Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NO DOUBT, NO FEAR
Klopp’s magnificent men show unshakeable belief to recover from early shock against Spurs and restore six-point lead at the top
WHAT was most impressive was no one ever showed any sign of doubt.
Even at 1-0 down with the clock ticking, it never really looked as though Liverpool would not come back and win.
There was not a murmur of discontent from the crowd, the players kept going, Jurgen Klopp roaring them on to what seemed inevitable.
They were brilliant, they had to be to emerge victorious from a game of such high quality. Of course Liverpool were going to win because that is what they do – even when up against it, even when tired after a Champions League trip in midweek, even when a few are clearly carrying niggles.
It sums up their attitude, their unshakeable belief in this season’s title race as they made it 12 straight wins at Anfield, where they have not dropped points since being held by Leicester last January. That is some run.
There is no sense of fear, no burden of expectation, no one needs reminding they have not won the title for 29 years, because they are fully embracing the challenge.
There was never a doubt Mo Salah would score when he ran up to take a 75thminute penalty.
No matter soon after he was hobbling around on the touchline with an ice pack strapped to an ankle. There is no stopping him.
Liverpool re-established their six-point lead over Manchester City, who visit Anfield in a fortnight. Show the same mental strength as yesterday and they will take another huge step towards glory.
As the tension rose, Tottenham went into their shells and were pinned back by wave after wave of Liverpool attacks. The defining moment, right-back Serge Aurier’s clumsy challenge to concede the penalty, only served to highlight what has gone wrong for Mauricio Pochettino’s men this season. Forget all the other transfer business in the summer, allowing Kieran Trippier (left) to leave for Atletico Madrid and be replaced by Aurier is by far and away the worst. Aurier is a liability, miles away from being good enough and with a big mistake in every game.
It undid all his team’s hard work. They had defended valiantly, Harry Kane put them ahead and stand-in keeper Paulo Gazzaniga was the best player on the pitch, even in defeat.
Spurs stunned Liverpool after just 47 seconds.
Heung-min Son led a counterattack, his shot clipped Dejan Lovren, hit the bar and there was Kane to head home the rebound and go joint third on his club’s all-time goals list with 174.
But from then on, Gazzaniga had to pull off a string of sensational saves, defying Roberto Firmino, Salah and Virgil van Dijk. In contrast, Spurs had very little to offer, one rare break seeing Kane and Christian Eriksen go close.
But Son missed their best chance to kill off the game three minutes into the second half. He outstripped Lovren, rounded keeper Alisson but hit the bar. The match slipped away in that moment.
Four minutes later, Fabinho’s lofted ball put Spurs under pressure, Danny Rose looked to have pushed Firmino but, while Liverpool appealed, Jordan Henderson smashed home.
Liverpool won it with 15 minutes left. Aurier tussled with Mane, lost the ball, lost his man and tripped the Liverpool forward. Salah made no mistake from the spot.