SPURS v LIVERPOOL PREVIEW

AFTER last season's comedy defeat, there would be easier places for the Reds to start the season but they can come away from White Hart Lane with three points on Sunday.

Spurs have won just two of the past 14 meetings between the teams, while Liverpool have won five of the past seven - strong stats in favour of the Reds.

And looking beyond the numbers, Harry Redknapp has been busy in the summer again and has several new players to fit into an already unsettled squad.

There will be real threat in attack from Defoe, Crouch, Keane and Lennon, but a half-fit Ledley King, inconsistent Sebastian Bassong and woeful full-backs leave the home side dodgy at the back.

For Liverpool, Lucas is likely to fill the void left by Alonso and the good news about Carragher and Skrtel shaking off their knocks means we should be strong at the back.

Gerrard should be OK after the "groin strain" that kept him out of the England game meaning pretty much a full-strength team.

Liverpool look a solid bet at 13-10 which is a decent price for the straight win in a Premier League game.

If you like to chase a bigger return, Liverpool are 3-1 with Paddy Power to win and keep a clean sheet, while it's 7-1 with Sky Bet for the Reds to win both halves.

Basically, this bet treats each half as a separate game and Liverpool have to win both for a pick-up.

I may have said I don't normally do first goalscorer bets but Fernando Torres isn't normally 11-2 to get the first goal. Most bookies are going 9-2 so get over to Coral and claim the bigger odds before they spot the rick.

For anyone who likes tilting at a big payout, open an account with Paddy Power as they are offering 40-1 about a Torres hat-trick at White Hart Lane.

ADVICE:
Main bet: Liverpool to win at 13-10 with Coral
Plus: Fernando Torres to score first goal at 11-2 with Coral or 15-8 to score anytime with the same firm


BEST PRICES (these are online, shops can vary):
Tottenham win: 23-10 (Paddy Power, Boylesports)
Draw: 12-5 (Boylesports)
Liverpool win: 13-10 (Coral)

First scorer:
Torres 13-2 (Coral), Gerrard 13-2 (Power, Sky), Keane 8-1 (Lads), Defoe 8-1 (Lads), Kuyt 8-1 (general), Crouch 9-1 (general), No goalscorer 9-1 (Sky), Ngog 9-1 (general), Pavlyuchenko 9-1 (general), Babel 10-1 (Bluesq), Voronin 10-1 (Sky), Benayoun 12-1 (general), Riera 14-1 (general), Lucas 22-1 (Power), Johnson 28-1 (Coral), Agger 28-1 (general), Dossena 33-1 (general), Mascherano 33-1 (general), Insua 40-1 (Power).

Anytime scorer:
Torres 15-8 (Coral), Gerrard 21-10 (Power), Kuyt 11-4 (Power), Voronin 7-2 (Sky), Ngog 7-2 (Power), Babel 4-1 (extrabet), Benayoun 9-2 (extrabet), Riera 11-2 (Power).

To score a hat-trick:
Torres 40-1 with Paddy Power
Gerrard 80-1 with Paddy Power
Dirk Kuyt 100-1 with Paddy Power
To score two or more:
Torres 9-1 with Paddy Power
Gerrard 16-1 with Paddy Power
Kuyt 20-1 with Paddy Power

ALL-TIME LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Spurs: 36 Draw: 34 Liverpol: 62

2008/2009
Premier Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham
Premier Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool
2007/2008
Premier Tottenham 0-2 Liverpool
Premier Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham
2006/2007
Premier Tottenham 0-1 Liverpool
Premier Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham
2005/2006
Premier Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham
Premier Tottenham 0-0 Liverpool
2004/2005
Premier Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham
Premier Tottenham 1-1 Liverpool
2003/2004
Premier Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool
Premier Liverpool 0-0 Tottenham
2002/2003
Premier Tottenham 2-3 Liverpool
Premier Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham