Sherwood aware of Liverpool threat

29 March 2014 13:46

Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood is well aware of Liverpool's attacking threat so will be looking to expose a defensive frailty he believes could end the title hopefuls' seven-match winning streak on Sunday.

The Reds' goalscoring statistics this season are remarkable, with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge having netted 51 goals between them.

Liverpool have not failed to net in any of their last 24 matches in all competitions and host Tottenham on Sunday looking to maintain their charge at a first league title since 1990.

Sherwood knows it will be a big ask to keep them at bay but believes they can upset the apple cart at Anfield thanks to the hosts' shaky defence, which has conceded 16 more goals than leaders Chelsea.

"We're aware of their attack but they do concede goals, that is one positive we can look at," the Spurs boss said.

"I am not sure how many clean sheets they've kept, but they can leak goals because they throw everything forwards.

"They can be caught on the counter-attack and we will be very respectful of the threats they have coming forwards, but we need to try and impose ourselves on them at some stage of the game."

Despite that intention to make an impact, Sherwood is well aware that a gung-ho mentality at Anfield will only play into the hosts' hands.

"Without a doubt we can't do that," he said. "At the moment we don't play with an identity that I want.

"There has been no time to work on that, so it's just about going out and getting as many points as we can during this period since Christmas and this is about the same.

"We'll have try to nullify their potent strike force and see what we can do on the counter.

"Everton went there and tried to play against them and they capitulated and got heavily beaten."

Tottenham fans know all too well what can happen if Liverpool are given the opportunity to build up a head of steam.

The Reds secured a comfortable 5-0 win at White Hart Lane in December - a match which led to Andre Villas-Boas' sacking and the appointment of Sherwood.

"We want to try and put that in the past," the Spurs boss said. "That is gone now and we need to move on.

"They've always got a point to prove because they play for Tottenham and you can't have a rest day."

Emmanuel Adebayor watched December's 5-0 drubbing from the stands, having been marginalised by Villas-Boas.

The 30-year-old was immediately brought back into the fold by Sherwood and has repaid the faith shown in him by becoming Tottenham's top scorer.

Adebayor has missed the last two matches with a heel injury but could return to lead the line at Anfield.

"We're hoping Ade can make it but he has a nasty cut at the back of his heel," Sherwood said.

"The question is whether or not we leave him out for another week, let it heal a little better or put him back in and [the threat that] it might open up again."

Source: PA