ON KLOPP OF THEIR GAME
Liverpool rediscover mojo and hit Spurs’ title hopes
MORE than a month after the Anfield crowd last roared with hope, their team regained their swagger.
On New Year’s Eve they were gearing up for a title challenge here when they beat Manchester City. Last night, you could almost understand why, as an exhilarating Liverpool thrust aside one of the best teams in the Premier League with a near-perfect first-half display inspired by Sadio Mane.
And yet it did rather beg the question — why had this team disappeared? Since City’s visit, the collective might of Plymouth, Swansea, Southampton and Wolves visited Anfield. Not a win had been gleaned and inferior teams have exposed Liverpool at times.
There was a draw with Chelsea, but last weekend Liverpool were lamentable at Hull.
Come the big games, however, and they seem to have a side worth watching.
It cannot just be the return of Mane from the African Cup of Nations, though yesterday in his first game at Anfield since New Year’s Eve he was quite unplayable.
He scored two but might have had five. Eric Dier and Ben Davies were particularly exposed by him.
As for Tottenham, this was a huge jolt to any lingering title ambitions. You could visualise Antonio Conte’s broad grin as, on another Saturday off, the chasing pack continued to tear themselves apart and allow Chelsea a clear run.
Liverpool in the opening period were simply scintillating.
Tottenham started the day with the best defensive record in the Premier League — they had only conceded seven goals from open play all season, with security at the back a Mauricio Pochettino trademark.
And yet it was not just that they conceded two goals in as many minutes. It was that they looked like conceding every time Liverpool flew forward. Of course, Tottenham were missing Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose from their regular back four. Nevertheless, the scale of their disarray was extraordinary.
That heady mix of an Anfield evening, the roar of a fully-engaged Kop and a Jurgen Klopp team intent on harrying the life out of any dithering defender is a toxic combination for opponents. At their best, Tottenham can do the same to theirs, but last night they suffered.
Hugo Lloris’ save from Philippe Coutinho after an exquisite exchange of passes was a marker of what was to come. On 16 minutes, Victor Wanyama was robbed in midfield and Georginio Wijnaldum threaded through the most delightful ball which split Tottenham’s defence and had Davies chasing Mane in vain.
The Senegalese striker simply raced away and Tottenham were utterly exposed. Despite Lloris bearing down, he managed to finish and Anfield sensed superiority.
Tottenham barely had time to absorb that shock when they were pressed into another mistake. This time it was Dier who was robbed on the ball by Mane, who flew away and squared for Adam Lallana, whose shot was parried by Lloris. It fell to Roberto Firmino who forced another save from Lloris, only for the ball to sit up for Mane to volley home.
Now it felt like open season, Lloris against the rest, though mainly Mane, who struck the side-netting and then had another effort tipped over by the Frenchman. Tottenham had been overwhelmed and Mane was simply outstanding.
Tottenham could not be expected to be so compliant after the interval, and were more robust. In a 20-minute spell, Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip, James Milner, Son Heung-min, Harry Kane and Harry Winks were all booked. Dier and Toby Alderweireld were added later.
Tottenham did manage something other than a physical response when Christian Eriksen floated in a free-kick which Kane managed to direct against the post. The offside flag was raised but it was an indication of Spurs’ determination to engage with the battle.
Nevertheless, the flow of traffic was still predominantly towards Lloris’ goal. Matip headed just wide on 71 minutes and Lallana then fed Coutinho, but the Brazilian shot just wide through Alderweireld’s legs.