FOOTBALL

CROUCH IS WORRIED SPURS WILL KOP IT

Tottenham's Peter Crouch said Liverpool will be the toughest side to displace

Tuesday February 9,2010

By Frank Wiechula

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NO ONE knows the peril Liverpool present to Tottenham’s hopes of a coveted Champions League place better than former Anfield striker Peter Crouch.

England and Spurs forward Crouch reached double figures on the Champions League goals front for Liverpool and made a substitute appearance in their 2-1 final loss to AC Milan in 2007.

After yet another topsy-turvy weekend, Liverpool took fourth place from Tottenham and more changes could occur this week with Spurs travelling to Wolves tomorrow and Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa all playing.

Crouch, who scored 42 goals in 134 appearances for Liverpool, said: “The previous seasons don’t lie, they have always been in the Champions League. Because they had a blip at the start of the season people were saying other teams could get in there. But the team to finish above would be Liverpool if you want to get into the Champions League."

“Liverpool will be the toughest side to displace. We have to make sure we are in there and in a position to do that.”

Tottenham failed to take full advantage of Liverpool’s early-season disarray. Too many dropped points, especially against struggling teams at White Hart Lane, and a slow start to the new year – they have won just one of five league games in 2010 – have put the handbrake on Harry Redknapp’s stylish side.

Yet another vital chance went begging in Saturday’s 0-0 home encounter with Villa, and Crouch said: “There was an opportunity earlier in the season. We had a couple of draws and it was frustrating we couldn’t pull away more. We had the better of the game against Villa; it was one of those days when their last-ditch defending was very good.

“There are still enough games before the end of the season. It’s going to be very tight, and will go until the end of the season. The manager strengthened in January with a couple of signings. We have a big squad with international players who can come in and play in different positions."

“I’m sure we will be strong enough. There is so much quality here, I still believe we have a real opportunity.” Tottenham have three away games in 11 days starting with Wolves; two in the league, the last at Wigan, and a fifth-round FA Cup tie at Bolton. That sequence will provide a timely barometer of Spurs’ prospects.

There is a growing school of thought that Spurs are more accomplished on their travels, where they are given more freedom, whereas they are under more pressure to perform at White Hart Lane against normally ultra-conservative opponents.

Crouch said: “We’ve been playing well wherever. Certainly away from home, teams don’t sit back. They try to attack us and that suits our game because we have so many attacking players that will score goals.”

Five successive clean sheets at home in the league have also helped, and Crouch said: “The defence have played well. We have top-quality centre-halves and it’s settled now. Obviously Wilson Palacios helps and we defend as a team.

“But we have a lot of attacking options as well. Hopefully, we will get Aaron Lennon back fit. He is a fantastic talent as well. We have enough talent going forward to score goals.”