Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
After a Premier League encounter like this, I began asking myself should I focus on the superb record and character shown by league leaders Liverpool or concentrate more on the trouble and strife seemingly embedded at Spurs.
Certainly, the difference in form both sides have displayed since meeting in last season’s Champions League Final is staggering.
Yet when England captain Harry Kane took just one minute to break the deadlock at Anfield – moving joint-third alongside Martin Chivers (174) in Spurs’ all-time leading goalscorers list – there was a chance Spurs could turn the SBOBET Premier League betting odds on their head.
What followed was as expected and said as much about Spurs’ failings as it did about Liverpool’s confidence.
Highlights of the game
The Premier League highlights reel began inside 48 seconds when Son Heung-Min saw his effort deflected onto the crossbar by Dejan Lovren and promptly nodded in by Kane.
Liverpool pressed for an equaliser but the turning point was arguably seven minutes after the restart when the South Korean hit the woodwork for a second time after rounding Lovren and home goalkeeper Alisson.
Had that gone in then Spurs, low in confidence after recent results before their Champions League cruise in midweek, may have had the confidence to see the job through.
They didn’t and minutes later the hosts were level when captain Jordan Henderson half-volleyed into the far corner.
Liverpool’s pressure eventually took its toll with 15 minutes left when Serge Aurier – an accident waiting to happen according to some observers – caught the back of Sadio Mane’s leg and conceded a penalty which Mo Salah converted past the excellent Paulo Gazzaniga.
The Spurs number two goalkeeper had been terrific throughout, denying the table toppers with saves from Salah, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk the pick of the bunch before keeping out an effort from full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Mane headed wide from close range.
Liverpool stay six points out in front – a big lead – while Spurs are struggling.
The decision to again leave Lucas Moura on the bench raises questions, and surely he or club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele – a £65million recruit – would have been better starting than some of the starting XI, while Jan Vertonghen was missed at the heart of the visitors’ defence, even though he has been out of form.
The debates about Mauricio Pochettino and his selections will rumble on but it would be unfair to dwell on this for too long against a side who, right now, are showing class as well as character.
Key Statistics
There have been 23 penalties in Premier League fixtures between Liverpool and Tottenham, two more than any other fixture in the competition.
Aurier has conceded four penalties in 48 games in all competitions since his Tottenham debut in September 2017; no Premier League player has given away more.
Kane’s first-minute opener for Spurs was his 150th goal involvement in the Premier League in his 191st appearance in the competition (131 goals, 19 assists).
Kane has been directly involved in eight goals in 10 league appearances against Liverpool, scoring six and setting up two.
Liverpool have now equalled the Premier League record of 28 points after the opening 10 fixtures. All three teams who hold that record (Chelsea in 2005-06, Manchester City in 2011-12 & 2017-18) went on to win the title that season.
They are on a club record run of 12 home victories in a row and 45 successive matches unbeaten at Anfield.
Salah has scored seven goals in his last nine starts against Spurs in all competitions, five for the Merseysiders and one each for Basel and Fiorentina.
Spurs’ 4-1 win at Wembley two years ago is their solitary success in the past 16
meetings in all competitions against Liverpool (drawn four, lost 11).
This was Henderson’s first Premier League goal at Anfield since he netted against West Brom in December 2015.
Spurs are now in the bottom half of the Premier League table in November for the first time since 2014.
Spurs have won only three of their past 13 Premier League games, keeping one clean sheet.
Spurs won 11 of their opening 13 league away games last season but are winless in all subsequent 11 away league matches (drawn two, lost nine).
What’s next?
Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield in the League Cup on Wednesday and are back in Premier League action on Saturday (November 2) at Aston Villa.
Spurs travel to Merseyside again next weekend as they face Everton at Goodison Park in the Premier League.
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