LIVERPOOL: Roberto Firmino headed a 90th-minute winner as Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Anfield on Wednesday (Dec 16) to open up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League table over the London club.
 |
| Image: Heung-Min Son and Mohamed Salah in action during Tottenham's trip to Liverpool |
Liverpool have 28 points while Spurs are now second on 25 points with both teams having played 13 games. Southampton and Leicester are both on 24 points.
Mohamed Salah had put Liverpool ahead before Son Heung-min levelled for Spurs in the 33rd minute and while the home side dominated it was the visitors who had the best chances after the break.
But Firmino's powerful header from a corner ensured a victory for Juergen Klopp's side, leaving Jose Mourinho empty-handed, and the Spurs manager felt his side had deserved all three points.
"I told him (Klopp) the best team lost and he disagreed, but that's his opinion," Mourinho said.
"So close to winning, but we missed the chances, we had the chances, had the game under control, a draw would be a bad result - so you can imagine how we feel with a defeat," he said.
Klopp's side dominated from the outset and took the lead in the 26th minute when Salah's shot deflected off Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld and looped into the far corner.
But Tottenham struck back seven minutes later, Giovani Lo Celso breaking strongly before finding Son with a superb pass and the South Korean beat Alisson with a clever and composed finish.
Despite the home side enjoying the vast majority of possession, Spurs had two great chances to go ahead with Steven Bergwijn bursting into the box and holding off Trent Alexander-Arnold but his shot hit the post.
Moments later Harry Kane found himself unmarked from a Son corner but uncharacteristically made a mess of his header, directing the ball into the ground and off-target from a great position.
Such opportunities are rare at Anfield and the champions made Spurs pay at the death with Firmino leaping to power home a header from Andy Robertson's corner.
"A good game against a counter-attacking monster, the possession we had we did incredibly well," Klopp said.
"Yes they have scored a goal, had two chances, apart from that we controlled the game and it is a massively deserved three points and I am happy," he added.
PLAYER RATINGS
Liverpool: Alisson (8), Alexander-Arnold (6), Fabinho (8), R Williams (7), Robertson (8), Henderson (6), Wijnaldum (7), Jones (7), Salah (7), Firmino (8), Mane (7).
Subs: None.
Tottenham: Lloris (6), Aurier (7), Alderweireld (6), Dier (6), Davies (6), Sissoko (7), Hojbjerg (7), Lo Celso (7), Bergwijn (6), Kane (6), Son (8).
Subs: Lucas Moura (5), Reguilon (5), Alli (n/a).
Man of the Match: Roberto Firmino.
OPTA STATS - Fortress Anfield
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 66 home games in the Premier League (W55 D11), with their last defeat coming against Sam Allardyce's Crystal Palace back in April 2017.
Tottenham have won just one of their last 27 Premier League away games against Liverpool (D8 L18), last winning there in May 2011 under Harry Redknapp.
Only versus Chelsea (102) have Tottenham conceded more Premier League goals than they have against Liverpool (97).
This was Tottenham's first Premier League defeat in 12 Premier League games (W7 D4), since a 0-1 loss to Everton in September.
20 of Tottenham's 25 Premier League goals this season have been scored by either Son Heung-min (11) or Harry Kane (9).
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID....
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: "To play a game like this tonight is absolutely exceptional. It was a top game and we deserved three points against a top side who, organisation-wise were very difficult to play against with the counter-attacking threat they have. I liked the game a lot. I've got no problem scoring late if it is needed. We really deserved the three points.
"Of course Tottenham had chances, they scored a goal with an unbelievably tight offside decision - we are really not lucky with these decisions at the moment. They had other chances - you cannot defend Kane, Son, Bergwijn for 90 minutes, the speed they have is incredible.
"But around those moments we were completely in charge of the game, stayed concentrated and protected our attacks sensationally well, counter press was good, passing was good. Not all of our efforts led to a goal or a proper chance because they were deep in the box and defended all of the high balls.
"We needed to be creative and the boys were creative, stayed creative and then forced it. The first goal we forced a little bit and the second with the set piece is really nice because we don't have a lot of time to work on things and that worked out again."
Mourinho
Image: Jose Mourinho has never won away against Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp in six attempts in all competitions (D2 L4), with Klopp being the manager he's faced the most away from home without ever tasting victory.
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho: "I think even a draw would have left us not with the best taste because we had them there to win it. It was not just about the big chances, it was the moment of the big chances. The moment was when they were in trouble, in their worst moment, and we had it there to kill it and we missed it.
"Normally, in matches of this level, you pay [for] it. I thought we were going to pay [for] it by just taking a point, but in the end, we did not even take a point so it is very disappointing.
"Looking to the performance, I am happy with the team. I am happy with our proposal, the proposal of going to every match to win it. Sometimes you cannot do it. Sometimes you cannot play better than you did because of the opponent. Today, I really think, in such a difficult game against such a good team, the boys were very good and we are punished."
EPL RESULTS:
TABLE STANDINGS
Buy Luxury Apartments on the Island, Lagos
- Readers Comments desired, Share Your Story in comment box below;
0 Comments