14.08.2004 - Reds looking to improve recent Spurs record

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Liverpool face Spurs in the Premiership's first match of the new season at lunchtime today, hoping to improve their poor recent record at White Hart Lane.

The Reds have lost on five of their last six visits to the ground, with last year's 2-1 defeat ensuring it would be the first time in eight years that Liverpool would fail to record a league win against Spurs.

During Gerard Houllier's reign, only on one occasion did Liverpool take any points from the North London club, which was a Steven Gerrard inspired 3-2 win in March 2003.

With no injury worries to the players who helped Liverpool to a 2-0 midweek win in Graz, Rafa Benitez may opt to select an unchanged team, with Cisse and Baros again starting up front following the departure of Michael Owen.

Paul Robinson should make his Premiership debut for Spurs, who also have new signings Timothee Atouba, Nourredine Naybet and Edson Da Silva available for selection after the trio received international clearance.

Atouba inparticular will be familiar to Liverpool fans, after two highly impressive displays by the powerful centre back when the Reds faced Basel in the 2002-3 Champions League.

And the clash, which kicks off at 12.45pm, will see two of the Premiership's newest managers go head to head on the opening day.

Rafael Benitez's arrival at Anfield was shortly followed by Jacques Santini's appointment as the new Tottenham manager, after two years coaching the French national side.

Like Benitez, Santini has an impressive past record, and his previous job in club management saw him lead Lyon to their first ever French league title.

Liverpool v Spurs: A complete league record