Image Credit: Mirror
By Lee Clow 27 October 2019 | Premier League
Liverpool restored their six-point lead at the top of the table after goals from Jordan Henderson and Mohammed Salah completed their comeback over Tottenham.
Tottenham unexpectedly opened the scoring after 47 seconds through Harry Kane when Heung-Min Son’s deflected shot cannoned off the bar into the path of the England striker. The early goal silenced the stadium with many home fans thinking beforehand that their team would easily beat Spurs.
Following the goal, Liverpool responded by mounting attack after attack, but Tottenham remained strong and denied the home side playing their free-flowing football.
Paulo Gazzaniga, deputising for the injured Hugo Lloris, was forced into making a handful of saves during the first half as Liverpool searched for the equaliser. You could feel in the ground that the equaliser would eventually come with Liverpool continuing to knock on the Tottenham door.
On 24 minutes, Spurs created two rare chances in quick concession. The first came when Kane delivered a beautiful cross towards Dele Alli on the far post, but the England man could not reach out further enough to divert the ball home. The second came seconds later when Kane came inches way from diverting in Eriksen’s initial drive towards goal.
From this moment it was all Liverpool and they could’ve had three or four if it wasn’t for poor finishing and great goalkeeping from Gazzaniga. Virgil Van Dijk, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane all wasted chances to equalise as Spurs managed to ride their luck and hold on to half time.
After the break, the game returned to the first half’s pattern of play with Liverpool continuing to dominate possession and chances. Firmino had a chance to score from close range three minutes into the half but once again Gazzaniga was there to stop the Brazilian.
Moments later, Tottenham had a chance to make it 0-2 when Son picked up the long ball from Gazzaniga. The South Korean outwitted defender Dejan Lovern before rounding Allison Becker but his effort from an acute angle rebounded off the bar keeping Liverpool in the game. You felt if Spurs were going to get a result in this game, they would have to capitalise on these opportunities.
Liverpool finally found their equaliser on 52 minutes when Jordan Henderson was played in down the right by Fabinho. The England midfielder somehow found himself free on the back post and this allowed him to stay composed and fire the ball past Gazzaniga with his weak foot.
Following the goal, Liverpool continued to create chances as they searched for a winner to complete the comeback. Salah who was quiet for much of the game had a great chance to score when he found himself free, but the Egyptian could only fire straight at Gazzaniga.
15 minutes before time, Liverpool finally found the decisive goal when they were awarded a penalty due to a Serge Aurier foul. The Tottenham full back in trying to clear the ball accidentally tripped up Mane leaving referee Anthony Taylor no choice but to award the spot kick. Salah stepped up to spot and as he did in the Champions League final against the same opponent, he smashed it home past the goalkeeper who could not react.
Despite the sucker punch, Tottenham reacted well and created late chances to steal an equaliser from the league leaders. Danny Rose had a huge chance when he skipped past multiple defenders, but the Spurs full back could only slice his effort over. Son and Toby Alderweirled both tested Allison in the dying minutes but it was not enough to beat the Brazilian goalkeeper.
As the full-time whistle blew, huge cheers filled the ground as Liverpool claimed the three points regaining their six-point lead at the top of the league. Tottenham’s defeat leaves them without a victory in 11 Premier League away games (D2 L9), a period stretching back since January.
Despite the defeat, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was positive in his press conference: "We are going to keep going, stay positive, step-by-step. We have the belief, and the confidence, but we didn't find a way to keep the possession.
"A lot of positive things to take. It's difficult to say it's a step forward because we lose the game, but yes, the way the form was in the last few months, it was a small step improving against the best team in Europe."
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hailed his side after their victory over Tottenham: "It was a super game, I loved it. That was us at our best. That's how football should look, how we should play against a strong, organised side, with the threat that every ball you lose could end up in front of your own goal.”
"The counter-press was exceptional, we wanted to be really special and strong in that department. I loved that, it was really, really good. We won it, and we deserved it, and I'm really happy about the performance."
What’s next?
Tottenham stay in Merseyside as they face Everton next Sunday in the Premier League. For Liverpool, they face Tottenham rivals Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night before visiting Aston Villa on Saturday.
Comments