Shambolic defending hurt Spurs against Liverpool in the premier league

Tottenham 1-3 Liverpool: Shambolic defending hurt Spurs against Liverpool in the premier league

 

Back on song! Trent Alexander Arnold returned to form in time to help Liverpool past Spurs on Thursday. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Liverpool’s notorious front three sprung to life to help the champions return to winning ways with a commanding 3-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Thursday to round off the game week 20.

 

Goals from the much maligned Roberto Firminho, last season’s sensation, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane capped a dominant display by Jurgen Klopp's side whose first league win since a 7-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace on Dec. 19 restored their place in the top four.

 

The loss became an even bigger blow for Jose Mourinho's side as he confirmed after the match that Spurs striker Harry Kane will be out for a few weeks without being really specific with injuries to both ankles. 

Firmino's effort in first-half stoppage time ended Liverpool's barren run of 482 minutes without a league goal.

Alexander-Arnold doubled their lead in the 47th minute before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg lashed in his first goal for Tottenham a minute later to give the hosts hope.

With Tottenham's defense unravelling, Mane struck again for Liverpool in the 65th minute and there was no coming back for Mourinho's side.

Both sides also had goals ruled out by VAR decisions.

Liverpool's seventh successive win over Spurs in all competitions moved them into fourth spot with 37 points from 20 games, four points behind leaders Manchester City, the ninth league leader in a very weird season who have played a game less. Tottenham, who could have gone above Liverpool with a win, stay sixth with 33 points.

 

This was not quite Liverpool back to their best but it was an important statement of intent for Klopp's side that they will not be giving up their title without a fight.

Even with a makeshift central defensive partnership of Jordan Henderson and the vulnerable Joel Matip they were too strong for a Tottenham side who were culpable for all three goals and Jose Mourinho knows it.

 

"Nothing has really changed, we're the same team we always have been," Alexander-Arnold said.

"We have the same mentality going into games, we respect the opposition. We have the expectation on ourselves that we should win the game and it was a whole performance from the lads."

Liverpool should have ended their drought in the opening minutes when Mane was through on goal but steered his shot wide.

A few minutes later that miss looked costly as Son Heung Min thought he had given Spurs the lead from Kane's pass but his effort was ruled marginally offside by VAR.

 

While Tottenham relied on counter-attacks, Liverpool looked the more threatening side and they were gifted the opening goal deep into stoppage time.

Mane again got behind Tottenham's defense and prodded the ball across towards Firmino who capitalized on indecision by home keeper Hugo Lloris and Eric Dier to tap home.

 

Tottenham replaced Kane, who twice needed treatment, with Argentine, Erik Lamela at halftime with Harry Winks also coming on for hot head Serge Aurier but Tottenham's plans were soon in disarray.

 

Mane was again the creator as he burst into the area and his shot was only pushed out by Lloris into the path of Alexander-Arnold to rifle in the rebound with his right foot.

Tottenham responded within a minute from an unlikely source as Hojbjerg sent a swerving effort past Allison from the edge of the area. In a frenetic passage of play Mohammed Salah then belted a shot past Lloris but Tottenham were spared by a VAR check which showed a harsh handball by Firmino in the build-up.

 

Ten minutes later another Spurs error, this time by central defender Joe Rodon, allowed a low cross to reach Mane who made no mistake.

 

On Kane's injury, Mourinho said: "Two ankles, the first was a bad tackle, it was [Liverpool's] Thiago [Alcantara], the second one I didn't know well.

"But two injuries in both ankles, the second one worse than the first one -- a few weeks, I don't know. There are some players you can't replace."

Klopp's side also endured yet more center-back woes as Matip, who has battled to stay healthy all season, suffered a "serious" injury.

"If you have a center-half available who is a reasonable price, and who is of the quality we need, send me a message and I will go for it. It's not about [just signing a player]," Klopp said of possibly signing reinforcements ahead of the winter transfer deadline.