Liverpool continued their unbeaten start to the season with a fine performance to overcome a Paulo Gazzaniga-inspired Tottenham Hotspur in an enthralling encounter on Merseyside.
It was the visitors who did, in fact, take the lead, with just 48 seconds on the clock to leave the raucous Anfield crowd silent. Heung-Min Son’s deflected effort cannoned off the woodwork before falling to Harry Kane, who reacted well to stoop low and head past Alisson in front of the Kop.
Despite the early setback, the Reds responded well and would have counted themselves unlucky to not go into half time all square. Gazzaniga first made a fine double save from Mo Salah and then Roberto Firmino, before parrying away Trent Alexander-Arnold’s thunderous strike from the edge of the area. It was Sadio Mane who missed a guilt-edged chance just before the break though and in truth, he should have done better with – another excellent Alexander-Arnold delivery found Mane who simply had to head the ball across Gazzaniga and into the net. However, the Senegalese forward got it all wrong and scuffed the header, allowing Mauricio Pochettino’s men to lead after the first half.
The big turning point came early in the second half when Son rounded Alisson and fired against the crossbar with the goal at his mercy. Had the South Korean managed to find the back of the net, it would have been a long way back for the hosts.
Less than five minutes later, Liverpool were level, and via an unlikely source. Captain Jordan Henderson scored his first Anfield goal in four years to restore parity – and deservingly so, given his side’s performance after going behind – with a fine finish from a tight angle after Fabinho’s floated through ball found its way to him.
With Gazzaniga finally beaten, it became a matter of when, not if, Liverpool would score next. Spurs did well to hold out until the 75th minute but when Serge Aurier tripped Mane in the box when attempting to clear the ball, a penalty kick was given. You could call it unlucky, but it was certainly clumsy from the Ivorian defender. Salah did the rest, firing home to send Jurgen Klopp and Anfield into raptures.
The visitors produced a spirited fightback late in the game, but Liverpool held firm and secured a vital three points, with Spurs remaining without a win in their last 11 Premier League away games (drawn two, lost nine) to keep the pressure on the under-fire Pochettino.
Fabulous Fabinho a class above
Klopp has coined a new nickname for the defensive midfielder – labelling him Dyson because he cleans everything up – and it is easy to see why. Fabinho has been superb this campaign and looks worth every penny of the £40 million Liverpool shelled out on the Brazilian last summer. It would not be unreasonable to say that on current form, he is the best in his position in the Premier League. His tackling and interceptions are of the highest order, but it is his incisive passing that helps set him apart. He is quickly becoming a fan favourite at Anfield and is vital to Liverpool’s title hopes.
More away blues for Pochettino
Tottenham’s away form is simply shocking for a side that not long ago was playing in the Champions League final. While some gave Spurs credit for running an excellent Liverpool side close, the truth is that had it not been for the heroics of Gazzaniga, this scoreline would have been significantly worse for the visitors. Pochettino needs to sort his side’s away-day struggles out immediately, or risks being out of a job by Christmas.
The most creative player in the Premier League is…
Surprisingly, not Kevin de Bruyne. It is, in fact, Trent Alexander-Arnold. The young right-back has played more key passes than any other player in the Premier League this season and was unlucky not to have added another assist to his tally had Mane converted his first-half opportunity. While the marginal defensive vulnerabilities do exist, his world-class attacking play more than makes up for it.
No Lloris? No problem
With World Cup winner and Ballon D’or nominee Hugo Lloris out for a while, you would think Spurs desperately struggle at the back. However, if Gazzaniga can continue his outstanding form, Lloris may struggle to immediately break back into the starting XI once he returns from his arm injury. The Argentine stopper knows this is his big chance to make it at a top club, and will unlikely get a better opportunity to prove his worth.
Up next,
Liverpool host Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night before heading to the midlands to take on Aston Villa on Saturday. Tottenham, on the other hand, will head back to Merseyside next Sunday to take on an out-of-sorts Everton side. Spurs have a good record against Everton, so this will provide the Londoners with an excellent opportunity to end their away-day hoodoo.
