Spurs under 23’s versus Liverpool: (match preview)

Our under 23’s domestic season kicks off on Saturday afternoon when Wayne Burnett’s side take on Liverpool at their Kirkby based training facility. Burnett’s side will be looking to start the new PL2 season strongly and a win against a difficult Liverpool side would be the perfect start to the season. Neil Critchley’s Liverpool side finished in fourth place in division one last season and they started that campaign strongly. The ‘ Reds ‘ domestic season has already got underway. Critchley’s side took on Oldham last night in their opening EFL trophy group game, they lost 3-2. Saturday’s opposition have a vast and talented development squad. Some of the players to keep an eye on include recent addition and Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg, midfielders Pedro Chirivella (22) and Isaac Christie Davies. In addition talented wingers Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are attacking threats while centre forwards Rhian Brewster and Bobby Duncan are Liverpool’s main danger men. On paper this is a very tough game for Burnett’s team especially when you consider that this is the young ‘ Lilywhites ‘ first competitive game of the new season. It’s difficult to predict how strong both sides will go due to the current EFL loan window still being open, but I would expect Burnett’s side to include the likes of Kazaiah Sterling, Samuel Shashoua and Shilow Tracey and other such experienced development squad players. Liverpool are a very technical side who like to play with a lot of intensity about them, similar to their first team. With attacking players with the quality of Rhian Brewster, Bobby Duncan and Harvey Elliott I am expecting Spurs to face a very difficult test on Saturday afternoon. Burnett’s lads will have to be on the very top of their game if they are going to come back to London with any points on the board. Due to me covering the under 18 game against Fulham on Saturday morning I will be unable to report on our under 23’s game in Kirkby. However, I would like to wish Wayne Burnett’s lads all the very best of luck for what promises to be an interesting match. 

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) De Bie, Hinds, Eyoma, Lyons-Foster, Cirkin, Bowden, Oakley-Boothe, Tracey, Maghoma, S.Shashoua, Sterling (c).

Subs from: Oluwayemi, Okedina, Dinzeyi, A.Shashoua, Markanday.

Injured/unavailable: Malachi Walcott, Phoenix Patterson, Maurizio Pochettino, Maximus Tainio, J’Neil Bennett, Jeremie Mukendi.

Doubtful: Samuel Shashoua.

My score prediction: 2-2.

Previous meeting: 1-1.

My one to watch: A new signing from London club Fulham, 16 year old winger Harvey Elliott is considered to be one of the country’s most exciting young talents. The Chertsey born forward who appeared for Fulham’s first team last season while still a schoolboy is a player who possess decent pace. However, he is also relatively good with both feet and he is a very skilful player who likes to weave his way into dangerous positions. The Spurs defence will have to be wary of the first year scholar as he could cause major problems for Wayne Burnett’s side. Elliott scored on his debut for Liverpool’s development side in midweek when they took on Oldham in the EFL trophy.