“Micky van de Ven sees no reason to fear high-flying Liverpool when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Micky van de Ven insists Tottenham Hotspur will not be intimidated by Liverpool ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash.
Both have enjoyed positive starts to the campaign, with the Reds second behind Manchester City and Spurs currently sitting low in the top four.
It marks a big lift in Liverpool’s performance levels and results as midfield deficits have been overcome, while new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has had the same effect as he returns to attacking football at his new club.
The Reds’ next opponent came from behind twice against north London rivals Arsenal last time out. Although it means they are below Jurgen Klopp’s men in the table, van de Ven sees the pitch at the same level on Sunday. “I don’t think we fear the other team. It would be strange if you feared the other team,” he told the Mirror. “If you go into a game and think, ‘what a team they have,’ I don’t think it’s a positive.
“We’re building something together that we want to achieve this season. I think it’s going really well and we’re helping each other. We fight for each other and must continue to do so. I think this year could be good.
“It was a difficult game. Of course Arsenal had chances. We had chances too. You always want more, you always want three points. But in the end we have one point and we have to go to Liverpool.”
The Dutchman could have been in the away dugout if the Anfield chief’s interest had turned into a formal offer. Previously at Wolfsburg – the same club Jorg Schmadtke helped replace as sporting director – the two men’s shared tone fueled suggestions of a potential move for the 22-year-old.
Instead, Liverpool focused their efforts on bringing in midfield reinforcements, allowing Tottenham to complete a £43 million deal.
