Tottenham assistant manager Kevin Bond expects Liverpool fans to create a hostile atmosphere at Anfield as the Reds welcome back Luis Suarez from his eight-match ban. Suarez was handed the ban in December after a Football Association board found the Uruguayan guilty of making a racist comment towards Manchester United's Patrice Evra during the meeting between the two clubs in October.
Liverpool's players, management and fans have stood firmly by Suarez throughout the affair, and Spurs assistant manager Bond expects Suarez to be given a rapturous reception when the two teams meet on Monday. "It will give them a lift having Suarez back," Bond said. "The crowd will be rooting for him hugely.
"The introduction of Suarez on a night match at Anfield will make Liverpool a real tough nut to crack. He's a fantastic player and has been a fantastic signing for Liverpool.
"Maybe a couple of results have gone against them in his absence but they've just had three big wins without him and now they've got him back as well."Bond has been taking charge of training at Tottenham for the last two weeks as manager Harry Redknapp has been busy contesting two counts of tax evasion, charges he denies.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are in good form, having knocked Manchester City out of the Carling Cup and disposed of bitter rivals United in the FA Cup. Kenny Dalglish's men have also hauled themselves back in to contention for a top-four place after wins against Wolves and Newcastle, but Tottenham will be buoyed by the fact that they left Anfield with a 2-0 win at the end of last term.
"It was a real big performance from us there last year," Bond said. "I'm sure the lads will reflect on that and think if we go about our job in the same way we can go to Anfield and get a result again. We definitely need to get something there and last year's win will give us a bit of a lift."
Former Everton striker Louis Saha could make his Spurs debut as Jermain Defoe (hamstring), Rafael van der Vaart (calf) and Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring) are all struggling for fitness.