Pro Eleven Headline News
Pressure is building on busy Tottenham Hotspur
For Tottenham Hotspur the next fortnight should go a long way towards determining the success of this season and their future under Harry Redknapp. The manager rarely forgets to mention that the team had only two points from eight games when he took charge in October, but, despite a promising start to his reign at White Hart Lane, Redknapp is still looking nervously over his shoulder. Only three points separate his team from West Bromwich Albion at the foot of the Barclays Premier League.
Redknapp oscillates between being confident of pulling clear and stressing the need for Tottenham to pick up points after one win in nine league matches. They have fallen behind late in the past four away league matches, a fate they will hope to avoid away to Hull City this evening.
However, Redknapp must shuffle his players to cope with the demands off a congested schedule. They play a Uefa Cup round of 32, second-leg match against Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday, the Carling Cup final against Manchester United on Sunday and then two league matches in four days. Robbie Keane and Wilson Palacios are set to return this evening because both are ineligible for the two cup matches. Ledley King has recovered from a hamstring injury.
Hull are clear about their objective this evening. “I hope we stop them from performing,” Phil Brown, the manager, said. “We must make sure we don’t allow them to be dangerous.”
Hull City (possible; 4-4-1-1): M Duke – S Ricketts, M Turner, K Zayatte, A Dawson – R Garcia, I Ashbee, D Marney, K Kilbane – Geovanni – D Cousin.
Tottenham Hotspur (probable; 4-4-2): C Cudicini – P Chimbonda, V Corluka, J Woodgate, B Assou-Ekotto – A Lennon, J Jenas, W Palacios, L Modric – R Pavlyuchenko, R Keane.
Times Online
Liverpool Held to 1-1 Home Draw by Manchester City
Liverpool was held to a 1-1 home draw by Manchester City in English soccer’s Premier League, leaving the club seven points behind first-place Manchester United.
Dirk Kuyt rescued a point at Anfield for the Reds with a goal after 78 minutes. City had taken a 51st-minute lead when a Craig Bellamy shot was deflected by Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa.
Fulham beat last-place West Bromwich Albion 2-0, while 10- man Newcastle drew 0-0 against Everton in today’s other games.
United, aiming to tie Liverpool’s record of 18 top-flight English championships, has 62 points following a 2-1 win against Blackburn yesterday. Liverpool has 55 points, with Chelsea on 52, and Aston Villa a further point back.
Liverpool, which remains unbeaten at home this season, has now failed to win six of its 13 Premier League games at Anfield as it seeks a first championship since 1990.
Bobby Zamora, with his first league goal since September, and Andy Johnson scored for Fulham at Craven Cottage to lift their team to eighth. West Brom remains in 20th after its 10th away defeat.
Newcastle is up one spot to 14th after its scoreless match against Everton, which gives the Magpies a five-point cushion over the relegation positions. Midfielder Kevin Nolan was shown a red card after 44 minutes. Bloomberg
