Courtesy of:- Ray Lo, and the Spurs List.

    Premier League 2, First Division, 2018-19
     Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way, Stevenage
          Monday 7th January 2019, 7pm

           SPURS       v      LIVERPOOL
        (White/Blue)          (All Red)
           4-4-2                4-4-2

            1(0)                 1(0)

       Alfie Whiteman  1  Kai McKenzie-Lyle
          Tariq Hinds  2  Neco Williams
     Anthony Georgiou  3  George Johnson(C)
         George Marsh  4  Connor Masterson
    Japhet Tanganga(C) 5  Corey Whelan
        Timothy Eyoma  6  Liam Coyle
 Tashan Oakley-Boothe  7  Bobby Duncan
         Dylan Duncan  8  Connor Randall
      Vincent Janssen  9  Liam Millar
     Kazaiah Sterling 10  Pedro Chirivella
           Jack Roles 11  Juanma Garcia

         Jamie Bowden 12  Rhys William
                          (6)83Mins
       Brandon Austin 13  Dan Atherton
       Jamie Reynolds 14  Glen McAuley
            (9)46Mins     (7)67Mins
         Troy Parrott 15  Paul Glatzel
            (8)88Mins
        Shilow Tracey 16
            (3)69Mins

Scorers:-
          Sterling 48     Coyle 64

Booked:-
                          Coyle 66(Late)

Coach:-
        Wayne Burnett     Neil Critchley

Attendance:– 1,010

Referee:– Josh Smith
Assistants:– Christopher Myatt & Dele Sotimirin
Fourth Official:– Mark Stevens

It was a chilly evening for the visit of Liverpool to Stevenage for the first game of the New Year. Spurs finished the last year with a win over Manchester City while Liverpool drew with Swansea. Last season Spurs had a 1-0 win over the Reds thanks to a goal from Jack Roles. Adam Lallana was one of two Liverpool players sent off as they chased the game.

Spurs lined up with Whiteman in goal behind Tanganga and Eyoma with Hinds at right back and Georgiou on the left. Marsh anchored the midfield with Duncan alongside him and Oakley-Boothe on the right flank while Roles was on the left in support of Janssen and Sterling up front.

Spurs defended the North end in the first half and took a while to settle into the change of formation to accommodate Janssen. Liverpool started better than Spurs, but the first opportunity was created by Spurs when Oakley-Boothe whipped the ball across the six yard box. Bobby Duncan headed a cross by Williams wide. Spurs began to pass the ball better and Tanganga headed a corner wide. Janssen was pulled back when through but it was not seen by the referee. Janssen was played in by Roles as the break approached but the ball was taken off his foot as he was about to pull the trigger.

Reynolds replaced Janssen for the start of the second half with Spurs reverting to their favoured formation. Jamie went to left back with Georgiou moving forward on that flank with Roles moving inside.

Georgiou had caused Liverpool problems in the first half with his forward runs and now, starting from a more advanced position, got past his marker regularly. His cross from the left was met by Sterling's head producing a great reaction save by McKenzie-Lyle who pushed it away. The ball was not cleared and when Hinds put it back in, the Spurs striker scored the opening goal.

The visitors responded with a Bobby Duncan header that went over the bar. Georgiou got down the left again before playing in Roles to force a save from McKenzie-Lyle that he pushed up in the air. Roles reacted quickest but headed over.

There was a spell of Liverpool pressure which produced a number of corners from which they scored. The ball had been half cleared to Randall who squared it to Coyle to volley home.

Both sides made a change with Spurs replacing Georgiou with Tracey who went to the right flank with Oakley-Boothe switching to the left. Coyle slid into Roles from behind to pick up the only booking of the match.

Spurs began to get back on top with Hinds' cross met by Oakley-Boothe on the far post to draw a save from the keeper who recovered to stop Sterling following up, but conceded a corner. From the corner McKenzie-Lyle had to save a header by Sterling. With time running out both sides made a further change. Spurs sent on Parrott in place of Dylan Duncan and it was Parrott who played in Roles for the last chance of the game which was deflected wide for a corner.

Spurs started poorly but got on top as the first half developed. They began the second on top to take the lead which prompted the visitors to press for the equaliser before finishing the stronger. The draw keeps Spurs in ninth place while Liverpool move up one. The next game for Spurs will be away to West Ham on the 13th January. The"Hammers" beat Manchester City last week 5-1 to close the gap on Spurs to two points.

Ray

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