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John Walton
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Tottenham vs Liverpool, Premier League

Tottenham welcomed Liverpool to Wembley aiming to extend their grip on third spot in the Premier League.

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

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Kick off is at 4.00pm.

This has all the makings of a great game this evening. Well, one can only hope so following the dismally underwhelming snoozefest that was Manchester United vs Liverpool last week.

We can only hope and pray that we will not be victim to another uninspired 0-0 draw this evening, and if Liverpool’s seven goal exhibition against poor Maribor in midweek is anything to go by — combined with Tottenham’s own six game unbeaten streak –we should be setting ourselves up for an intriguing encounter today.

Kick-off is just under an hour away at Wembley, with team news due in the next few minutes. Georges-Kévin N’Koudou is a doubt for Spurs after suffering concussion, while Jurgen Klopp will be without Sadio Mane (hamstring), Adam Lallana (thigh) and Nathaniel Clyne (back).

Here are today’s teams:

Tottenham: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Aurier, Winks, Dele, Eriksen, Son, Kane

Subs: Vorm, Rose, Davies, Dier, Sissoko, Nkoudou, Llorente

Liverpool: Mignolet, Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Milner, Can, Salah, Coutinho, Firmino

Subs: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Klavan, Grujic, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke, Sturridge

Tottenham come into this afternoon’s game off the back of a 1-1 draw against Champions League holders Real Madrid on Wednesday.

In this year’s group of death Mauricio Pochettino’s side are more than holding their own and currently sit above both Madrid and 2013 finalists Borusissa Dortmound at the top of Group H.

Today they turn their eye back to domestic concerns as they look to tighten their hold on third spot in Premier League, putting distance between themselves and Chelsea following the Blues’ win against Watford yesterday — but also close the gap on second after Manchester United fell to Huddersfield at John Smith Stadium.

Let’s get in the mood then, shall we? Tottenham’s Circle of Life vs Liverpool’s Anfield Rap. Both these sides can play some football, but boy can they drop some sick beats too.

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TheSpionKop / YouTube

We’re underway…

Some good early passing play from Liverpool sets Mohamed Salah on a mazy run down the right wing, however Serge Aurier does well to keep tabs on the winger to force the ball off the man in red for a Spurs goal kick.

GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-0 LIVERPOOL (KANE 4)

It’s brilliant from Harry Kane and Spurs are ahead already. Only four minutes on the clock and the England striker causes havoc inside the Liverpool penalty area.

A loose ball in no man’s land is not dealt with by a hesitant Joel Matip, forcing Simon Mignolet to come from his line. Kane, however, gets to the ball first and strikes it past the Belgian and into the back of the net.

Harry Kane finally has a Premier League goal at Wembley and Spurs are ahead!

That has really put Liverpool in a pickle. Their leaky defence lives up to its namesake, with men lost and aimless out of position unable to clear a routine ball over the top which Kane was willing, able and delighted to capitalise on.

The Wembley crowd were in good voices before kick-off and now they are booming.

GOAL! TOTTENHAM 2-0 LIVERPOOL (SON 12)

Goodness me! It’s two, Spurs have doubled their lead after just 12 minutes!

It’s simply electrifying football from Tottenham as Dejan Lovren has an absolute mare allowing a hoofed ball up the pitch drop dangerously behind him, which allowed Harry Kane through on goal.

Instead of offering a shot at goal Kane swung in an inviting, curling cross which found Son unmarked before the forward struck a low effort flying beyond Mignolet and into the bottom corner.

Wow.

Dejan Lovren really, really won’t want to see that goal again, the general consensus being…

CROSSBAR! It’s completely one-sided as Liverpool’s defence is split open for the umpteenth time — this time Son lets the ball drop onto his right boot inside the box and, aiming for the far top corner, he rattles the top of the crossbar.

It could have been 3-0, it almost was 3-0.

Oh, Neville.

And just like that Spurs have two more chances in quick succession. They have bodies flooding forward at every given opportunity, and it cannot be overstated just how exasperated Jurgen Klopp’s defence looks at the minute.

No shape, leadership or structure and Spurs are well and truly taking advantage.

GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-2 LIVERPOOL (SALAH 24)

Liverpool have halved the deficit and have found a way back into this game against all odds!

Harry Kane looked like countering on the break before being dispossessed on the halfway line.

That tackle allowed Jordan Henderson the time and space to curl a stunning through ball into the path of Mohamed Salah who managed to manoeuvre the ball around the dive of Hugo Lloris, off the post and into the back of the net.

CHANCE! Heung-Min Son is played through thanks to a brilliant through ball from Dele Ali, however Simon Mignolet comes from his line to close the distance quickly and force a fine stop.

Once again it was Dejan Lovren at fault and the defender may be being substituted off soon as Jurgen Klopp prepares to make a possible change.

Substitution for Liverpool: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Dejan Lovren.

Lovren’s horrid afternoon comes to a premature end as his manager takes mercy on the centre back.

Joe Gomez goes to central defence, James Milner will be deployed at right back while Oxlade-Chamberlain plays at left back.

A complete restructuring for Liverpool as they go in search of a leveler before the break.

Some good build-up play from Liverpool sees Emre Can’s effort from range blocked down outside the box.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been heavily involved since coming on and the ex-Arsenal man is being booed at every given chance by the Tottenham supporters.

A cross deep into the box is intended for Roberto Firmino at the back post. He rises high but Kieran Trippier does well to head the ball to safety and force a corner.

The corner forces another corner, which is played short to Mohamed Salah who’s eventual cross is low and right into the path of a white shirt which boots it into touch.

Liverpool looking a lot more stable now in the absence of Dejan Lovren, as the chaotic period of utter Spurs domination in the final third has steadily receded. It’s a more even game now as we approach the break with five minutes to go.

Liverpool threaten to break only to lose the ball to Harry Winks, who gives the ball right back via a poor attempt at a clearance. Mohamed Salah screams for the ball making a darting run along the left wing but the ball in service to him spins out for a throw-in.

There will be two minutes of additional time to come.

Emre Can is given a yellow card after dragging down Dele Alli cynically as Spurs break with what was to be the last piece of play before the break. Now though, they have a free-kick in a dangerous are 30 yards from goal.

GOAL! TOTTENHAM 3-1 LIVERPOOL (ALLI 48)

They’ve grabbed a third! That was very needless from Liverpool and from the resulting free kick Dele Alli gets on the end of a cross into the box, firing a sweet strike past Mignolet to restore his side’s two goal cushion with the last kick of the half!

HALF-TIME: TOTTENHAM 3-1 LIVERPOOL

We’re back underway…

Some slow and patient build-up play from Liverpool as they take the front foot in the second-half, forcing Hugo Lloris to come from his line and punch a dangerous cross emphatically away from danger.

Spurs sitting back a little bit more in these early exchanges as Jurgen Klopp’s side take the game to them, knowing they need at least two goals without reply if they are to leave Wembley with anything this evening.

Better from Tottenham as Aurier forces a corner kick at the other end. The cross is aimed at Harry Kane, but the forwards header is lacking and drops well wide of the post.

GOAL! TOTTENHAM 4-1 LIVERPOOL (KANE 56)

It’s a three goal cushion for Tottenham as Harry Kane grabs his second of the afternoon and his 8th Premier League goal of the season in 9 starts.

Roberto Firmino did brilliantly to save the initial effort off the line from Jan Vertonghen following a poor attempted punch from Simon Mignolet, however Kane was on hand to tap in the rebound from no more than five yards out.

4-1 and Tottenham are in total control.

It’s just gone from bad to worse for this man.

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Premier League - Wembley Stadium Adam Davy Adam Davy

Spurs go in search of a fifth as Son forces a corner. Meanwhile, a new Premier League attendance record has been set at today’s game as 80,827 supporters have packed into Wembley.

Tottenham force a second corner, but this time it’s punched clear by Mignolet before Christian Eriksen flashes a volley over the crossbar. Don’t go getting any injuries now, Christian. That’d be a terrible thing to happen…

That was close! Harry Kane almost completed his hat-trick there. He bore down on goal and, right on the edge of the box, saw his pile-driver of an effort blocked bravely by Joe Gomez to prevent a fifth.

SAVE! Oh goodness me, what a save that was! — Philippe Coutinho cut inside before striking a stunning effort destined for the top corner.

Hugo Lloris, however, was having none of it and stopped the powerful effort dead in its tracks with a strong right palm. A simply sublime stop from the French goalkeeper to prevent Liverpool finding a way back into this game with a little over 20 minutes remaining.

Substitution for Tottenham: Moussa Sissoko replaces Heung-Min Son

Another good save from Hugo Lloris following a good run from James Milner into the box which concluded in the Liverpool midfielder attempting to squeeze the ball into the bottom corner at the goalkeeper’s front post.

Lloris, however, stood his ground and saved well with his feet.

Substitution for Liverpool: Daniel Sturridge replaces Roberto Firmino

Jurgen Klopp trying to add some bite in attack by bringing on Daniel Sturridge. Liverpool have tested Lloris on multiple occasions in this second half, however Mohamed Salah and Firmino have both been uncharacteristically quiet.

Chance! Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a fine strike from outside the box which, you guessed it, Lloris saves with ease.

Substitution for Tottenham: Eric Dier replaces Christian Eriksen.

Substitution for Liverpool: Marko Grujić replaces Emre Can.

The game has died down just a tab as the pace slows down and the realisation sinks in for Liverpool that they could be leaving London empty-handed this evening.

The introduction of Daniel Sturridge would have hoped to ignite some fightback from Jurgen Klopp’s side, however the fight has well and truly been knocked out of them with five minutes to go as the giddy atmosphere inside Wembley continues unabated.

Substitution for Tottenham: Fernando Llorente replaces Harry Kane.

Harry Kane receives a rousing standing ovation from Wembley as he comes off suffering from a slight cramp, replaced by Fernando Llorente.

There will be just two minutes of additional time to come at the end of the second half.

FULL-TIME: TOTTENHAM 4-1 LIVERPOOL

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