How Liverpool dismantled Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane

Brendan Rodgers and Andre Villas-Boas

Two Champions League hopefuls faced off at White Hart Lane in a bid to keep pace with the clubs above them. Both sides knew, given the competitiveness of the league this season, dropping points against a fellow contender could be disastrous.

AVB had steadied the Spurs ship after a run of poor games, but the lack of goals and a poor home form still persisted. Rodgers’ side had been free scoring and winning at home, but a not so impressive away form (last away win coming in September) left many questioning their true ability. It was a chance for both to stamp their authority on the league and a top 4 place.

Tottenham were on the back of a victory over Anzhi in midweek in the Europa League, a match in which Soldado scored his first hat-trick for the London club. Liverpool on the other hand, came in to the game after a 4-1 victory over West Ham, but were without their injured captain Steven Gerrard (in addition to the injured Daniel Sturridge). It meant Luis Suarez was given the captain’s armband for the first time.

Tottenham Hotspur 0-5 Liverpool

Line Ups

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Walker, Naughton (Fryers 45?), Capoue, Dawson, Sandro (Holtby 30?), Dembele (Townsend 61?), Paulinho, Chadli, Lennon, Soldado

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Skrtel, Sakho, Lucas (Alberto 79?), Allen, Henderson, Coutinho (Moses 90?), Sterling, Suarez

A solid Liverpool midfield, led by Lucas

In the absence of Steven Gerrard, Liverpool lacked a creative spark from midfield. It was upto the more attackingly positioned Coutinho and Suarez to add that creativity into the side. Lucas, Allen and Henderson though, still had a duty perform, which they did so with impeccable quality.

Lucas was fantastic at defending against the Spurs attack, proving to be more than just adapt at covering the back four. He constantly cut out the Spurs attack from creating key chances. While he got some crucial blocks in and around the box, it was right in the centre of midfield where he proved to be most effective, putting an end to Spurs attacks before they even reached the final third.

As seen above here, Lucas was always quick to to defend against an approach Spurs’ attack, he was assisted by a solid defensive shape from the back-four and tireless fellow midfielders.

Henderson, Allen and Coutinho, all of whom were regulars in Liverpool’s attacking runs were also able to adequately discharge their defensive duties. The Liverpool midfielders were thus successful in crowding out Spurs’ attacking zones and preventing them from playing their football, or completing passes to build up their play.

The three Liverpool midfielders (and Coutinho) combined well to win back possession for their side and quickly recycle it to play it out of their own half. A quick one-two passing game amongst the midfielders was sufficient to easily and calmly get the ball away and start an attack. It’s the sort of football Rodgers’ has been trying to implement in his Liverpool side, those nifty little triangles arising out of good understanding between the players.

The above is a perfect example at the midfield’s hardwork. After Liverpool lost possession, Allen chased Dembele down, making a clean tackle from behind, the lose ball came Lucas’ way and before a Spurs’ player could put excessive pressure on the side, he played a first touch short pass onto Henderson’s path who shifted his zone (from defense to attack) upon Allen winning the ball back.

Coutinho (at the bottom of the picture) quickly made a run into attack along with Henderson, who had possession. It was in this way that Liverpool successfully countered Spurs’ attack even before it started.

Joe Allen made an incredible 7 tackles, 6 of which were right in the centre of midfield, helping his side regaining possession (illustrated above) on a number of occasions. Lucas made 4 interceptions in the centre of midfield, further preventing Spurs’ attacks. The Liverpool midfield completed 166 passes between them at impressive completion rates- Allen (90%), Henderson (92%) and Lucas (94%).