RESULT! HETHO
displays from Henderson, Wijnaldum, Firmino – my God I don’t think I’ve seen a better performance from a striker without scoring.”
Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana proved too hot to handle and with a little more luck would have had clear-cut chances to trouble keeper Hugo Lloris as the opening 15 minutes flew by.
The Kop were definitely up for this, urging their heroes forward. They sang their hearts out to create a wall of deafening noise to warn Tottenham they were in for one hell of a game.
And that was that the case with two glorious goals in two manic minutes from Mane.
First, the Senegal striker was put through by Georginio Wijnaldum in the 16th minute and he ran on before lifting the ball over Lloris to bring the house down.
Then after 18 minutes it was suddenly 2-0 and the January slump was a distant memory.
Eric Dier uncharacteristically got caught in possession by mad-for-it Mane and he chased away to cross for Lallana whose shot was parried.
The ball fell to Firmino and his effort was halfsaved before Mane finished off.
The action was electric – mindnumbing if you were in the white of Spurs as their midfield and defence were completely over run.
Mane was unstoppable, whizzing in a shot which almost produced a first-half hat-trick before the same man unleashed a blockbuster which was brilliantly saved.
Tottenham finally recovered from the pounding and Heung-Min Son saw his low shot saved by under-pressure keeper Simon Mignolet with his boot. Dele Alli’s header was then deflected over by defender Lucas.
But back came Liverpool. Coutinho had a dig as the excitement continued and the half-time whistle came as a mighty relief for the Londoners who left for the dressing room bruised, battered and completely bewildered.
Liverpool manager Klopp was back out before anyone else, applauding his men back into the thick of the action.
There was not the same power and purpose, though, as Tottenham finally woke from their own slumber.
But Liverpool dug in their heels, determined not to let them pass.
And Joel Matip thought he had headed a third before Lloris hugged his effort to his chest. Coutinho dragged his own shot wide as Liverpool kept up the relentless pressure.
The final whistle came as a blessed relief for Tottenham.
Klopp’s prayers, though, were well and truly answered.