Ange Postecoglou and his Tottenham players must take advantage of Marc Guehi's absence.

Daniel Lewis

Tue 26 September 2023 12:10, UK

Ange Postecoglou expects James Maddison to be available for the showdown with Liverpool on Saturday 30 September in a boost for Tottenham.

Maddison has been superb for Spurs since arriving from Leicester City in a £40million deal in the summer transfer window.

The England international has two goals and four assists in six Premier League matches, with those six direct goal involvements bettered only by Mohamed Salah (seven) and Erling Haaland (nine).

Maddison set up both of Son Heung-min’s goals against Arsenal in Sunday’s [24 September] 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium, but he had Spurs fans worried when going down injured in the second half.

However, Postecoglou later told reporters that the issue “is nothing serious” [Football.London, 26 September], suggesting he should be ready to start against Liverpool in North London next Saturday [30 September].

Despite only being at the club for a few months, Maddison’s importance to the side at the start of this post-Harry Kane era has been clear to see from day one.

In fact, the 26-year-old’s form with Spurs is a continuation of what he showed in his final season with Leicester, even if the Foxes did drop out of the Premier League.

According to FBref, Maddison ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for assists per 90 minutes (0.44) from clubs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year.

Meanwhile, Maddison’s 60 progressive passes in the Premier League this season – completed passes that move the ball at least 10 yards towards the opposition’s goal – is bettered only by Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez (69) in the entire division.

Not only is the four-cap Three Lion able to get the ball forward to start attacks, but he also regularly plays the killer final pass and can finish off moves himself, as highlighted by his ever-growing goals and assists tally.

Maddison has played 2.8 key passes per game in the Premier League across the opening six games [WhoScored], which is the best return of any Spurs player and fifth overall in the division behind Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes (both 3 per game), Bukayo Saka and Pascal Gross (both 3.2).

The 2.8 fouls per game Maddison is on the end of, meanwhile, is second only to Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew (3.3), further highlighting just how much of a menace he is when getting at opposition defenders.

Maddison will now be Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip’s problem to deal with next weekend, and on the basis of his performances so far in a Spurs shirt, you’d fancy him to come out on top in that battle.

In other Tottenham news, the Lilywhites have reached an agreement to sign a hugely promising player.