has warned Liverpool they can’t start as slowly as they have done in recent games when they face Tottenham in the Premier League this weekend.
The Reds secured their place in the final of the in midweek, but had to overcome a scare from Villarreal to do so.
After winning the first leg 2-0 at Anfield, ’s side found themselves 2-0 down in the first half of the away leg and needing a second-half comeback to progress.
In their Premier League game against in the league, it took Liverpool until the second half to score past their Merseyside rivals.
A win will be needed this weekend when the Reds welcome Tottenham to Anfield on Saturday in order to keep the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Wright is expecting Antonio Conte’s side to defend deep and insisted Liverpool must start fast.
‘I think what they really want to be careful of Liverpool is the way they started that game against Villarreal. They have to make sure they don’t start like that,’ said the Arsenal legend on the Kelly and Wrighty show.
‘They started… there was a casualness to it. If they do that against Tottenham that will be a lot more difficult to come back against than it was against Villarreal. I think they will know that.
‘It’s a situation where it’s going to come down to the mental strength of the players and what they are going into and trying to achieve this group of players and that’s what it going to get them through that Tottenham game.
‘They cannot start as poorly as I saw them start against Everton and Villarreal. You have to give credit to both those teams but Liverpool have to do more in respect of their movement to break these teams down and they have to do that against Tottenham.
‘It’s going to be laborious because Tottenham are going to sit in. I see Tottenham sit in even when they are at home.’
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