Not two years ago, on the 26th October 2008 to be precise, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool stood at polar opposites of the Barclays Premier League. Liverpool had just ended Chelsea’s 86 match unbeaten home record with a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge whilst taking the number one spot and, according to the BBC, “demonstrating their growing title credentials”. Spurs, meanwhile, sat in 20th place without a win, and so decided to swap the hapless Juande Ramos for Harry Redknapp. One look at the situation today suggests that was a very smart move indeed.
Whilst Liverpool follow on from an awful 2009-10 with a woeful start to this season, Spurs have the opportunity to reach the Champions League proper. Never mind the historic landmark of reaching Europe’s premier competition for the first time in 48 years, tonight’s game against Young Boys will go a long way towards shaping Tottenham’s future for the next few years.
With the guarantee of Champions League revenue for this season at least, the Spurs board may give Redknapp the financial backing he needs to sign players of according quality, starting with Luis Fabiano. By taking a pay-cut to join Spurs before tonight’s game, William Gallas demonstrated what a draw Redknapp’s side now are. With top-class European football on offer and a few extra quid in the coffers, Redknapp could sign a couple more players who could conceivably make sure that this season is not merely an extended Champions League swansong. Six days is a long time in the crazy world of the transfer window.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are looking to avoid catastrophe. Trabzonspor, having kept their deficit to just one goal at Anfield in the first leg of this Europa League qualifier, could not hope for a better time to play Roy Hodgson’s side. Having been mauled 3-0 by Manchester City on Monday, Liverpool have now lost Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to injury, while Javier Mascherano continues to sit out while his transfer to Barcelona is sealed. Unless they can score an early away goal (which judging by their cautious performances this season looks unlikely), tomorrow night’s game will be a very nervy affair. That their best hope of doing so is via either David N’gog or Ryan Babel proves just how desperate their situation is.
Despite his track record with Fulham, Roy Hodgson has not convinced at Liverpool so far. The manner in which his rigid 4-4-2 was easily dismantled by City’s 4-2-3-1 must have had Reds fans worried to say the least. Did he not watch the World Cup, or even just England vs Germany?! That result means that City, not Liverpool, are again Spurs’ main rival to repeat their hard-fought fourth-place finish. The Europa League is Liverpool’s scant consolation. If they fail to win in Turkey tomorrow, their future looks bleak to say the least.
How the tables have turned.
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Evolution is life. Change is life..Except the change or get extinct..Spurs are the change..The future is ours..We dnt compare ourselves to anybody..We just play for honor now 
