LIVERPOOL SWEEP ASIDE TOTTENHAM
Erik Lamela’s late consolation made the finish much closer than it should have been as Liverpool again dominated Spurs.
Liverpool continued their perfect start to the season to stay top of the Premier League after a goal in each half gave them a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Saturday
Georginio Wijnaldum picked the perfect time to score his first away goal in the Premier League when he headed Liverpool into a 39th-minute lead, before Roberto Firmino steered home a second soon after halftime to ensure Liverpool made it five wins from five.
Since October last year they have had the best defensive record in the Premier League, keeping more clean sheets than any other team, but they were denied another by Erik Lamela in stoppage time.
Lamela’s goal from a tight angle was deemed a mere consolation, though, as Spurs slipped to consecutive league defeats for the first time since the final two games of the 2015-16 season, meaning they remain outside the top four.
“We were that good it was difficult for Tottenham,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said. “The performance today was better than the result. It was the best game of the season for us.”
Determined to write the wrongs of their 4-1 defeat by Tottenham last season, Liverpool started quickly and Firmino had the ball in his net inside the first minute, only to be denied by the offside flag.
Harry Winks, making his first Premier League start since December, helped Spurs to calm the storm initially but defensive mistakes allowed Liverpool to create openings.
Soon enough, Wijnaldum headed Liverpool in front from a corner, capitalising on a poor punch from goalkeeper Michel Vorm.
Spurs’ best chance to get back into the contest came when Lucas Moura drove at the Liverpool defence, drilling against the foot of the post and giving Wembley hope that the tide had turned.
“When Lucas Moura hit the post that was the key moment,” Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said. “Moments like this are when you can get confidence. This type of game shows we need to improve if we are going to be contenders.”
Hope of a recovery vanished minutes later when Firmino was on hand to tap the ball home almost on the goal line.
Liverpool wasted chances to find a third goal and endured a nervy finish after Lamela scored in stoppage time but they saw out the victory that keeps them ahead of the chasing pack. REUTERS Jose Mourinho claims Paul Pogba has not told him that he wants to leave Old Trafford, though the Manchester United manager admits he remains “in the dark” over his midfielder’s future.
Pogba cast fresh doubt on his commitment to United last week while on international duty, telling journalists that while he is still under contract in Manchester, “... who knows what will happen in the near future?”
The 25-year-old has been persistently linked with a move away from Old Trafford since returning this summer as a World Cup winner and his relationship with Mourinho is believed to have become strained.
Last month, when asked whether he was happy in Manchester, he claimed he would be fined if he spoke truthfully about his feelings.
However, speaking at his pre- match press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to high- flying Watford, Mourinho denied that Pogba had ever personally informed him of a desire to leave the club.
“Paul came back after the World Cup the week before we started the Premier League. We are together two months or so. He never told me he wants to leave. Never. He never told me he wants to leave,” the United manager insisted.
“I can only comment on what is real for me, not in what I read, not in what I listen. I have no direct relation with the people that write or the people that listen. I have a direct relation with the players— not [ just] Paul— the players. And he never told me he wants to leave.
“If he doesn’t tell me he wants to leave, it’s because he wants to stay. That’s my conclusion, no?”
On Pogba’s most recent comments specifically, Mourinho added: “You have to ask him. As a manager I tell you the truth. That’s his problem, his relation with the media. I am not going to comment.” Even if Pogba has not confronted Mourinho, his agent Mino Raiolais reportedly working behind the scenes, attempting to move his client on from Old Trafford. THE INDEPENDENT