SWEET SADIO
LIVERPOOL ARE ON MANE STREET AGAIN
MORE than a month after Anfield 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 the exquisite 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 on Mane from the African Cup of Nations, though yesterday in his first game at Anfield since New Year’s Eve he was quite unplayable and utterly compelling.
He scored two but might have had five. Eric Dier and Ben Davies were particularly exposed by him and it was a performance that put you in mind of Luis Suarez. There is not much higher praise.
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 that 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 wasn’t just that they conceded two in two 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. But 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.
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.
Barely had Tottenham had time to absorb that shock then 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 only 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.
There is always a vulnerability at the heart of Liverpool, however. Son Heung-min found himself clear on 26 minutes and Simon Mignolet saved well. But Lloris was again called into action to save from Coutinho. Tottenham, though, had recovered a degree of composure from the mauling they received in the first 20 minutes and were at least establishing a foothold in the game. They couldn’t be expected to be so compliant after the interval. The first-half chaos had been so uncharacteristic that it seemed unlikely to prevail. They had to endure the Kop’s excited claims for a penalty when Lallana shot into the arm of Dele Alli on 49 minutes. But ultimately Tottenham were more robust. So much so, that challenges begun to fly in with even less caution than previously, from both sides. In a 20minute spell Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip, James Milner, Song, 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 freekick which Kane managed to direct against the post. The offside flag was raised but it was an indication of Tottenham’s 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 and the Brazilian shot just wide through Alderweireld’s legs.
For Tottenham, there was always hope. They had been outplayed at Manchester City and still grabbed a draw at the end. Doubtless they had similar thoughts. But they struggled for genuine goalscoring opportunities and Liverpool seemed a different proposition to the side that had seemed so fragile throughout January and early February.