The critics said that Tottenham Hotspur ‘came of age’ with a 1-1 draw in the Bernabeu against the might of Real Madrid in the Champions League this week. Next they face another European giant – Liverpool.
It is true that as grand old stages of the game Real and Liverpool have gone down slightly different paths in recent years. Real’s has been lined with trophies. Liverpool not so much. But when Spurs take on the Reds at Wembley on Sunday the idea that Mauricio Pochettino’s men have finally matured will actually face its most stringent test.
It is all well and good being ‘up’ for a match in Madrid and then producing an organised and attacking performance. But the true mark of a team who can be trusted and have, as they say, ‘come of age’ is one which can put back-to-back performances together in the big games.
And we don’t fancy Tottenham to manage it, which is why we will be betting Liverpool at +250 (William Hill, Unibet, and some of our green listed bookmakers). It looks a mighty good price.
We don’t have anything against Tottenham bar their price, which looks prohibitive at -125 with Bet365. They produced a superb effort to take a point off Real and although goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had a terrific match, it is arguable that Harry Kane should have won them all three with a gilt-edged chance.
But as we said, the emotional and physical drain that players suffer from on such an occasion is not insignificant. In time, Spurs will no doubt learn to cope but we just think minds and legs will be a little jaded to go up against a free-running, free-scoring Liverpool outfit and come off best.
There is also the not irrelant factor of the ‘Wembley curse’. This isn’t a curse at all, of course, it’s just that the pitch dimensions and flat atmosphere hinder Tottenham, who rely on a high-energy tempo and smaller spaces for a pressing game. Spurs won in the league against Bournemouth at ‘home’ at the fourth time of asking.
As for Liverpool, they are in confident mood. Their 7-0 thrashing of Maribor in their Champions League will probably have the complete opposite effect as Spurs’ trip to Spain. They should be energised.
Liverpool have been criticised for their porous defence but they were solid against Manchester United last time out and Spurs have hardly been banging them in at Wembley – just three all season.
There is also another ‘curse’ at play. Tottenham just can’t beat Liverpool. You have to go way back to November 2012 for their last success, a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane. Since then they have suffered seven losses in ten including hammerings by three-, four- and five-nil. Last term Liverpool won two of the three meetings.
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