Liverpool maintain 100% record with surprising ease at Spurs
By Steve Clare
Tottenham 1 : 2 Liverpool
A consolation goal in stoppage time from Erik Lamela might have put a gloss on this but don’t let that fool you. Liverpool were better in every department of the game. For every goal Spurs keeper Michael Vorm gave away, he saved two. With better finishing, this could have been 5-1.
Jurgen Klopp might think it should have been.
Liverpool started brighter with better chances and more confident passing. As early as one minute in, they had the ball in the net although an offside flag rightly saved Spurs’ blushes.
At the other end, Toby Alderweireld made a hash of a header from a free-kick and might be glad to have seen the offside flag up.
Nobody was getting much time on the ball but Vorm was busier, saving from Mo Salah before Dier fired wide for Tottenham. Christian Eriksen wasted a free kick by firing directly at Alisson.
Liverpool began to prevail in midfield and gradually took control of the game. Only a great interception by Alderweireld robbed Naby Keita of a clear goal scoring chance. The parity however did not last.
With six minutes left to half time, Gergino Wijnaldum’s header was ruled to have crossed the line by referee Michael Oliver after Dier’s timid header followed a Vorm weak punch. If that goal was comical, the second had a degree of tragi-comedy.
The move began with Kieran Tripper caught ball watching and allowing Sadio Mane to run in behind, and ended with a series of disasters on the Spurs goalline which culminated with Jan Vertonghen hitting his own post, through Vorm’s hands, and Firmino poking the rebound home for Liverpool’s second.
Vorm saved again from Keita later but it should ave been three after Liverpool cut Spurs apart. Firmino managed to get eight yards away from his marker in midfield and turn comfortably. This started the move which ought to have finished with Keita scoring
Lamela’s late goal was a mere consolation. Don’t let it fool you. This was Liverpool/s day.
