Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s one of the biggest games of the season so far.
These sides currently occupy the top two on 25 points, with Spurs ahead on goal difference.
Southampton could go ahead of them temporarily at least, if they beat Arsenal, with the Saints leading 1-0 in that game at the time of writing.
Tottenham haven’t won at Anfield since May 2011, but given their excellent form, will probably be more confident than usual going into this game.
Liverpool have a significant injury list, while they have already dropped 11 points this season — just four fewer than the entirety of last season.
Nonetheless, the Reds have lost just one Premier League game so far, as have Spurs, with Aston Villa and Everton respectively the teams that have picked up three points against them.
Confirmation of tonight’s teams below. Interestingly, there’s no room for Ireland international Matt Doherty, who does not make the bench even.
🔴 TEAM NEWS 🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 16, 2020
The Reds to face @SpursOfficial 👊
𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 ⚪️ Lloris (C), Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Davies, Hojbjerg, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Bergwijn, Son, Kane.@WilliamHill latest (18+) 📱https://t.co/cJj3srluLC#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/EsWTiO51MQ
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 16, 2020
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
1 - Tottenham have won just one of their last 26 Premier League away games against Liverpool (D8 L17), winning 2-0 in May 2011 under Harry Redknapp. Task. pic.twitter.com/j0llVSdkjg
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 16, 2020
We’re underway…
Liverpool start on the front foot.
An Alexander-Arnold shot deflects over for a corner.
From the ensuing set piece, a floated cross by Henderson is easily gathered by Lloris.
As expected, Liverpool are dominating possession.
Spurs have everyone behind the ball, and will be tough as ever to break down.
Sissoko and Bergwijn to block their full backs. Jose being Jose - start by thinking about the opposition
— Tim Vickery (@Tim_Vickery) December 16, 2020
It’s been a pretty dull start to this game.
Neither side looks especially threatening going forward at the moment.
Half chance for Liverpool.
Robertson’s free kick is well delivered. An unmarked Firmino gets a head to it, but Lloris makes a relatively comfortable save.
Harry Kane is well positioned to clear a dangerous Curtis Jones cross.
That sentence should give you an idea of how this game is panning out so far.
Spurs finally get a chance to show their counter-attacking threat.
Sissoko plays it through to Kane, but Alexander-Arnold recovers well to make the interception.
Robertson gets in behind the Spurs defence.
The full-back’s low cross finds Salah, whose finish is straight at Lloris.
The Egyptian will feel he should have done better there.
After good work by Curtis Jones in the build-up, the ball falls to Salah on the edge of the area.
His shot seems to deflect off both Alderweireld and Dier, before looping into the top corner.
It’s a lucky goal, but it’s more than Liverpool deserve on the balance of play.
LIVERPOOL 1-1 TOTTENHAM (SON 33)
Out of nothing, Tottenham equalise.
Lo Celso plays a lovely through ball.
Son breaks the offside trap and finishes clinically for his 11th goal of the season.
VAR checks it and deems the South Korean attacker to be just onside.
Imagine if Spurs just decided to attack more often. They'd be 12-1 up by now.
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) December 16, 2020
His 𝟵𝟵𝘁𝗵 goal for Spurs 💪#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/SdRPHNjEDf
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 16, 2020
Spurs almost get in behind Liverpool again.
Lo Celso plays another defence-splitting pass, but Bergwijn can’t control it.
Down the other end, a Mane shot from the edge of the area deflects safely into Lloris’ arms.
Since the Spurs equaliser, this game has largely reverted to type.
Liverpool are dominating possession, but the majority of their football is being played in front of the Tottenham backline.
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-1 TOTTENHAM
So it’s been an interesting first half.
Liverpool have had far more of the play, though have struggled to break down a stubborn Spurs side.
Lo Celso is perhaps Tottenham’s one weak link defensively, as his missed tackle led to the Liverpool goal, a fortuitous Salah deflected effort.
The Argentine midfielder made up for his error shortly thereafter though, as his lovely through ball led to Son’s equaliser, with the visitors capitalising on the only real clear-cut chance they have created.
It’s a finely poised contest, and hard to predict which way it will go after the break, with Liverpool the far more adventurous team, though they look vulnerable to the pace of their opponents amid the sporadic successful counter-attacks they have launched.
The second half has begun…
Williams misses an attempted header.
It allows Bergwijn to go through on goal, but he scuffs his finish wide when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, under pressure from Alexander-Arnold.
Alisson passes it out straight to Kane.
The Spurs striker then tries to lob the goalkeeper, who is able to tip it over the bar.
Lo Celso squares it to Kane, whose shot goes a few inches over the bar.
It feels like the England international has been involved far more in the last five minutes, compared with the rest of the game.
Spurs look a little bit more purposeful at the start of the second half. Pressing just a little higher, committing a couple more players forward, forcing things a bit more. Wonder if Mourinho thinks Liverpool might run out of legs.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) December 16, 2020
Hjoberg gets booked for cynically dragging back Firmino.
He’s been a key player in Spurs’ rejuvenation, but he’ll have to be very careful now for the rest of the match.
Salah’s curling shot from the edge of the area is parried out by Lloris for a corner.
Spurs, meanwhile, are making a change. Moura is coming on in place of Lo Celso, who was a bit of a luxury player for the visitors given his defensive ineptitude.
Bergwijn goes through on goal, after Son’s headed flick-on.
However, his finish comes back off the post.
That’s two big chances that the Dutch attacker has missed.
Moments later, Harry Kane heads a corner wide.
Firmino’s deflected shot is straight at Lloris.
Currently, Aurier is receiving treatment after a collision with Robertson in the build-up, but he should be okay.
Salah gets in behind the Spurs defence, but his finish from a tight angle is comfortably saved by Lloris.
You get the feeling that the next goal, if there is one, should be enough to win it at this stage.
Jones plays it through to Mane, who spins away from Aurier before hitting it off the bar.
Liverpool are looking the more likely to find a winner at the moment.
Spurs make a defensive change.
Bergwijn is replaced by Sergio Reguilón.
Here’s a look at the Spurs goal earlier…
Son scores on the counter attack! ⚡
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) December 16, 2020
A signature Spurs goal to level things up at Anfield ⚪ pic.twitter.com/vZKGXbvKtp
Dier finds Kane with a long ball.
Alisson appears to tip his shot out for a corner, but the referee gives a goal kick, much to the striker’s dismay.
As has been the case for much of this game, Liverpool are camped in Spurs’ half.
Still though, they look a little short of ideas, with Tottenham defending well.
Harry Kane is down after a clash of heads with Wijnaldum.
It looks like he will be okay to continue.
Tottenham make another change, with Dele Alli coming on for the goalscorer Son.
A Dier free kick is straight at Alisson.
It looks like this game is headed for a draw.
LIVERPOOL 2-1 TOTTENHAM (FIRMINO 90)
Liverpool take the lead in the dying stages.
Firmino jumps above Alderweireld and heads it into the corner of the net.
That could be a big goal in the context of the season.
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-1 TOTTENHAM
75 - Tottenham completed only 75 passes in the first half, the fewest by a José Mourinho side in a league match since his Real Madrid side completed only 54 in the opening 45 minutes against Pep Guardiola's Barcelona in April 2012 - his Real side won 2-1. Strategy. pic.twitter.com/sS784o6GY8
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 16, 2020
Right, that’s it from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our report here and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
