By: Shane Brennan
Liverpool welcomed Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield on Saturday evening, The Reds knew that anything less than a victory would hand a huge boost to fellow title contenders Manchester City ahead of their game against Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds came out of the blocks with gusto, and they were pushing Spurs right back early doors, and the pressure did lead to Liverpool having shots from distance form Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold respectfully, but that was as good as it got for Liverpool during the early stages of the encounter, as Tottenham somehow dealt with Liverpool’s high pressing start with minimal fuss, much to their credit.
Liverpool continued to press for the crucial opening goal, and they were very nearly given a helping hand through a most awkward header from Ryan Sessegnon that looped up in the air and across goal, thanks to a big hand from Hugo Lloris, as Thiago Alcantara’s ball into the box caused utter panic for the Spurs defence.
Then Liverpool almost took the lead from a corner, as Alexander-Arnold whipped the ball into the box, and like the majority of the time this season, the ball found a red shirt, and on this occasion it was Virgil van Dijk leaping highest as he made good connection with the header, but unfortunately the crossbar was in the way.
Just before the break there was a chance at either end, the first of which came Liverpool’s way, through Luis Diaz working the room to release a tremendous shot, as Lloris ended up diving down to his right-hand side to make a fine save.
Then it was Spurs turn to give Liverpool a scare, because straight from that aforementioned attack Tottenham went down the other end with Heung-Min Son, as he ended up picking out Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who cracked the left hand side of the post with a thunderous attempt, as The Reds were warned!
After a frustrating first half where Liverpool did most of the running and looked the more likely side to make the breakthrough, Spurs were to hit Liverpool with the ultimate sucker punch at the start of the second half, as The LillyWhites clicked into gear, Lloris found Emerson Royal, he punted the ball up towards Harry Kane, as the Englishman controlled the ball excellently, he looked up and assessed his options, and in the blink of an eye Sessegnon was on hand to set up Son for a tap in, as the Liverpool faithful were stunned into silence.
Spurs then very nearly doubled their advantage through a lightning quick break away, as Hojbjerg picked out Royal, who was racing down Liverpool’s right wing, he crossed the ball to find Sessegnon in oceans of space, as he tried to square the ball for the waiting Son, but ever so fortunately from The Reds point of view, the ball bounced off Son at pace and out for a goal kick.
Like all good title challengers when they look down and out when everything looks to be going against them, they find answers, and that is exactly what Liverpool managed to do, when Diaz rattled a shot towards goal, the ball deflected off Rodrigo Bentancur into the back of the Tottenham net, as The Reds were once again back on level terms.
Sadly in the time that remained Liverpool could not come up with another clear cut opportunity to break down a resolute well organised Spurs side, and perhaps Spurs could count themselves a little bit unlucky not to have come away with all three points, as they had a good opportunity through, Ben Davies and a few more threatening counter attacks, before Michael Oliver called time on what was a frustrating day for Liverpool in their pursuit of the Premier League Crown.
Up next for Liverpool is a trip to face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Tuesday evening.
