Tottenham welcomed Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to Wembley for a game that was set to have a big impact upon the race for the top four spots in the Premier League. Both teams headed into this game off the back of positive results in the Champions League and Liverpool were keen to find the back of the net after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Manchester United last weekend. Spurs returned from Spain having recorded an impressive draw in the Bernabeu and looked to neutralise Liverpool’s attackers as effectively as they did Real Madrid’s.
Calamitous defending costs Liverpool early on
Mauricio Pochettino was looking for the first win over Liverpool of his managerial career and Harry Kane provided the perfect start to the game for Tottenham. A simple over the top ball caused chaos amongst the Liverpool defenders and Dejan Lovren allowed the England striker to gather the ball, flick it out of the reach of the onrushing Mignolet and slot it home into the empty net.
The disastrous start did little for the visiting defenders’ confidence, especially with the knowledge that they would be up against one of the league’s best strikers for 90 minutes, and Spurs looked for Kane every time they had the ball.
It didn’t take long for the home side to open Liverpool up again and Lovren failed to deal with another simple ball that set Kane away down the right hand side. The striker looked up and played a simple cross to Heung-min Son who guided the ball past Mignolet to double Tottenham’s lead.
The South Korean international almost added a third just minutes later when a great ball from Christian Eriksen put him in, but Son’s shot rattled the crossbar and Liverpool escaped early humiliation. Every time the home side were in possession however it felt as if another goal could come, such was the calamitous nature of the Reds’ defending.
Dele Alli cancels out speedy Salah’s lifeline
With Liverpool forced to chase the game it was Tottenham who were able to play on the counter and the North London club looked as if they would soak up the pressure from the visitors with relative ease. However Kane was dispossessed on the half way line and a brilliant through ball by Jordan Henderson found Mohamed Salah on the run. The Egyptian winger’s lightning pace carried him past the Spurs defenders and he nestled the ball into the far corner past Hugo Lloris to put his side firmly back in the game.
The goal gave the visitors confidence and as the game settled it was Liverpool who started to dominate the possession. However their quest for an equaliser made them vulnerable defensively and both Son and Kane had chances on the counter to restore Tottenham’s two-goal cushion.
The brightest spark for Jurgen Klopp’s side was undoubtedly Salah and the winger was the outlet for all of Liverpool’s attacks down the right flank. However for all the trickery and speed of their talented Egyptian it was Tottenham who scored on the stroke of half time. An Eriksen free kick was headed clear by Joel Matip but the ball fell to Dele Alli who volleyed in Spurs’ third goal of the game with the last kick of the first half.
Kane strikes again as Liverpool’s defence crumbles
Liverpool came out for the second half needing to attack in order to get back into the game but it was the home side who maintained the better possession in the opening minutes of the second period. The tempo was much calmer as Tottenham seemed content to knock the ball about and sit back whenever the visitors were in possession. Pochettino’s side reverted to the disciplined defensive unit that had been so effective against Real Madrid in midweek and Liverpool struggled to find a way through.
The defensive effort paid off for Spurs and they once again capitalised on some disastrous defending by Klopp’s side at the other end of the pitch. Another Eriksen free kick wasn’t properly dealt with and Mignolet’s awkward attempted punch gifted the ball to Jan Vertonghen. The defender’s shot was blocked brilliantly by Roberto Firmino but Kane was the quickest to react and the world-class striker smashed home his second goal of the game to put Tottenham out of sight.
Tottenham see out a comprehensive victory
The heads of the Liverpool players seemed to drop after Spurs’ fourth goal went in, but their talented attacking players still showed flashes of their brilliance. Philippe Coutinho looked destined to curl in a fabulous shot to give his side some hope but Lloris pulled off a stunning diving save to deny the Brazilian and maintain the home side’s comfortable lead. The French keeper made another good save a few minutes later, this time preventing Salah from grabbing his second goal of the game.
In the final ten minutes Tottenham seemed content to concede possession to Liverpool and defend their three-goal lead. With the visitors tiring and Spurs buoyed by their good performance the tempo dropped completely and the home side cruised to what was a hugely impressive victory. Harry Kane departed two minutes from time with what looked to be a slight hamstring tweak, but neither player nor manager looked too concerned. As long as the sensational striker stays fit this Tottenham side can beat any team in world football.
Final Thoughts
It was a classy performance from Mauricio Pochettino’s side who seem to have emphatically dispelled any hint of a Wembley curse. The win puts them level on points with second place Manchester United and this Tottenham side looks like one capable of achieving great things. Harry Kane took another big step towards being considered the world’s best striker, and on current form there is an increasingly short list of names that could challenge the Englishman for that title.
For Liverpool this was perhaps the most worrying result of the season. Not only did it throw into doubt the ability of Jurgen Klopp’s side to challenge their potential title rivals, but it also brutally highlighted the inadequacies within the squad, particularly in defence. Liverpool have conceded the most away goals in the Premier League this season and for a side with such high ambitions that is an incredibly worrying stat. Unless the defensive mistakes are ironed out, or addressed in the January transfer window, any sort of ambition regarding a top four finish could slip through Klopp’s fingers.
Match Report
Tottenham: Lloris; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Trippier, Aurier; Alli, Winks, Eriksen (Dier, 82’), Son (Sissoko, 69’); Kane (Llorente, 88’)
Liverpool: Mignolet; Gomez, Matip, Lovren (Oxlade-Chamberlain, 31’), Moreno; Milner, Henderson, Can (Grujic, 84’); Coutinho, Firmino (Sturridge, 77’), Salah
Goals: Kane (1-0, 4’), Son (2-0, 12’), Salah (2-1, 24’), Alli (3-1, 45+3’), Kane (4-1, 56’)
Referee: Andre Marriner
Yellow Cards: Can (47’)
Red Cards: None
Player Ratings
Tottenham: Lloris 9; Alderweireld 8, Sanchez 8, Vertonghen 8, Trippier 8, Aurier 7; Alli 8, Winks 8, Eriksen 8 (Dier n/a), Son 8 (Sissoko 6); Kane 9 (Llorente n/a)
Liverpool: Mignolet 5; Gomez 6, Matip 5, Lovren 4 (Oxlade_Chamberlain 6), Moreno 6; Milner 5, Henderson 6, Can 5 (Grujic n/a); Coutinho 6, Firmino 6 (Sturridge 6), Salah 7
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
