Preview: Liverpool welcome Manchester City in high-stakes clash
Goals, goals and some more goals are a guarantee when Manchester City travel to Anfield in the English Premier League!
Tottenham Hotspur’s dream of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League is on the line when they travel to Monaco on Tuesday night in a Group E game.
Last time the sides met, Spurs were upset 1-2 at Wembley and that defeat will definitely rankle them and spur (pun unintended) them on to get those three points.
High-flying Monaco, however, have proved this season that they are a force to contend with and know with even a draw, they will have sealed their progress to the knockout stages.
Monaco
Second in the French League and first in their Champions League group, it’s safe to say the principality club are sitting pretty at the moment.
Unbeaten in the Group Stages and having won their last three games (all competitions)
Manager Leonardo Jardim prefers a 4-4-2 formation, with young full-backs Benjamin Mendy and Djibril Sidibe playing key roles especially when they have possession.
In midfield, Thomas Lemar has emerged as potent attacking threat with six (all competitions) goals this season already but the contribution of defensive midfielder Fabinho should not be overlooked as both players are crucial to their side’s success.
Upfront, the attacking duo of Valerie Germain and Premier League-flop Radamel Falcao has been showing promise, scoring goals at a steady rate to keep the pressure on their opponents.
Monaco’s midfield general is expected to sit out for this game and will have Almamy Toure and Nail Dirar both for company on the casualty list.
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs have been strangely subdued at home in the Champions League this season, prompting many to label it “Curse of Wembley”. While that is hogwash, their troubles at home this season have forced them to go for a win
Coming off the back of a morale-boosting win over West Ham in the Premier League, the Lilywhites will be fired-up from the start which will only aid in manager Maurico Pochettino’s high-pressing style.
The only unbeaten team in England, they have been drawing one too many games, and their 4-2-3-1 formation have their task cut out if they are to secure a priceless away win.
Captain Hugo Lloris is among the finest goalkeepers in Europe and he has a solid back-four of Danny Rose, Jan Vertongen, Eric Dier and Kyle Walker in front of him.
Their midfield is arguably the most impressive component, with Victor Wanyama, Christian Eriksen, Heung-min Son some players who have been impressing fans and critics alike.
Harry Kane has recovered from an ankle injury to slot back into the side seamlessly, but might be rested as a Premier League clash with Chelsea on Saturday looms large. In his place, Vincent Janssen is expected to lead the line.
Kane, Moussa Dembele and Dele Alli are fitness concerns for the visitors with all three unlikely to feature on Tuesday.
Super Stat: Monaco have lost only two of their last 19 Champions League matches at home, (winning 13 and drawing four) while Tottenham have never beaten a French side away from home (losing thrice and drawing once).
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