Tottenham vs. Liverpool betting preview & first goal scorer tips

Saturday, October 17, 2015, 10.45pm AEDT, Watch on Fox Sports

Table position
Tottenham Hotspur: Eighth
Liverpool: 10th

Season record
Tottenham Hotspur: 3-4-1
Liverpool: 3-3-2

Last five games
Tottenham Hotspur: DWWWD
Liverpool: DWDLL

NEW Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has a tough ask in his Premier League debut against Tottenham Hotspur.

But he will be comforted by the revelation that several Tottenham stars will miss Saturday night’s game due to injury.

Cult Korean striker Son Heung-Min, Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb are all still injured, while midfield ace Eric Dier has been rubbed out for one game, thanks to his fifth booking, incurred in last match day’s 2-2 draw with Swansea.

Liverpool, too, had a draw, 1-1 at Everton, the last time sacked manager Brendan Rodgers would stand on the sidelines for the club.

He was booted by the club board moments after the game and replaced by Klopp last week.

More punters like Liverpool to win, but there has been more money for Tottenham at sportsbet.com.au, the bookie’s Christian Jantzen reports.

“There are more individual bets on Liverpool, however there is three times the dollars invested on Tottenham in the win draw win market,” Jantzen said.

“Over 2.5 goals has been backed in from $1.92 into $1.81 on the back of some strong support.

“Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge is the best backed to score the first goal at $6.50, attracting more interest than favourites, Tottenham star Harry Kane and towering red Christian Benteke.”

Klopp has some serious injury worries of his own, with Striker Danny Ings and defender Joe Gomez set to miss the season with knee injuries.

And off season signing Christian Benteke won’t make the trip to Tottenham either, leaving the strike force in desperate disarray.

Not accord to Klopp though.

Daniel Sturridge will start up front and a lot will fall on him to score the goals, but Klopp is clearly a big fan of forgotten man Divock Origi.

“We have Origi,” Klopp said.

“I learned first, you do not think about the players who are not available at this moment because there is no chance to get lucky if you do this all of the time.

“In the case of Benteke and Firmino, they are back on the pitch but not team training.

“I hope next week they will be in normal team training.

“Firmino could play in the striker position but we have to see if he should.

“In this moment – for the next game – we have Daniel for the position and we have Origi.

“Two strikers, I don’t need more.

“When you start if you have more it’s perfect.

“But you have to think how you can react.

“When Christian is fit then he is an option, for sure but at this moment he isn’t.”

Klopp led Borussia Dortmund to back to back Bundesliga titles in Germany and is seen as a saviour at the Kop.

But Tottenham will be out to spoil his party.

Against Swansea it took a brace from midfield wonder Christian Eriksen to win a share of the points for Spurs, after Harry Kane had comedically slotted into his own goal.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was happy with his team’s fighting qualities, coming back from a goal down twice to register the draw.

“We were disappointed,” Pochettino said.

“We have to accept it but be proud of our performances.

“Our effort was fantastic

”We need to develop that killer instinct.

“They were two great free kicks by Christian Eriksen.

“He has a natural ability and works hard.

“We take the point and now worry about Liverpool.”

Liverpool, too, had to settle for a draw last week.

Ings final act for the club before his injury was yet another goal, which was cancelled out by burly Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.

With Ings out, Liverpool just doesn’t seem to have the attacking weapons to compete in the Premier League.

Rodgers, to, had his final act for the club, saying there was no pressure on him, moments before he was sacked.

“It is a very good point,” Rodgers said.

“It is a difficult place to come.

“We looked like we were getting better in our attack and defensively we were more cohesive.

”There’s no pressure for me.

“My worry is for the team and you have seen a response of how they feel.

“This is a team which has lost four of the real catalysts and there is a constant rebuilding going on here.“

Predictions

Match result: Tottenham Hotspur wins ($2.38 with CrownBet.com.au)

Correct score: Tottenham Hotspur wins 3-0 ($23)

Total goals: Over 2.5 goals ($1.81 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Liverpool has had the Spurs’ number in recent times, winning five consecutive league matches. But, despite the fanfare surrounding Klopp’s arrival at Anfield, we can’t see Liverpool leaving with more than a point in this one. And he has history against him – Gerard Houllier is the only man to win a Premier League game on his debut with Liverpool. And it’s not like the Reds have been good on the road, having won just one of their last nine tries away from home. While Tottenham will be hurt by the outs, they should have the depth and home ground advantage to cover the injuries and escape with a win, especially against a Liverpool side that has scored just eight goals in eight games.

First goal scorer tips

Tottenham

Harry Kane ($5.50 with sportsbet.com.au)

Christian Eriksen is the popular pick here after his double against Swansea City, but we’re going to stick with our man Harry Kane. What is wrong with England’s great white hope? He just can’t get any thing going, but surely he hit rock bottom with his terrible own goal against the Swans last match day. The only way is up, right? Get on Harry to break the shackles against Liverpool. If you think Harry’s yips are terminal, we’re definitely on the Eriksen ($8.50 with Sportsbet.com.au) bandwagon, and he is at decent odds after those two glorious free kicks. He will make plenty of Liverpool defenders nervous if Tottenham manages to win a free kick any where near the box. A master from dead ball situations.

Liverpool
Divok Origi ($8.50 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Klopp has backed his man to deliver and we’re going to get on board too. The young Belgian reportedly has talent to burn and, at just 20, might get the chance to shine, with only Sturridge ahead of him in the pecking order. We don’t think Liverpool is going to score in this match – they have hardly been able to score against any one, but maybe Origi will get a run in the second half and perhaps nick a late consolation goal. The Belgian international is definitely worth a sniff at decent odds with all those stars out for Liverpool.