Spurs should derive hope from Gareth Bale versus Glen Johnson and Aaron Lennon against Paul Konchesky. So electric have been Fernando Torres’ times in sprint training that the Liverpool striker will aim to dart in behind Younes Kaboul.
The managerial match-up, Harry Redknapp versus Roy Hodgson, also offers intrigue. Friends for life, foes for a day.
After 90 minutes in north London, east London will entertain south London over a good bottle of red. Redknapp and Hodgson are old allies, speaking on the phone, dropping each other notes of congratulations after significant events, always offering support.
“You have colleagues and acquaintances but me and Harry are a bit beyond that stage,†says Hodgson.
Not only do they share a passion for the game, they are both rare creatures in the elite jungle. An English presence at the helm of two such famous clubs was one of the main topics of dinner-table conversation at the League Managers Association’s Park Lane love-in with Jose Mourinho last week.
With the Football Association finally locating the cash to breathe life into the National Football Centre, the drive to develop more Redknapps and Hodgsons accelerates.
Harry Hotspur is certainly flying the flag, making Spurs one of the box-office attractions of Europe, let alone England. Bale, Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart have elegantly built victories but the architect is Redknapp.
He creates the right tactical framework, a bold one in its wing-borne openness. Caution is for wimps.
Liverpool fans would love to see Hodgson acquiring some of Redknapp’s sense of adventure. The call for Liverpool to start with two strikers has turned into a clamour on the Kop.
Yet Hodgson is experienced enough to know what he’s doing in finding the best support for Torres.
Dirk Kuyt’s return from injury has helped on the right while David Ngog offers the option of 4-4-2. But the recruitment of another striker remains of paramount importance. Liverpool’s new board convenes on Wednesday and transfer targets are sure to be discussed.
This game should highlight the disparity in squads. Redknapp has strength in depth shown by Michael Dawson’s return to training and Jermain Defoe’s return to fitness.
Jermaine Jenas out, Wilson Palacios in: international replaces international. A glance at the respective benches will remind people of the substantial reconstruction job Hodgson has taken on. He must, though, buy players good enough for Liverpool, not good enough for Fulham.
The old mantra about managers requiring time to impose their personality and footballing philosophy on a club was understandably alluded to by Hodgson.
“We’ve been working together for four months and with respect to Harry, he’s had two and a half years at Tottenham,†said the Liverpool manager.
“Everyone I know in football respects the job I’m doing here and aren’t too surprised it hasn’t been an easy start. In fact, 95 per cent would have predicted it as [Jose] Mourinho did. ‘Liverpool will get worse and worse’ is what he said and if the great man Mourinho says it, I don’t know why you don’t quote him!â€
The problem with mentioning the Special One is that he enjoys a regal reputation as the alchemist supreme, famed for making an instant impact on Chelsea, Inter Milan and now Real Madrid. He was clearly working with richer resources, though.
A good manager, Hodgson just needs to be more positive in word and strategy. Certain results, like the defeat of Chelsea, show his ability.
“The problem with this game is one minute you are God’s gift to football and when you lose a couple of games the next minute you don’t know what you are doing,†reflected Redknapp.
“Roy had a bad couple of results and suddenly people are jumping all over him. Now he is coming back. Once he gets his team sorted out like he wants it, Liverpool will come back as a real force.â€
English football should want English managers to succeed. Redknapp and Hodgson will certainly be perceived in competition when Fabio Capello leaves after Euro 2012.
“With the public opinion seeming to favour that an England team should have an English manager, it would surprise me if it wasn’t an Englishman who got the job,†said Hodgson.
“Harry will be a major candidate and it doesn’t surprise me that he’s said he wants it because it’s the pinnacle of everyone’s ambition. He’s got the attibutes to do the job.†Confirmation of Redknapp’s gifts will hardly be welcomed by one old friend. Let the duel begin.
