Liverpool got back on the winning trail in the Premier League with a convincing 3-1 victory at Tottenham on Thursday night - their first win in six league games.
Sadio Mane blasted wide in the second minute before Spurs had a Son Heung-Min goal ruled out by VAR for a narrow offside, but that early drama subsided as the pair looked set to go in goalless at half-time.
Roberto Firmino pounced in injury-time in the first period, though, tapping in from a yard after Hugo Lloris failed to come out and claim Mane’s low cross from the left.
The early fireworks in the first period were replicated and some in the second half.
Trent Alexander-Arnold powered in a right-footed volley in the 47th-minute as Liverpool went 2-0 up, only for Pierre-Emile Hojberg to rifle in a stunning strike from 20 yards two minutes later, landing profits for our Tom Carnduff who predicted he’d have a shot on goal at 16/5.
Just seven minutes after that Liverpool thought they had gone 3-1 up after a sweet Mo Salah strike into the top corner, but VAR got involved once more due to a Firmino handball in the build-up.
The reprieve was short-lived for Spurs, Mane striking into the roof of the net on 65 minutes after a good cross from Alexander-Arnold on the right.
Harry Kane went off injured at half-time for Spurs, while Liverpool’s Joel Matip was also replaced at the break by Nat Phillips as Jurgen Klopp’s defensive woes continued.
He won’t mind that too much, however, thanks to a much-needed three points that cut the gap to four points between themselves and Manchester City at the league’s summit.
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
- Manchester City PLD 19 PTS 41
- Manchester United PLD 20 PTS 40
- Leicester City PLD 20 PTS 39
- LIVERPOOL PLD 20 PTS 37
Alexander-Arnold felt Liverpool were good value for their victory.
“It’s what we needed and what we deserved as well,” the England right-back told BT Sport. “We dominated most of the game.
“They had the early goal disallowed – that probably would have changed the way the game was played – but we came here with a gameplan and executed it perfectly.
“It was tough when they scored but, at the end of the day, I think we deserved the three points.”
Jose Mourinho said of Kane's injury: "He's injured in both ankles. To cope with one pain probably he could, but he's very sore, both feet. He couldn't [go on]."
Liverpool boss Klopp felt his side were more like their old selves.
The German told BT Sport: “It was a great game, super-intense. It was all good apart from Joel Matip having to go off.
“What I saw today – it’s not about shape or form, it’s about who we are, and that was us. In the second half especially, that was us.
“Apart from a few minutes I don’t remember they had a lot of the ball. They were quick on the counter-attack but we defended it pretty well. It was a good performance and I saw a lot of things I wanted to see.”
🏆 Who wins the title?
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) January 28, 2021
1⃣ #MCFC P19 GD+23 PTS 41
2⃣ #MUFC P20 GD+10 PTS 40
3⃣ #LCFC P20 GD+14 PTS 39
4⃣ #LFC P20 GD+17 PTS 37
