Spurs under 23’s versus Liverpool: (match preview)
Our under 23’s return to action on Monday evening when they face Liverpool in the PL2 at the Lamex stadium in Stevenage. Wayne Burnett’s side sit in ninth place in the division one table, just two places below Monday’s opponents Liverpool. Way back in August Burnett’s side managed to grind out a heroic draw with Neil Critchley’s side at Anfield. It was heroic because Spurs had managed to fight back from being a goal down with ten men for the majority of the game, following the early dismissal of Japhet Tanganga. We also managed to defeat Liverpool 1-0 in this fixture last season at the Lamex stadium. A goal from Jack Roles was enough to beat the ‘ Reds ‘ who had traveled down to Hertfordshire with Adam Lallana and Danny Ings in their squad. Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions, and from those five matches they have beaten the likes of Arsenal and Everton. Critchley’s side has a lot of promising young footballers in it. Speedy forward Bobby Adekanye has impressed for the ‘ Reds ‘ development side so far this season, and the Dutchman terrorised the Tottenham defence in the reverse fixture back in August. Other players to watch out for are winger and England under 18 international Curtis Jones. Canadian centre forward Liam Millar, Portuguese forward Rafael Camacho who has scored three goals from nine PL2 games this season. And last but not least calming Spanish central midfielder Pedro Chirivella (21). Although this isn’t as talented a development side to the one that Liverpool have had over the last couple of seasons, Neil Critchley’s side will still be difficult to beat. Jürgen Klopp’s footballing philosophy is imbedded right across the Liverpool academy, and Critchley’s side like to play with an extremely high tempo. Meanwhile Spurs who are unbeaten in their last three PL2 games will be hoping to put in a similar performance to the one which saw them defeat Manchester City a couple of weeks ago. A mainstay in Burnett’s side this season has been left back Jaden Brown. For those who don’t already know Brown joined Premier League club Huddersfield on a permanent transfer this month. The 19 year old left back had featured on 18 occasions for our development side this season.
I noticed on Twitter that Sky Sports have been reporting that 24 year old centre forward Vincent Janssen could make his return from a foot injury by appearing for our under 23’s against Liverpool on Monday. It would be interesting to see how we would play as a team with the Dutchman in the side. In other news Spurs loanee Connor Ogilvie’s loan at Gillingham has come to an end and the 22 year old left back (if he doesn’t rejoin them on loan!) could possibly come into the side on Monday evening as the loan window has just opened. I shall be reporting on Monday evenings game and I will have my write up published by the following day. I wish all of Wayne Burnett’s lads the very best of luck for the visit of Liverpool on Monday.
My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Austin, Hinds, Tanganga (c), Eyoma, Reynolds, Marsh, Bowden, Oakley-Boothe, Roles, Georgiou, Janssen.
Subs from: De Bie, Dinzeyi, Duncan, Tracey, Sterling.
Injured/unavailable: Luke Amos, Shayon Harrison.
Doubtful: Jonathan Dinzeyi, Phoenix Patterson.
Previous meeting: 1-1.
My score prediction: Spurs 1-0.
My one to watch: The ‘ Reds ‘ experienced 21 year old Spanish central midfielder Pedro Chirivella. The box to box midfielder stood out during the reverse fixture at Anfield earlier in the season and he dictated play for the large periods of the game.
superhotspur 