Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
A top of the table Premier League clash in front of 2,000 fans may be unusual, but the lack of spectators didn’t lead to a let-up in the intensity of this one.
Two good sides, two contrasting styles, two colourful managers, but there could only be one winner and this brought us Premier League highlights until the very last moment – a Roberto Firmino moment as the reigning champions moved three points clear at the summit.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds were correct yet again.
Highlights of the game
A look at both team-sheets made for interesting reading.
Jose Mourinho had questioned the fact his opposite number had pleaded player poverty in recent weeks. Yes, they were missing men, but with the exception of Virgil van Dijk and new signing Thiago, mainly squad men rather than regular starters.
Central defence, though, was a legitimate concern. Home boss Jurgen Klopp was hoping Joel Matip would be fit, but he didn’t make it so youngster Rhys Williams partnered Fabinho at centre back and acquitted himself well.
Meanwhile, Spurs, whose progress was checked with a weekend draw at Crystal Palace, were missing Gareth Bale from their squad.
This was always going to be an emotional night in Liverpool’s first home game since the passing of former coach Gerard Houllier, and the hosts were determined to secure a victory in honour of their former favourite.
They dominated the first half too, although Spurs did restrict them to few genuine chances.
From one such move, a surging run from left-back Andy Robertson found Mohamed Salah whose shot was straight at Hugo Lloris.
The Egyptian did break the deadlock shortly afterwards with an effort which took a massive deflection off Toby Alderweireld and looped over the French keeper.
Two other chances saw the keeper tested by young Curtis Jones and a Roberto Firmino shot.
By then, though, Spurs had equalised with their only effort on target in the opening 45 minutes.
Giovanni lo Celso produced a superb through ball matched only by the composure and finishing of Son Heung-Min for the South Korean’s 99th Spurs goal.
Into the second period and Mourinho was always likely to make sure his team were more dangerous on the counter-attack – and so it proved.
Within a few minutes of the restart, they should have been in front as Steven Bergwijn sliced wide when clean through before play moved to the other end and Lloris was again called into action to turn away a Salah effort.
Two chances midway through the first half were spurned by Spurs as first Bergwijn, clean through again, struck the post and Harry Kane headed down and over the bar from close range.
It was soon the home side’s turn to hit the woodwork as Sadio Mane spun Serge Aurier and smashed the ball against the crossbar.
Kane then went close as play went from end-to-end as both sides went in search of a winner.
There was to be a winner and it came from Firmino, heading home from a Robertson corner to move Liverpool to the summit, just as Mourinho had seemed set to frustrate Liverpool again.
The champions are back on top.
Key statistics
Liverpool have won 11 successive Premier League home fixtures against established top-six teams. They are unbeaten in 66 Premier League home matches since a 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace in April 2017 (won 54, drawn 11).
They are the only club to have scored in all of their Premier League matches this season.
Salah is the 14th player to score for and against Mourinho in the Premier League. He has been directly involved in six goals in his last seven Premier League meetings with Tottenham (five goals, one assist).
Firmino’s header was only the third 90th-minute winning goal v Mourinho in the Premier League, after Mark Viduka for Middlesbrough in August 2006 and Oussama Assaidi in December 2013 for Stoke City.
80 percent of Tottenham’s Premier League goals in 2020-21 (20 out of 25) have been scored by either Son (11) or Kane (nine).
Son has scored five goals in his last seven Premier League start against the reigning champions (2015/16 Chelsea, 2016/17 Leicester, 2019/20 Man City, 2020/21 Liverpool).
Liverpool’s five most recent victories in this fixture have all come by a single goal.
Spurs have now lost six consecutive matches in all competitions against Liverpool for the first time.
Tottenham have claimed 70 points under Mourinho – only Manchester City (76) and Liverpool (93) have better records since he joined Spurs.
What’s next?
There is little let-up for either side in this congested 2020/21 campaign.
Liverpool are back in action at Crystal Palace on Saturday lunchtime but at least do then get a week off as they are not in action again until hosting West Brom on December 27.
Spurs have no such luxury as they host Leicester on Sunday (December 20), visit Stoke in the League Cup quarter-finals a week tonight (December 23) and then visit Wolves in the Premier League (December 27) over the next 10 days.
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