Spurs 4-1 Liverpool: (some thoughts on a thrilling game of football)

It was a day in which two of the premier leagues most attack minded sides faced each other, our beloved Spurs and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, and it certainly stood up to the billing. It was a game in which Pochettino’s in form side flourished in, against an attacking Liverpool side with a woeful defence, the Wembley curse had been well and truly broken with a superb 4-1 victory. There was champagne football on display from both sides though it was our lads who were the exceptional side, out playing Liverpool with some brilliant incisive football from just 36% of possession, the colossal Harry Kane at the heart of all the action. Carrying on from our famous 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in midweek, Pochettino’s side could never have looked fresher starting the game with some electric play, where we looked destined to score every time we approached the Liverpool goal. Harry Kane got things off to a brilliant start inside just 4 minutes when he latched on to Trippier’s pass before powering his way into the area and swivelling around the diving Mignolet with immaculate close ball control, before clinically tapping home. The 80,000 strong crowd (a premier league record) were in jubilant form and things were to get even better for them, when Spurs doubled their advantage a mere 8 minutes later, after the unstoppable Kane powered down the right wing, before shrugging off a hapless Lovren and crossing into Son, who clinically converted at the far post. Spurs could have gone three up after another brilliant move which resulted in Son smashing an effort off the crossbar as Liverpool continued to look dazed.

Spurs seemed destined to put the game to bed, but Liverpool had other ideas. Klopp’s side pulling a goal back when Salah clipped the ball home after receiving a long ball from Henderson. Liverpool then begun to make more of a mark on the game following Salah’s goal, good chances being created from both sides. However, the pivotal goal was scored for Spurs by Dele, when he capped of a perfect first half of football with a well measured volley on the edge of the penalty area, in additional time of the first half. A surprise half time guest which was none other than the legendary Diego Maradona prolonged the excitement. And it was straight after the interval when Spurs wrapped up proceedings after Harry Kane put the game to bed with a poachers finish inside the area following Eriksen’s resulting free kick which was totally missed by Mignolet, who went to punch. Spurs went on to control the game, and in truth we could have scored as many as six goals, such was our creativity and energy going forward. Our brilliant side played like a team of champions with the skill, class and intelligence to outplay one of the leagues finest sides with such a low
amount of possession (36%). It was yet another tactical masterclass from Pochettino he set his side up impeccably, with Dele Alli in a deeper creative role, Son coming in to form a diamond with Erisken and the centre of attention, a certain Mr.Harry Kane. It was that free flowing and confident football that we had seen over the course of the last month or so, really come into fruition and we looked unstoppable.

Klopp’s side set out to get us on the counter attack, but our brilliant start ended that plan meaning they were always on the back foot. There were three standout performances which I’ll be focusing on, starting with our superstar Harry Kane. There are no words to describe the magnificence of our talisman, Sunday’s game was played around him and every contribution he made to the game was significant. Contributing just the two goals and one assist, the powerful English striker put in one of his performances of the season giving the reds defence a torrid time in the process. You just had to see the runs he made, his positioning, strength and clinical ability in front of goal to show you why he is one of the Worlds very best. Though he did come off injured towards the tail end of the game (it appears it was just cramp) he’s sensational swashbuckling performance was that from a player at the top of his game who is more often than not impossible to defend against or nullify. With the absence of both Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama, Pochettino put Dele Alli in a deeper position against Liverpool as he formed a midfield partnership with Harry Winks. Dele had a tremendous game, and put in a performance to rival any premier league midfielder. Efficient and creative, Alli was so composed against the likes of Can and Henderson. He oozed class, combining his attacking play with a more defensive stance. The pocket of space he found, and the brilliant volley for our third and most decisive goal was so perfectly executed.

The other player who really impressed me was Jan Vertonghen, whose tenaciousness across the backline had just as big an impact on the game as Harry Kane did going forward. His timing and reading of the game was immaculate, the numerous important interceptions he made, was testament to his class on the pitch. Apologies for the late write up of the game. COYS

 

Statistics: Senior goal scorers: Alli-3
Davies-2
Kane-13
Eriksen-3
Son-2
Sissoko-1

 

Assists Eriksen-3
Trippier-6
Davies-2
Kane-3
Alli-2
Alderweireld-1
Sissoko-1