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Football London
Football London
Sport
Rob Guest

Jurgen Klopp has already shown Tottenham the perfect tactic to punish Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds

Tottenham will be hoping to inflict even more misery on Leeds United on Saturday afternoon as they look to get back on track after a nightmare evening at Burnley.

Heading to Turf Moor on the back of their stunning 3-2 win over Premier League leaders Man City, Spurs couldn't repeat their heroics from four days earlier and subsequently lost 1-0 following Ben Mee's header.

Seeing their Champions League hopes dashed in the process, Antonio Conte's men need to bounce back at Elland Road if they are to still have any chance of recording a top-four finish come May.

Leeds, on the other hand, are also in desperate need of the points after Liverpool hit them for six in midweek, making it 16 goals the West Yorkshire club have now conceded from their four league fixtures so far in February.

Marcelo Bielsa's team currently find themselves three points above the drop zone and are now in real danger of slipping into a relegation battle unless their fortunes drastically change.

One gripe Leeds fans had during their Liverpool defeat was defender Joel Matip having the freedom of the Anfield pitch to stroll up from his centre-back berth and fire home after playing a one-two with Mohamed Salah outside the box.

Matip had realised a few minutes prior to his goal that he did have the time and space to push up field when he wanted, thus doing exactly that and exploiting Leeds' weakness in the 30th minute.

Speaking in his post-match press conference after the game, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp revealed that his defender was involved in a similar goal in the reverse fixture back in September, which saw Salah score from Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross after Matip was again allowed to push forward unchallenged.

Joel Matip strolled upfield to net for Liverpool against Leeds in midweek (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

"You might remember the goal we scored, it was Mo’s goal after Trent’s cross at Leeds. It was a very similar situation," explained the German (via Liverpool's official website ).

"The way Leeds defend, it gives, especially Joel on that right side, the chance and it is a duty then to step in, to make yards.

"There will always be the block and you have to find a way to keep the game going and he did that this time with a pass to the outside and then followed through, which is absolutely great. Then he finished it off.

"It’s not possible in all games – and not needed in all games – but against Leeds it’s possible and against Leeds it’s needed as well.

"He did that very well and got the full reward for it. I am really happy for him."

Making it clear that is is very much "possible" when facing Leeds, Conte and Tottenham could look to use Klopp's tactic to perfection when they take on Leeds United on Saturday lunchtime.

The Italian's system does allow Cristian Romero and Ben Davies, the two wide players in his three centre-backs, to push forward and join in Tottenham's attack and this has been evident numerous times this campaign.

Although both were clearly given instructions in the win at Man City to remain in the back three and not push on to leave gaping holes in the backline, both were again given the green light to move into the final third against Burnley.

Romero was in fact spotted in and around the Clarets' box a few times across the 90 minutes and it is likely to be very much the same for him at Elland Road.

With Matip playing on the right side for Liverpool, the same as Romero for Tottenham, the Argentine defender could have a field day if Leeds allow him the space for him to go on his marauding runs.

The 23-year-old may not have scored or registered an assist for the Lilywhites in his 18 games to date so far but it perhaps is only a matter of time before one of his runs forward finally pays off for Spurs.

With Matip showcasing how it is done against Leeds twice so far this season, don't be surprised if Romero and Tottenham look to heap even more pressure on Bielsa's team by utilising Liverpool's tactic to perfection.

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