Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Liverpool
It was a duel between two of the most prolific attacking sides in the Premier League, so it was understandable that everyone had an eye on this much-anticipated duel between Tottenham and Liverpool.
The two clubs had plenty of similarities. They both had exhilarating coaches in Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp that you cannot help but cheer for; they have a dangerous attacking threat; they have a deep squad with talented players that can handle everything the league can throw their way.
The fans at Wembley were hoping that Tottenham could edge them out, as pre-match Liverpool vs Tottenham predictions could not give a clear advantage to one specific team. However, it seemed that Klopp’s attacking trident got the best of Spurs as they left London with huge smiles on their faces.
Highlights of the game
The 80,188 fans in attendance knew that Tottenham were in for a long afternoon when Sadio Mane tried to make a contribution to the weekly Premier League 2018 highlights with a first-minute goal. However, the stadium breathed a huge sigh of relief when the linesman ruled him offside.
That first strike was a warning for the Tottenham defence as the Reds continued to hound the backline for the first ten minutes of the game. Roberto Firmino tried to get a lead on Spurs before they managed to find their footing, but Michel Vorm and the rest of the backline prevented a goal from getting through.
Tottenham eventually got their bearings and started attacking but could still not shake off Liverpool and their terrifying attacks. Mohamed Salah, whose scoring rivalry with Harry Kane is eagerly looked upon in the this match’s run-up, attempted a bullet from about 18 yards, but Vorm held on to the ball.
Tottenham tried to make use of their possession to get the ball in the back of the net, but Klopp’s gegenpressing have gotten the better of Pochettino’s lads as Liverpool continue to make more meaningful attacks at the goal.
Christian Eriksen’s free kick in the 29th minute could have gotten the Reds ahead, but Alisson masterfully dove to make the brilliant save. He showed fans and doubters why he is worth the money Anfield spent on him despite the hilariously terrible error he made against Leicester.
It was ten minutes after Eriksen’s attempt that Liverpool finally got one over. Georgino Wijnaldum got the ball after Tottenham failed to clear a James Milner corner. Vorm managed to push the ball away, but the goal-line technology confirmed that the ball had gone in for the goal.
The first half ended without much fanfare after that thrilling goal, and Pochettino tried to bring his Spurs back into the game during the break. The team immediately responded to his calls when Lucas blasted a dangerous shot on 51 minutes. Unfortunately for him, the left post denied him of a beautiful goal.
While they had a good start to the half, Tottenham fans found themselves in a terrible ditch when a quick Liverpool counter ended up with Roberto Firmino standing all alone in front of the goal with the football. There was no possible way the Brazilian could miss from a couple of inches away, and he gladly smacked the ball to the net.
It was then that some fans knew and probably conceded that the game was finally over. Tottenham did everything they can and sent men up the field in order to make a comeback. However, Harry Kane and Lucas could not shake off the impenetrable defence led by a motivated Virgil van Dijk.
However, Erik Lamela made sure that the fans wouldn’t go home lonely. He got the ball that was flying from a late extra-time corner, chested it, and fired a majestic goal that deserves to cap off this brilliant duel.
Key statistics
This defeat makes it two straight losses for Tottenham Hotspur after they shockingly collapsed against Watford. This is the first time in more than two years that Tottenham lost two consecutive Premier League games. The last time they lost two straight games was in 2016: Southampton pulled off a brilliant 1-2 upset while Newcastle mugged them off at St. James’ Park.
The most glaring thing when you compare the match stats of the two sides was the efficiency of the two sides in comparison to their shot attempts. Tottenham had 60% of possession but only converted 11 shot attempts. Only three of those eleven were goal-bound. Meanwhile, Liverpool fired 17 shots and got 10 of them on target, forcing Vorm to make eight saves.
What’s next?
Tottenham’s next task will be a tough Champions League fixture against Inter Milan. The Nerazzurri are playing fairly well in their domestic league and will be tough opponents for Pochettino’s battered lads. Fortunately for them, their next league opponent is Brighton. If they play with a purpose, the SBOBET tips giving them the nod will be justified.
Liverpool also have brow-raising games to look forward to. Their bid to return to the Champions League final begins with a tough fixture: they welcome Neymar and PSG to Anfield in a battle that will be the stuff of legend. They then face Southampton in the league, and Chelsea in the League Cup.
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