Sky pundit says Tottenham player ‘influences’ opposition fans like Granit Xhaka

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Stephen Warnock has cited how Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, lifts up the opposition crowd just like Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka did on Sunday at Anfield.

For Granit Xhaka, with Arsenal 2-0 up, he was involved in some handbags with Trent Alexander-Arnold, which really got the Liverpool crowd going. 

Over on the other side of Merseyside, former Premier League defender Warnock thinks Hugo Lloris did the same, this time during Tottenham’s first fixture back since Antonio Conte’s sacking, which came against Everton on April 3.

There were some, such as Jamie Carragher, who felt that Xhaka’s actions played a part in Liverpool coming back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. 

Whilst Lloris’ decision to constantly play out from the back helped lift a struggling Sean Dyche team because it just increased the noise inside Goodison Park.

Either way, Warnock compared the duo, before stating that Cristian Stellini, despite beating Brighton at the weekend, hasn’t made a difference since replacing Conte, as he told The Football Show on Sky Sports (10/04/23).

“They were poor at Everton, invited pressure on needlessly,” said Warnock. “Lloris was playing out from the back and playing balls into midfield.

“We talked about Granit Xhaka having an influence on the Liverpool crowd. Lloris invited the Everton crowd, the Goodison crowd to get behind the team and suddenly lift the players. It came out of nowhere. I was at the game. You felt it around the stadium.

“I don’t think they are any better off with Stellini in charge. If you are Conte’s man, then you agree with his philosophy – if you have an opportunity to change a system which you think is right, then change it. But he hasn’t, so he obviously agreed with Conte.

“The players must be looking at him going ‘It’s the same thing. We haven’t changed anything’.”

MERSEYSIDE CROWD

The fans at Liverpool and Everton can be pretty aggressive towards the opposition, regardless of what situation their club is in.

Both are having very problematic seasons and their home crowd is probably going to save them.

Perhaps the Reds have a chance of securing a top-four finish, although it seems unlikely, but for Everton, if they stay up, and they should, then it’s going to be the Goodison Park faithful that have played their part, just like they did last season.