Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham: Last minute own goal gives Reds vital win over Spurs to go back to the top of the Premier League
A last minute own goal kept Liverpool's title dreams alive with a pulsating 2-1 win over Tottenham putting them back on top of the table.
Roberto Firmino nodded Liverpool ahead in a first half they dominated, but a different Tottenham emerged after the interval and Lucas Moura levelled to set up a nerve-jangling last 20 minutes.
Both sides had chances to win it but in the end it was Mohamed Salah's header than somehow squirmed in through Toby Alderweireld and Huge Lloris and over the line at the Kop end.
Jurgen Klopp's side held on for the closing seconds to claim a huge three points to move back above Manchester City by two points having played a game more - the 24th lead change in an amazing race for the Premier League table.
After a bright start by Tottenham, Liverpool took total control of the game, with full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson having acres of space out wide as the three at the back formation played by Spurs really struggled.
It was Robertson who grabbed his ninth assist of the season in tremendous fashion with a deliciously whipped in ball from the left that gave Firmino the easiest of headers from close range.
Chances came and went for the hosts with Sadio Mane firing a curler inches wide and Salah threatened on a couple of occasions but unable to find the target.
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Spurs respond in second half
Mauricio Pochettino was in the stands serving the second game of his ban, but his half time tactical switch and pep talk did the trick as Tottenahm emerged a different side and made it much more of a contest.
Harry Kane was behind the equaliser, as he fired a wonderful cross-field ball from a quick free kick to Kieran Trippier, whose cross was scuffed on by Christian Eriksen into the path of Moura who kept his composure nicely to beat Alisson.
The best remaining chances came on the break for both teams, with Salah wasting one for Liverpool while Virgil van Dijk did brilliantly to marshal a two-v-one to force Moussa Sissoko to take the chance on his weaker left foot - and he duly blazed over.
Then, the moment that saw Liverpool rescue the victory as Salah made some good movement at the far post to pull away from his marker and get onto Alexander-Arnold's lofted ball into the box.
His header was relatively tame but Lloris made a huge error by fumbling the ball into the shins of Alderweireld, and the ball trickled over line to give Liverpool a massive three points and keep their title dreams well and truly alive.
As it stands..
- Liverpool P32 W24 D7 L1 GD+53 Pts79
- Man City P31 W25 D2 L4 GD+60 Pts77
Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham - Opta stats
- Liverpool extended their unbeaten home league run to 37 games (W27 D10) – the joint-second longest such streak in Premier League history (level with Manchester City), behind only Chelsea’s 86-match run between 2004-2008.
- Liverpool’s total of 79 points is their best ever tally after 32 matches of a top-flight season (adjusting to three points for a win), surpassing the 76 they had in 1987-88.
- Tottenham have now lost 17 of their 27 Premier League visits to Anfield (W2 D8); only at Old Trafford (21) have they lost more away games in the competition.
- Liverpool have scored three winning goals in the 90th minute or later in the Premier League this season, their second-most in a single campaign after 2008-09 (four).
- Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld is the first player to score a match-winning own goal in the 90th minute or later of a Premier League game since Troy Deeney for Watford against Manchester United in November 2015.
- This was Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino’s 150th defeat as a manager in all competitions, seven of which have been to Liverpool. Only against Chelsea (nine) has he suffered more defeats.
- Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino has scored seven goals in his last six Premier League games at Anfield, as many as his previous 25 beforehand.
- Andy Robertson has nine assists for Liverpool in the Premier League this season; Andy Hinchliffe (1994-95) and Leighton Baines (2010-11) are the only defenders to have had more in a single campaign (both 11).
- Spurs midfielder Christian Eriksen is just the second player to assist 10 or more Premier League goals in four successive seasons, after David Beckham for Man Utd between 1997-98 to 2000-01.