*** SPURS v LIVERPOOL *** Official Match Thread

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Well it's a slightly cut down version of the match thread for today's match. Good news is we have gotten a decent set of results recently and hopefully if Liverpool put out a more reserve side we can get a result and move onto the quarter finals of the cup.


The BBC Team News:

Tottenham will be without left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto (suspended), Giovani dos Santos (surgery) and Ledley King (rested) for this Carling Cup tie.

Fraizer Campbell is likely to start and players such as Paul Stalteri and Adel Taarabt may get a chance to impress.

Fernando Torres is likely to start for Liverpool after six games out injured.

Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane will be rested and fringe players like Diego Cavalieri and Jermaine Pennant are expected to play.

Skysports.com Preview:

Tottenham's defence of the Carling Cup continues with a home tie against Liverpool, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1. (I am pretty sure this is wrong but that's what the skysports website says.)

Liverpool's only defeat of the season so far came at White Hart Lane less than a fortnight ago, as Spurs came from behind to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory in the Premier League.

They will be determined to gain revenge but face a stern test against a Tottenham side that has yet to lose under new manager Harry Redknapp.

Spurs have climbed out of the bottom three with 10 points from their last four games, while they have also got their Uefa Cup campaign back on track since Redknapp took charge.

One of Juande Ramos' only successes this term was a 2-1 win over Newcastle in the third round of the Carling Cup, but Redknapp is set to make changes for the visit of Liverpool as the league remains his top priority.

Fraizer Campbell is expected to be given an opportunity up front, while a number of other fringe players could be involved.

Paul Stalteri, Ricardo Rocha, Adel Taarabt, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Hossam Ghaly are all in contention, while teenage midfielder John Bostock may be in the squad.

Skipper Ledley King is likely to be rested, while Giovani dos Santos is sidelined with an ankle injury.

Left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto is suspended after being sent off against Manchester City at the weekend.

Reds changes

Liverpool bounced back from their league defeat with a 3-0 victory over West Brom at the weekend, while they also drew with Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

Benitez is set to shuffle his pack with Steven Gerrard rested and Robbie Keane also missing out against his former club.

Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso could also be left out, while Diego Cavalieri is set to replace Jose Reina in goal.

Sami Hyypia, Yossi Benayoun and Jermaine Pennant are expected to play, and there could be a start for Fernando Torres.

The Spanish striker appeared as a substitute against West Brom after recovering from a hamstring injury and Benitez will be keen for him to get more minutes under his belt.

BBC Match Squads (take with a pinch of salt):

Tottenham Squad (from): Gomes, Cesar, Hutton, Bale, Gunter, Dawson, Woodgate, Corluka, O'Hara, Zokora, Bentley, Huddlestone, Jenas, Gilberto, Modric, Bostock, Dervite, Lennon, Bent, Campbell, Pavlyuchenko, Stalteri, Rocha, Taarabt, Boateng, Ghaly.

Liverpool Squad (from): Cavalieri, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Dossena, Benayoun, Lucas, Alonso, Babel, Torres, Keane, Ngog, Pennant, Insua, Spearing, El Zhar, Plessis, Reina, Degan.

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Right, that's enough fuel for this fixture, don't forget to check [thread=39053]Geez's Media Coverage Thread[/thread] for watching and listening options.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

[SIZE=-4]Lots of information courtesy of the BBC and SkySports[/SIZE]


[SIZE=-4]Don't forget to head over to SC's live chat during the game. For more info click the links below.[/SIZE]

http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/index.php?page=sc_chat

http://embed.mibbit.com/?server=irc...ity&settings=8f877fda3b59f0190c39e4e1e0db2551




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[night-watchman]

yay first post in the omt.

My team would go a follows:

Gomes

Hutton Corluka Woodgate Bale

Jenas Zokora

Lennon Modric O'Hara

Pav

Spurs 3 Liverpool 2, Modric with a double and lennon. Got a good feeling about this one.

 

[milkman]

Lol NW!

I would like 'Arry to play a half first team, half backup team.. resting the first team players that have worked hard over the last few weeks...

Would obviously love a win, but would just like to see a good performance... a win is just a bonus!

COYS

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

Players like Gerrard, Keano, Kuyt, Carragher, Reina will get a rest tonight, according to Rafa Donuts.

 

[NickHSpurs]

First home game I'm missing in four seasons, feels weird.

Not sure if I should Sky + it and watch later and hope I don't hear the score, or get someone to text me updates...

 

[$hoguN]

we need a win tonight this could be our only route back to europe

 

[PT]

Dervitte played against Birmingham on Monday so I doubt he'll get a run out for 90 minutes.

I'd like to see Cesar start to blow his cobwebs away and rest Gomes for the weekend.

 

[tRiKS]

Not sure what i want to see in team line up. Strongest to win or possibley more sensible to rest legs for fulham?

I'm pretty sure Dawson and Hutton and Bale will play

 

[kaz Hirai]

pool are resting alot of players, id like to see us rest a few but put out a strong attacking lineup


-------------Gomes

-Hutton----Dawson--Corluka---Bale

-Bostock--Jenas--ohara-----Lennon

-----------FC------Pav

 

[Coyboy]

Torres? Please not.

 

[nicdic]

Harry has more or less said that Fraizer Campbell will play.

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

Ghaly.

 

[nicdic]

On form?

 

[JamesTheYiddo]

Come On You Spurs!

 

[bugsdad]

Cant see any point in playing OHara . Harry knows all there is to know about him and he will never make it. Far better to play Bostock or one of the others who are in the squad so that he can make sure as to weather or not they have a future with us.
This is our easiest chance to win something and qualify for Europe next season. Harry will want to field as strong a team as pissible, and I agree with that.

 

[PT]

Cant see any point in playing OHara . Harry knows all there is to know about him and he will never make it.

O'Hare will never make it? He's been one of the few plusses from our reserves for years. He's also shown up some of the more established "stars" in our season of discontent so far.

 

[milkman]

On the media match thread it says the game is on Sky Sports 2, but on the Sky Sports match preview it says its on Sky Sports 1.. Guess they might have changed it, or its wrong in the media thread...

http://www.skysports.com/football/match_preview/0,19764,11065_3075153,00.html

 

[bugsdad]

O'Hare will never make it? He's been one of the few plusses from our reserves for years. He's also shown up some of the more established "stars" in our season of discontent so far.

I stick by my opinion. Lets see at the end of the season who is right

 

[theShiznit]

I can't see Torres being a big factor TBH, He was awful for Spain in the Euros (totally off the pace) and since coming back has not been anything like he was last season, he was just getting there when this enforced break happened.

I also can't see Harry making wholesale changes, one with Ledley and another with BAE's suspension (and Maybe Jenas' toe is not feeling well?) it all depends on whether Harry still thinks we are in the mire in the league, then we could see Woody rested, apart from that i don't think anyone is so far above the other players that they can be "rested" :shrug:

 

[theShiznit]

I stick by my opinion. Lets see at the end of the season who is right

So O'Hara's carreer (wherever it maybe) will be over at the end of this season :shrug: