Liverpool v Tottenham 05.24.09

Sorry for the weeklong absence, but I’d rather wait until the end of the season before beginning the requiems, and there’s been little else to talk about. Next week will be different.

This is the first time all season a Liverpool league game isn’t on TV in the States. Not even on delay (wtf). So, you’re left to find streams. I don’t like linking them, but search on justin.tv or myP2P.eu.

Last 4 head-to-head:
1-2 Spurs (a) 11.01.08
2-0 Liverpool (a) 05.11.08
2-2 (h) 10.07.07
1-0 Liverpool (a) 12.30.06

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 2-0 West Brom (a); 3-0 West Ham (a); 3-0 Newcastle (h)
Spurs: 2-1 City (h); 0-0 Everton (a); 1-0 West Brom (h)

Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Gerrard 16; Torres 13; Kuyt 12; Benayoun 7; Alonso 4; Babel, Riera 3; Aurelio, Ngog 2; Agger, Arbeloa, Carragher, Dossena, Hyypia, Lucas 1
Spurs: Bent 12; Lennon, Pavlyuchenko 5; Jenas, Keane 4; Defoe, Modric 3; Bentley, Campbell, Dawson, King, O’Hara, Woodgate 1

Referee: Peter Walton

Guess at a squad:
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Hyypia Insua
Alonso Mascherano
Kuyt Gerrard Benayoun
Torres

So here we are.

Not quite what we wanted at the beginning of the season, but second place, if achieved, is a vast improvement on last season’s efforts. But, even though we’re close, now’s not the time for post mortems.

It’ll be a crime against humanity if Hyypia doesn’t start here. It’s his last game for Liverpool, not counting the certain testimonial. After 10 years of service, including a spell as captain before Gerrard was ready for the reins, it’s the least Liverpool can do. And it’s not as if he’s a liability.

I’m tempted to suggest a line-up with some youngsters, but it’s not Benitez’s style. There’s still something to play for – not only assuring second place, but ending the season on as high a note as possible. I don’t know who’s likely to be sold, but I wouldn’t expect to see players whose futures are in doubt.

You could make an argument for leaving out Torres, even though I wouldn’t put any amount of money on it. He looked off the pace in the last match, and will have a busy summer (relatively speaking) – which obviously worries given his injury troubles. But it’s Torres.

Spurs have finished the season strongly, with four wins in the last six as well as a victory over Chelsea at the end of March. Pity they couldn’t finished stronger, having lost that game against United in late April after taking a 2-0 lead. But it’s safe to say Redknapp has worked wonders, and if it wasn’t for that early dire start, they’d have easily secured a Europa League spot – which they could still get if they win and Fulham loses to Everton.

I reckon it’s safe to say Keane will get a less than warm welcome. But I expect more indifference than outright hostility; he was a disappointment and a bad signing, but not a willful waste. And, knowing my potential for jinxing things, I should probably stop writing about him.

The three points lost thanks to Tottenham’s comeback victory in November – an injury-time winner by Pavlyuchenko after Liverpool went ahead in the 3rd minute – stand out when looking at the table in May. That was one of Liverpool’s two league losses this season – the fewest of any side in Europe.

Time for payback, and time to end the season the right way.