Liverpool suffers title blow in home draw with Spurs
LIVERPOOL - Liverpool suffered a huge blow in their hopes of winning the Premier League title as they could only draw 1-1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur on a tense night at Anfield on Saturday.
Luis Diaz cancelled out Son Heung-min's opener to preserve Liverpool's 14-month unbeaten run at home in the Premier League and send them top of the table on goal difference.
But the mood at the end was subdued as reigning champions Manchester City can move three points clear in a gripping title race with three games to play if they win their game in hand at home to Newcastle United on Sunday.
It was only the second time in 15 league matches that Liverpool have not taken all three points -- the other occasion being a draw against City last month -- and the consequences could be severe for Juergen Klopp's men.
With the margin of error tiny, City now look strong favourites to retain their crown.
"It is incredibly difficult to play against an opponent with world-class players and a worldclass manager when they have had a week to prepare and we play every three days," Klopp, whose side reached the Champions League final on Tuesday, said. It could have been even worse for Liverpool had Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg converted a glorious chance deep in stoppage time instead of bizarrely opting to head the ball across to Harry Kane rather than at a gaping goal. In the end a draw was a disappointing outcome for both clubs in their respective ambitions, Liverpool's to reclaim the title and Tottenham's to finish in the top four. Liverpool and Manchester City both have 83 points while Tottenham remain in fifth spot with 62 points, one behind fourth-placed Arsenal who host Leeds United on Sunday. ■