Features

Liverpool face Spurs test

Author: John Harris
Date: 19/01/2010
Football betting

Liverpool and beleaguered manager Rafael Benitez cannot afford another slip-up when they host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

Saturday's 1-1 draw with Stoke City left the ailing Reds down in seventh place in the table and four points adrift of Tottenham in the all-important fourth place.

Dismal league form - seven defeats from 21 games this season - and premature exits from both the Champions League and FA Cup have ratcheted up the pressure on Benitez, with some fans now beginning to openly question whether the Spaniard is the right man for the job.

Another defeat on Wednesday is almost unthinkable and Benitez's must be ruing the timing of the injury blows to star duo Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

Both will be absent from the teamsheet in midweek alongside Yossi Benayoun (rib) and Glen Johnson (knee), so the spotlight will once again fall on the much-criticised fringe members of the Reds squad.

Recent signing Maxi Rodriguez is likely to come into the starting line-up after a cameo appearance at Stoke following last week's arrival from Atletico Madrid.

Main summer signing Alberto Aquilani is also set to be called up from the substitutes bench to help fill the creative midfield void created by Gerrard's hamstring injury absence.

Meanwhile, Tottenham head north looking to bounce back from a disappointing goalless draw with Hull City on Saturday.

Peter Crouch could be drafted in to face his former club after Robbie Keane was preferred to the England striker last weekend.

Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers will renew rivalries at the Emirates Stadium just three days after they last locked horns.

Can Arsenal win the Premier League title this season? - Latest Football Betting

Carling Cup commitments and the big freeze are to blame for the quirk in the fixture list which sees the two clubs face off twice in quick succession.

Sportsbook favourites Arsenal were 2-0 winners in Sunday's first encounter at the Reebok Stadium which ruined the homecoming of new Bolton boss Owen Coyle.

Goals from the returning Cesc Fabregas and substitute Fran Merida kept the Gunners in hot pursuit of Chelsea and Manchester United at the top of the table as Arsene Wenger's side ground out another hard-fought victory.

Should Wednesday's second encounter also go the way of the north London club then they will leapfrog United into second place in the table.

However, victory for Bolton would propel them out of the relegation zone and up to the dizzy heights of 15th place.

BET NOW