Liverpool's title hopes in tatters after Anfield stalemate against Spurs

 

Luis Dias celebrates after drawing Liverpool level on Saturday against Tottenham. It ended 1-1 and Liverpool will now need City to lose for them to maintain their quadruple dreams. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Liverpool lost steam where it mattered and may have lost the league title to Manchester City after playing out a 1-1 draw at Anfield against Tottenham Hotspur.

There was no way anyone would see another result outside an outright Liverpool win but Antonio Conte and his men stuck to a very effective game plan and could easily have beaten the hosts but for a wasteful finish at the death by Harry Kane.

Both sides fielded the expected eleven, no surprises but for all of Liverpool’s early dominance, they offered nothing upfront to really threaten the Frenchman in the Tottenham goal; Kane was happy to drop deep to provide for Heung Min Son while Liverpool tried to wear them out in the midfield.

Son found the back of the net early in the second half to send cold shivers down the spine of the home fans and set up a tensed atmosphere for the final half hour. It lived up to expectations as tackles went flying round and bookies matched the craziests of them.

Mohammed Salah hasn’t been that player he was in the first half of the season but Luis Dias stepped up to own the night. The Colombian met a fine Tiago Alcantara pass to level things up and that was enough to place Liverpool above City on the league table.

The game ended in a stalemate and credits must go to the visiting team. They have now taken eight points off the top two teams and would take the confidence into their game against Arsenal on Thursday at the London Stadium.

Spurs reduced the deficit between them and Arsenal to one point and a win over the Gunners in the North London Derby will place them two clear of the Gunners, provided Arsenal doesn’t beat Leeds United on Sunday.