If one thing is for certain as Tottenham Hotspur prepare to embark on another Premier League campaign, it is that they will be desperate to get off to a better start than they did last season.
Under Juande Ramos, the Lilywhites went winless for the first eight games of the season, resulting in the Spaniard’s departure and the subsequent appointment of Harry Redknapp.
The former Portsmouth boss turned things around markedly, leading the London club from the bottom of the table to the brink of Europa League qualification.
This season, after some significant changes to the squad throughout the summer, Redknapp and his men have the Champions League in their sights.
First and foremost, however, they are aiming to kick-start the new term with a bang, as they host a Liverpool side with serious title ambitions.
"It's such a big game for everyone, especially at this early stage of the season. The lads can't wait for it and we all feel it's a game we can win," Jermain Defoe told the press.
"We're at home, we know the fans will be right behind us and it's all about our belief. We want to make a good start and we're after the three points."
The Reds enter the 2009-10 season off the back of their finest domestic campaign in many moons, having finished four points behind champions Manchester United last term.
There can be no question that Rafael Benitez’s crew aim to lift the Premier League trophy come next May, but there are kinks in their consistency which will have to be ironed for that to occur.
Liverpool were supreme against their fellow title challengers, doing the double over both United and Chelsea, but they often struggled against the less fearsome teams in the division.
No better can this be demonstrated than by the fact that their first loss of the 2008-09 campaign came at White Hart Lane, against a Tottenham outfit who were then sat in the relegation zone.
It is there, in Spurs’ domain, that the Merseysiders begin their push for a long-awaited 19th league triumph, and Fernando Torres knows that anything but victory will be considered a failure.
"We have no problem beating Manchester United or Chelsea, but it is games like Sunday's at Tottenham where we need to show our real title intentions," the Spanish striker said recently.
"Tottenham is not an easy place to go, but these are games we must be winning if this is to finally be our year."
FORM GUIDE
Tottenham
Aug 9 Tottenham 3-0 Olympiacos (Friendly)
Aug 2 South China 2-0 Tottenham (Friendly)
Jul 31 Hull City 0-3 Tottenham (Friendly)
Jul 29 West Ham United 0-2 Tottenham (Friendly)
Jul 26 Tottenham 0-2 Celtic (Friendly)
Liverpool
Aug 8 Liverpool 1-2 Atletico Madrid (Friendly)
Aug 5 FC Lyn 0-2 Liverpool (Friendly)
Aug 2 Espanyol 3-0 Liverpool (Friendly)
Jul 26 Singapore 0-5 Liverpool (Friendly)
Jul 22 Thailand 1-1 Liverpool (Friendly)
TEAM NEWS
Tottenham
Spurs have the usual injury problems right from the off: Jonathan Woodgate is out with a groin problem, and Ledley King is a doubt with back pain.
As Michael Dawson is also yet to prove his fitness, new boy Sebastien Bassong is likely to start in defence.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the park, Peter Crouch – who spent three years on Liverpool’s books – could also make his Lilywhites debut, having moved from Portsmouth.
Possible Starting XI: Gomes; Corluka, Bassong, King, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Jenas, Palacios, Modric; Defoe, Crouch
Liverpool
With Daniel Agger out injured, the Merseysiders face a nervous wait over the status of Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher, but both are expected to be pronounced fit. Emiliano Insua will step in for the oft-sidelined Fabio Aurelio at left-back.
Of even more concern is Steven Gerrard, who missed England’s midweek friendly against the Netherlands with a groin complaint. The skipper is 50-50 at this stage.
Italian import Alberto Aquilani is recovering from a lingering ankle problem, leaving Lucas Leiva to fill the void in midfield following Xabi Alonso’s big-money move to Real Madrid.
Possible Starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera; Torres
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tottenham
Just as his career at White Hart Lane seemed to have stalled, Aaron Lennon kicked into overdrive midway through last season to re-establish himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the Premier League. The England man could have an interesting tussle with inexperienced, yet similarly promising, Insua.
Liverpool
In what was otherwise a disappointing pre-season for the Reds, one man shone. Lucas Leiva has copped his fair share of flak since joining the club from Gremio in 2007, and now – with Alonso gone and Aquilani out – is the time for the young Brazilian to stake his claim for a regular berth in midfield.
Under Juande Ramos, the Lilywhites went winless for the first eight games of the season, resulting in the Spaniard’s departure and the subsequent appointment of Harry Redknapp.
The former Portsmouth boss turned things around markedly, leading the London club from the bottom of the table to the brink of Europa League qualification.
This season, after some significant changes to the squad throughout the summer, Redknapp and his men have the Champions League in their sights.
First and foremost, however, they are aiming to kick-start the new term with a bang, as they host a Liverpool side with serious title ambitions.
"It's such a big game for everyone, especially at this early stage of the season. The lads can't wait for it and we all feel it's a game we can win," Jermain Defoe told the press.
"We're at home, we know the fans will be right behind us and it's all about our belief. We want to make a good start and we're after the three points."
The Reds enter the 2009-10 season off the back of their finest domestic campaign in many moons, having finished four points behind champions Manchester United last term.
There can be no question that Rafael Benitez’s crew aim to lift the Premier League trophy come next May, but there are kinks in their consistency which will have to be ironed for that to occur.
Liverpool were supreme against their fellow title challengers, doing the double over both United and Chelsea, but they often struggled against the less fearsome teams in the division.
No better can this be demonstrated than by the fact that their first loss of the 2008-09 campaign came at White Hart Lane, against a Tottenham outfit who were then sat in the relegation zone.
It is there, in Spurs’ domain, that the Merseysiders begin their push for a long-awaited 19th league triumph, and Fernando Torres knows that anything but victory will be considered a failure.
"We have no problem beating Manchester United or Chelsea, but it is games like Sunday's at Tottenham where we need to show our real title intentions," the Spanish striker said recently.
"Tottenham is not an easy place to go, but these are games we must be winning if this is to finally be our year."
FORM GUIDE
Tottenham
Aug 9 Tottenham 3-0 Olympiacos (Friendly)
Aug 2 South China 2-0 Tottenham (Friendly)
Jul 31 Hull City 0-3 Tottenham (Friendly)
Jul 29 West Ham United 0-2 Tottenham (Friendly)
Jul 26 Tottenham 0-2 Celtic (Friendly)
Liverpool
Aug 8 Liverpool 1-2 Atletico Madrid (Friendly)
Aug 5 FC Lyn 0-2 Liverpool (Friendly)
Aug 2 Espanyol 3-0 Liverpool (Friendly)
Jul 26 Singapore 0-5 Liverpool (Friendly)
Jul 22 Thailand 1-1 Liverpool (Friendly)
TEAM NEWS
Tottenham
Spurs have the usual injury problems right from the off: Jonathan Woodgate is out with a groin problem, and Ledley King is a doubt with back pain.
As Michael Dawson is also yet to prove his fitness, new boy Sebastien Bassong is likely to start in defence.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the park, Peter Crouch – who spent three years on Liverpool’s books – could also make his Lilywhites debut, having moved from Portsmouth.
Possible Starting XI: Gomes; Corluka, Bassong, King, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Jenas, Palacios, Modric; Defoe, Crouch
Liverpool
With Daniel Agger out injured, the Merseysiders face a nervous wait over the status of Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher, but both are expected to be pronounced fit. Emiliano Insua will step in for the oft-sidelined Fabio Aurelio at left-back.
Of even more concern is Steven Gerrard, who missed England’s midweek friendly against the Netherlands with a groin complaint. The skipper is 50-50 at this stage.
Italian import Alberto Aquilani is recovering from a lingering ankle problem, leaving Lucas Leiva to fill the void in midfield following Xabi Alonso’s big-money move to Real Madrid.
Possible Starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera; Torres
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tottenham
Just as his career at White Hart Lane seemed to have stalled, Aaron Lennon kicked into overdrive midway through last season to re-establish himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the Premier League. The England man could have an interesting tussle with inexperienced, yet similarly promising, Insua.
Liverpool
In what was otherwise a disappointing pre-season for the Reds, one man shone. Lucas Leiva has copped his fair share of flak since joining the club from Gremio in 2007, and now – with Alonso gone and Aquilani out – is the time for the young Brazilian to stake his claim for a regular berth in midfield.
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