Liverpool vs Tottenham: Tommo rinsed over combined XI choices

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Liverpool defender Phil Thompson in action against West Ham during the 1980 FA Charity Shield at Wembley Stadium on August 9, 1980 (Photo Allsport/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Liverpool defender Phil Thompson in action against West Ham during the 1980 FA Charity Shield at Wembley Stadium on August 9, 1980 (Photo Allsport/Getty Images) /
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Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has been rinsed over his Reds and Tottenham Hotspur combined XI.

To be fair to Thompson, both sets of fans are unhappy with his picks – which probably means that he just about got it right.

With Huge Lloris chosen ahead of Brazilian Alisson, Tommo pinned his flag to the mast early on. And some Reds’ fans just couldn’t look any further than that.

It’s tough to leave out a stopper who has overseen a revolution at the back, has seen his side go four wins from four and only conceded once the whole season. That mistake against Leicester City must really have sparked something in the former defender.

Leaving out Anfield youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold is definitely a tough call, but Keiran Trippier has had an excellent 2018/2019 and has picked up where he left off at the World Cup. Nobody would have expected the former Burnley man to have such a groundbreaking campaign, but that’s the beauty of football.

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The upcoming fixture is the toughest of the campaign so far and will feature two high quality teams going at each other hammer and tongs, but injury to key men have certainly weakened Tottenham’s chances.

Dele Alli pulling out of England duty and then the squad for Saturday is a blow to Spurs, while Victory Wanyama and Harry Wink’s lack of match sharpness will mean the onus shall fall of Moussa Dembele – who isn’t picked in the composite team.

Jordan Henderson is one man who was. Despite thriving with the Three Lions on his chest at the World Cup, Henderson has only started one league game this season as the former Sunderland man slowly regains his match fitness.

Such is the strength in depth of the Reds’ midfield that two out of the three picks went to Anfield. Alongside Henderson, Thompson chose newcomer Naby Keita as well as dangerous Dane Christian Eriksen.

Next. Five reasons Liverpool will destroy Spurs on Saturday. dark

It’s the first game of the Premier League weekend, so fans from all over the country are sure to be tuning in with interest. It also marks the beginning of a devilish run of matches for Liverpool, and this performance will be an early barometer of post-international break form.