had lost the 1987 FA Cup Final. Ironically, Gary Mabbutt scored for US in that league game, but we lost 2-1.
Last season's home win against Liverpool came at the end of a spectacular week for Spurs after the arrival of Harry Redknapp. We won our first league game of the season against Bolton, got that marvellous late 4-4 at The Emirates, then Harry's marvellous coaching skills ("I just told him to f***ing run about a bit") led to Pavlyuchenko's last minute winner against the then league leaders.
No doubt Liverpool will regard themselves as major challengers to Manchester United in this season's race for the prestigious title, and I fancy it is going to be another open race this time around, with Chelsea also to the fore. Whether Liverpool can be said to have strengthened their squad so far is questionable, with Alonso and Arbeloa amongst the departures, and Glenn Johnson the one major arrival who will be fit for this game. (Midfielder Alberto Aquilani has been signed with an injury that will keep him out for 7 weeks)
Rafa Benitez has been fighting off approaches for Mascherano, and approaching Sunday's game has injury concerns over defenders Carragher, Agger and Skrtel - all of whom may be fit in time, as may Steven Gerrard, who missed this week's England game. Aurelio is definitely not available.
There will of course be plenty of threat though on Sunday from whatever team Benitez puts out including the brilliant Fernando Torres. Babel looked really sharp the other night against Johnson too.
Spurs too have their injury worries in defence, but it looks like Ledley King and Bassong will be the central pairing for this game, with Corluka likely to have to step in for Ledley next Wednesday night at Hull. In the meantime he will surely start at right back, with Ekotto on the left.
The big question is who will start up front. I don't believe I have ever seen Jermain Defoe looking so razor sharp as this pre-season, and for me he must start on Sunday, next to either Crouch or Pavlyuchenko. I suspect that Robbie Keane will therefore be accommodated on the left side of midfield, with Luka Modric partnering Palacios, and Lennon playing down the right wing.
An exciting game is in prospect, and I find it difficult to predict a result. I fancy a 2-2 draw with Defoe and Crouch getting on the score-sheet for Spurs.
The Spurs Odyssey match report will be posted on Monday morning, and there will be a chance for you to give your player grades after every game this season. Whatever happens on Sunday, this season should be much more enjoyable for Spurs fans, as I am confident we will have a decent start under Harry Redknapp's management.
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