Good afternoon and welcome along to our minute-by-minute coverage of today’s highly-awaited clash at Anfield between Liverpool and Tottenham.
Can you believe it — there are just seven games remaining this season in the Premier League for Liverpool as the title race continues to trudge along at a finely balanced pace.
There was a period just after New Year’s when it looked like Manchester City might just slip ahead and leave the Reds in their wake.
Pep Guardiola’s men secured a pivotal 2-1 win at the Etihad, with Liverpool going on to drop further points against Leicester, West Ham, Man United and Everton.
Since then, however, the Merseysider’s have steadied the ship, seeing off Watford (5-0), Burnley (4-2) and Fulham (2-1), getting closer to the impressive free-scoring side which flew through the first half of the season.
In-between those three wins Klopp’s men also saw off Bayern Munich with a heroic 3-1 win at the Allianz Arena, and now have the welcomed headache of trying to balance domestic and European affairs at the same time.
Tottenham also have that burden to bear too. Spurs have not won at Anfield since May 2011 but represent the toughest opponents Liverpool will face between now and the end of the season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men are out of the title race, but represent a difficult and tricky hurdle to overcome for Liverpool here today if they are to end a 29-year wait for a league crown.
Stick with us, this has all the makings of a cracker at Anfield. Kick-off is coming up in an hour’s time at 4.30pm, with today’s game live on Sky Sports Main Event if you’re near a TV.
Let’s get started with today’s team news…
#THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose, Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele, Lucas, Kane.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 31, 2019
Latest odds from @WilliamHill (18+) 👉 https://t.co/wG3waV6lhh#PL ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/0DEqTAq9F7
TEAM NEWS: Jurgen Klopp makes just two changes from his side’s 2-1 defeat of Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Scorer of the winning penalty that afternoon James Milner comes into midfield along with captain Jordan Henderson, with Adam Lallana and Fabino both dropping to the bench.
For Tottenham Mauricio Pochettino also makes two changes from the side which fell 2-1 to Southampton at St Mary’s three weeks ago. Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Tripper are in, with Eric Dier and Kyle Peter-Walkers dropping out.
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Fabinho, Lovren, Keita, Lallana, Mignolet, Shaqiri, Origi.
Tottenham: Lloris; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Sissoko, Rose; Eriksen, Alli; Lucas Moura, Kane.
Substitutes: Son, Wanyama, Llorente, Foyth, Davies, Skipp, Gazzaniga.
It really is a must-win game for Liverpool this afternoon. With Man City easily swatting side Fulham 2-0 yesterday, the Reds know nothing but a win will see return to the top of the table, albeit with a game extra played. How do you it unfolding at Anfield? Let us know below.
Poll Results:
Afternoon, Reds... 👋 #LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/qMNKT4kprz
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 31, 2019
Some pre-game reading material:
- ‘Enjoy it, have no regrets’ – Van Dijk’s message to double-chasing Liverpool team-mates
- Robbie Keane rolls back the years with cheeky finish at Spurs’ new stadium
- Sadio Mané ready for Madrid switch, says former Southampton team-mate
- Aguero and Silva help Manchester City reclaim top spot as Liverpool prepare to face Spurs
- 15 games that will decide this season’s Premier League title race
KICK-OFF: We’re underway at Anfield for the first half!
There’s a cracking atmosphere inside the ground for this one. Anfield is absolutely hopping. Jurgen Klopp’s side enjoy an early spell of possession knocking the ball about with confidence, but there’s an early pause in play as Danny Rose goes down requiring some medical attention.
Rose seemed to head the ball in an awkward way there, intercepting a strongly-hit high ball by Jordan Henderson. The left back receives some medical attention from the Tottenham backroom team and is okay to continue as play resumes.
Mohamed Salah has the game’s first strike on goal. Jan Vertonghen gives the Egyptian far too much time and space on the edge of the box, but Salah’s left-footed effort curls well over the top of the crossbar.
Tottenham break down the other end with a snappy counter-attack. Harry Kane chests the ball down to Christian Eriksen, who slips in Lucas Moura behind enemy lines. The Brazilian was in a really dangerous position inside the box, but fit-again Trent Alexander-Arnold tracks back and slides the ball out for a corner. Good defending.
Spurs make nothing of the corner as Alisson earns a goal-kick. A very end-to-end start to this game, full of energy and attacking intent. Both sides definitely seem to be up for it, as are the crowd.
Another promising attack from Tottenham as Lucas Moura surges through midfield untracked. Jordan Henderson provides the tackle and forces an offload from the playmaker, with Moussa Sissoko hammering a powerful effort wide on the edge of the area.
Trent Alexander-Arnold drives Liverpool forward at the other end. The young defender piles on down the right wing and crosses into the mixer on his right boot, but Davinson Sanchez is on hand to hook the ball away as Mo Salah sensed an opportunity and peeled away.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 TOTTENHAM (FIRMINO 16)
Liverpool are ahead! Andy Robertson delivers a devastating cross into the area and Roberto Firmino rises highest in-between two Spurs defenders to head the ball into the ground and past Hugo Lloris. A fine header which brings Anfield to its feet. We have lift-off!
It’s the perfect start to this game for Liverpool and immediately Klopp’s men are going for a second. Robertson tries a carbon-copy of his previous cross with another ball into the box. This time Alderweireld manages to beat Firmino to the ball, with Trent Alexander-Arnold driving a shot narrowly wide from the Belgian’s clearance.
Alisson gets into a bit of bother inside the Liverpool box. Danny Rose drives a dangerous ball into the area, but it falls on a plate to the Brazilian instead of Dele Alli, who was lying in wait to have a strike.
Good link-up play between goalscorer Firmino and Mo Salah at the other end. Salah prepares to strike but Davinson Sanchez makes up the ground and executes a superb low block to evade the danger as Liverpool up the ante in search of a second.
Danny Rose is having an excellent opening half in attack for Spurs. He flashes a low cross right across the goalmouth where Lucas Moura looks certain to test Alisson. Some really good reading of the play by Andy Robertson keeps Moura away however, with the ball spilling out the other side of the box and away.
Another decent chance for Tottenham, who are beginning to take control. A neat one-two between Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen sees the England international with the time and space to have a go. Alli traps the ball and swings a decent effort on his right peg, but it flashes over the bar. On target and that easily could have been the equaliser.
Spurs really are beginning to take a firm grip of proceedings now. Liverpool have a bunch of holes throughout midfield and defence which Eriksen, Alli, Kane and Moura are exposing with ease. Kane takes the ball out wide right and crosses, but it flies well wide.
Close! Sadio Mane nearly bags a second for Liverpool, turning away ready to celebrate after an almighty effort. The 26-year-old takes possession just outside the box and curls a delicious effort primed for the top corner… but it just misses the target. Spurs breath a sigh of relief.
Five minutes to go before the break and you have to admit that first half absolutely flew by. Liverpool have enjoyed the upper hand both in terms of possession and chances on goal, but Spurs have come close time after time to level. Klopp’s side have simply been more clinical so far, with not a huge amount in this at the moment.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men have seen the majority of the ball over the last 10 minutes, but Liverpool are hanging in there. A neat period of passing play sees Delle Ali try to bring Kieran Trippier into the game on the right, but his pass is intercepted by Sadio Mane, who did really well to cover a lot of ground and track back into his own box.
There will be one minute of stoppage time to come at the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 TOTTENHAM
A strong opening half from both teams. Liverpool have edged it in terms of possession and chances and, well, on the scoreline too. A fine header from Roberto Firmino had the better of Hugo Lloris and despite a plethora of opportunities to level, Spurs just haven’t shown that finishing touch in front of goal just yet. More action to come very shortly!
One effort on target. One goal.#LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/H6fE5tVZvf
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 31, 2019
SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway for another 45 minutes.
Liverpool come close right away. A corner played short to James Milner is helped on its way towards the back post where Virgil Van Dijk comes flying in. He powers an almighty header towards goal, but it misses the target.
Mauricio Pochettino seems to have ditched his 3-4-3 from the first half and instead has opted for four at the back to try and get a bit of stability. Vertonghen has been moved to left back, with Rose now on the left side of midfield.
Roberto Firmino’s threat from aerial positions has been very impressive this afternoon. Another cross from James Milner picks out the Brazilian free and unmarked, but his effort flies over the crossbar. He’s not particularly tall, Firmino, at 5′ 11″ — but boy can he leap. Guy’s game is strong.
Close! Two excellent chances in quick succession for Tottenham and Spurs fans will be wondering how they aren’t level. Harry Kane forces a decent low save from Alisson before Andy Robertson produces a last-ditch block to deny Christian Eriksen a simple tap-in. That was almost it.
Mo Salah comes agonisingly close at the other end. Liverpool break away on the counter against a back-peddling Spurs defence. Salah has the whole goal to choose where he wants to place his shot, but Toby Alderweireld does superbly to somehow get a block in. Brilliant, brilliant defending.
This has been relentless, it has to be said. Right from the off this game has not let up, and how there has been just the single goal is baffling. 15 shots on target between the sides with half an hour still remaining.
Christian Eriksen with a low ball into the mixer which could have caused one or two issues. Danny Rose was baying at the back post for an easy strike at goal, but Joel Matip does the sensible thing and puts the ball out for a Tottenham corner.
Yet again the set piece comes to nought for the visitors. A poor delivery falls to the feet of Georginio Wijnaldum and the Dutch midfielder lamps the ball clear. Liverpool still hanging on.
Virgil Van Dijk clamps the ball down following a corner at the other end. He tried to dummy past Moussa Sissoko onto his left foot, but the Spurs midfielder does well to intercept. Van Dijk must be an absolute nightmare to defend against in the box.
Substitution for Tottenham: Son Heung-min replaces Davinson Sanchez.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-1 TOTTENHAM (MOURA 70)
Spurs have got their equaliser with twenty minutes left to go. A really smart free-kick taken quickly by Harry Kane finds Kieran Trippier completely free on the right. He feeds the ball into Christian Eriksen, who squares to Lucas Moura, and the Brazilian taps into the back of the net from point blank range. Wow!
That could could have massive repercussions for the title race if Liverpool were to drop points here. There is still plenty of time left for either side to grab another goal, but there are quite a few worried faces around Anfield at the moment.
Klopp’s men fly down the other end to try and regain the lead. Mo Salah peels away from his marker to latch onto Georginio Wijnaldum’s dinked cross, but the Egyptian fails to steer his effort on target.
Liverpool are preparing to make a double switch to try and nick another goal. It was said before kick-off that this is pretty much a must-win game in the context of the title race, and the Reds are beginning to feel that burden now. Will there be late drama?
Ooooof very, very close. Trent Alexander-Arnold curls a dangerous cross towards the back post and it transforms into a shot all of a sudden. It looked dead certain to fly into the top corner, but for a magnificent piece of athletic goalkeeping by Hugo Lloris to tap it over the bar.
Double substitution for Liverpool: Fabinho replaces James Milner & Divock Origi replaces Jordan Henderson.
Chanceeeee! Agonisingly close once again for Liverpool. A corner swung deep into the box is met by the outstretched right foot of Roberto Firmino. The ball looks like creeping into the unguarded near post, but Hugo Lloris reads the danger and produces a last-gasp save on his line. Expert goalkeeping from the France captain.
Liverpool earn a free-kick in a really dangerous spot just outside the box. To everyone’s surprise it’s Divock Origi who strikes it, but the ball whacks the Spurs wall and out for a corner kick. Relentless pressure from the hosts, but Pochettino’s men are holding on.
Substitution for Tottenham: Ben Davies replaces Lucas Moura.
The crowd is growing increasingly nervous inside Anfield as time slips away. Seven minutes left on the clock as Tottenham dig deep to try and hang on. It’s just wave after wave of attacks from Klopp’s side. They know nothing but a win will do.
Salah sprints away into dangerous territory following a neat through ball. He’s up against Jan Vertonghen in a foot race, but the Belgian defender gets there first and puts the ball out for a throw-in.
Tottenham race throw on goal in a two-versus-one situation against the run of play. It’s Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-min up against Van Dijk and it looks absolutely certain to be a late winner for Spurs. Van Dijk splits the two Spurs players and forces Sissoko to shoot on his left — but it’s a woeful effort which flies over the bar. That should have been it.
Tottenham with another attack as Liverpool commit men forward and leave gaps at the back. Son surges through midfield on his own and offloads to his left onto Danny Rose. Rose makes a poor connection, though, and his cross flies over the bar harmlessly. Very wasteful.
It’s all Tottenham now, three chances rapid succession. Dele Alli takes the ball inside the box and tries to curl the ball into Alisson’s top corner, but he just misses the target by a handful of inches. Liverpool really struggling here late on.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time to come at the end of the second half.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-1 TOTTENHAM (ALDERWEIRELD OWN GOAL 90)
IT’S THERE! Liverpool have done it right at the death! A cross deep into the box is headed on target by Mohamed Salah. It forces a low save by Hugo Lloris, but the ball bobbles off the shin of Toby Alderweireld and into the back of the net. It’s probably an own goal, Salah will claim it, but no-one inside Anfield could care less.
Anfield has absolutely erupted. Stoppage time still to go as Tottenham race forward in search of another equaliser. This isn’t over just yet, but Liverpool will try and cling on here with jut a couple of minutes to go. The drama!
Substitution for Liverpool: Dejan Lovren replaces Mohamed Salah.
Jurgen Klopp makes a late switch to try and waste a little bit of time. Mohamed Salah comes off to a massive chorus of applause. It was almost definitely an own goal by Alderweireld, but Salah’s header was absolutely instrumental. A minute to go.
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-1 TOTTENHAM
It’s all over! Liverpool come back from the dead to secure a massive three points in the title race. Roberto Firmino’s header was cancelled out in the second half by Lucas Moura, before poor Toby Alderweireld saw the ball bounce off his shin and into his own net.
It looked like Liverpool’s title hopes were dead and buried there, but the Reds go back top of the league ahead of Manchester City with an extra game played. Just like against Everton earlier in the season, a late goal puts Jurgen Klopp’s men back on top.
Thanks a million for joining us for this most dramatic of games — you can read our full match report here. Until next time, cya!
FULL-TIME Liverpool 2-1 Spurs
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 31, 2019
The Reds are back top. The title race is truly alive. A last-minute own goal from Toby Alderweireld sees Jurgen Klopp's men earn a remarkable victory #LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/CNCFVNsKL8
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