The on-loan Manchester City forward is overdue a goal, and if he starts tonight he will hope to thrive on the big match Anfield atmosphere in the heavyweight clash.
Four years ago Emmanuel Adebayor’s performances at the African Nations Cup and for Arsenal helped him win the African Footballer of the Year Award.
Two years ago he was part of the Togo team who were shot at and suffered fatal casualties, and this year he and Togo are conspicuous from the African Nations Cup from their absence after failing to qualify.
But back in England this time around Adebayor has hardly been making his presence felt around White Hart Lane of late either.
His hot form has tailed off and Spurs will be looking to him tonight to score in tonight’s crucial clash at Anfield.
The last goal he scored for Tottenham came in December in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
It has not been entirely his fault, he had a disrupted month thanks to his loan agreement with Manchester City preventing him from playing in their clash in mid-January.
Now Spurs will be looking for him to step up and show why he is currently their number one striker.
His first game at White Hart Lane was against Liverpool earlier in the season, Adebayor was instrumental in a 4-0 victory, scoring twice.
He will also recall scoring what could have been a crucial goal at Anfield for Arsenal, in a Champions League encounter to tie the game at 2-2, before a late defensive collapse put the Gunners out.
That was an evening game, which are always special with the atmosphere at Anfield, and Adebayor will need to take the opposition crowd’s energy and help his side if they are to gain any points in this one.
Adebayor needs a strong finish to the season, and not an insipid one.
His game at Spurs is about more than goals, his link up play with Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric has been superb, but he is in need of a goal for his own confidence as much as anything else.
Fans of Arsenal and Manchester City will recall his strong starts which tailed off, and now he seems to have found a place he is happy playing his football, he needs to ensure Tottenham decide to make his loan deal a permanent one in the summer.
– However, this is all should he start. The latest is that Adebayor could be struggling with a slight injury and could have to pass a late fitness test ahead of the game. If he starts, or comes off the bench, the point remains the same- it is time he started delivering goals again- hopefully beginning tonight.
image: © Jan Solo
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