Source: Official Site

Seb seeks Reds repeat

Sebastien Bassong would love a repeat of his Spurs debut when he faces Liverpool again at Anfield tonight (Wednesday, January 20).

The defender's first appearance turned into a dream debut back in August when he headed home the winner in a 2-1 win against the Reds at the Lane.

"It was one of my happiest days," beamed Sebastien at Spurs Lodge this week. "It was such a big game, we won, I scored the winner with my first goal for Spurs, it's a great memory.

"Yes, of course I would love to repeat it but the most important thing is that we go and try to get the win. If I could score another goal it would be a dream, yes, but at the moment trying to get the win is the most important thing."

The focus in the build-up has firmly been on Liverpool, especially after last week's home defeat to Reading in the FA Cup, but they remain just four points behind us as we travel up to Anfield sitting in fourth place in the Barclays Premier League.

Rafa Benitez has also been hit by injuries to key players Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun, but Sebastien had this warning.

"Okay, they are struggling a little, but a good team will always stay a good team," he said. "I think they will fight back in the table and in the race for the top four and we have to be very careful.

"If we manage to win, we can make a bit of a gap between us, so we have to be strong and to concentrate on this game.

"If we want to finish in the top four we have to try and win these games."

Meanwhile, Sebastien has been in fine form and partnered Michael Dawson in five of our last six matches without conceding a goal, a run of clean sheets that equals the club's all-time record.

"It's a good achievement and you are always proud as a defender when you keep a clean sheet," he added. "That's' when you feel you've done a great job - it's like when a striker scores a hat-trick. Hopefully we will continue the run at Liverpool."

We're after win - Daws

Michael Dawson shrugs aside any suggestion of a Liverpool team in crisis but insists we're going for a win in tonight's (Wednesday, January 20) key clash at Anfield.

The focus has firmly been on Liverpool since their FA Cup exit at the hands of Reading last week and the fact that Rafa Benitez has lost key players Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun to injury.

Nevertheless, the Reds are just four points behind us as we travel to Merseyside sitting fourth in the Barclays Premier League.

"It's a fantastic place to go and play," said in-form Michael. "The crowd will be electric, it's a huge game for both teams and we want to go there and win.

"They are struggling a little at the moment but it's still Liverpool at Anfield and they are still a top team, no doubt about it.

"Even without Torres and Gerrard, they have world-class players, simple as that. It's a tough place to go but we'll go there full of confidence.

"We're on a good run, we go into every game believing we can win and it will be no different going into Wednesday night.

"We're four points clear of Liverpool at the moment so let's hope we can make it seven. That will set us up nicely."

Niko looks at bigger picture

Niko Kranjcar has taken an objective approach to tonight's crunch game with top four rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

With many billing the clash as a ‘six-pointer' in the race for a Champions League spot, the Croatian midfielder feels it is just one of a number of games that could decide the fate of our season.

However, despite Liverpool being one of the major contenders for a top four Premier League finish, Harry Redknapp's side have the chance to open up a seven-point lead over them with victory on Merseyside.

So this is what the lads are aiming for, and Niko is fully confident our current crop can claim a first league victory at Anfield in 17 years.

He said: "It could be a potential six-pointer. Winning away to Liverpool could see us create a gap. So it is a game we are looking to win considering the form we are in, the players we have got, and the quality we have got.

"But I don't think it will define the season for either side. It can help a bit or go the other way. It is not one game that will take you to the top four, it is all the other games that will help in that respect."

However, Niko is fully aware that our league games against the recognised ‘big four' so far this season have not been a success story.

Aside from our opening day victory against Liverpool at the Lane, subsequent defeats at home to Manchester United and away at London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal leave us determined to prove ourselves against the country's best sides.

But Niko feels we are an ever-improving team, adding: "It didn't happen for us in those three games but we believe we had our chances in all three - especially in the beginning of the games.

"It was possibly experience in these big games that was lacking, but over the course of the season we have played some great football and we now have a good momentum behind us."