Premier League - Tottenham vs Liverpool - 28th Jan 2021 - Reds back to winning ways with a 3-1 win...

Result

Tottenham 1-3 Liverpool

Two of the big six met this evening at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in North London. Liverpool as you will know have been struggling without a win in their last 5 games, and it looked as if that record would continue as on 3 minutes, Tanguy Ndombele found Harry Kane who played in Son Heung-Min, who finished expertly. Unfortunately for Spurs, Son was just offside, and VAR disallowed the goal. Soon after on 13 minutes, Harry Kane went down clutching his ankle after a challenge from Thiago Silva. He has a couple of minutes of treatment, but got to his feet to continue.

On 24 minutes, Mo Salah's pass set up a Sadio Mane effort, however Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris reacted sharply to keep the ball out. Thirteen minutes later, a last ditch tackle from Welsh defender Joe Rodden stopped Mane in his tracks after Firmino had played him clear. Liverpool were sitting back at this point soaking up Spurs pressure and trying to catch the home team on the break, and just before half time, the breakthrough for the Reds came. Mane it was who this time provided a pass for Roberto Firmino across the 6 yard box, and he tapped it home, Lloris and Dier seemingly leaving any clearance to each other. Not good defending by Spurs. It was Liverpool's first league goal of 2021.

Into the second half and Spurs came out without Kane, who must have been suffering from the earlier tackle he received - a big blow for Spurs. Worse was to come, as Liverpool soon doubled their lead on 47 minutes. Mane broke into the box firing a shot at Lloris. He could only parry it out into the path of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who guided it into the far corner of the goal making it 2-0 to Liverpool.

Spurs hit back almost immediately one minute later, as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg thundered a rocket into the top corner from the edge of the box - his first goal for Tottenham. Game on!! The next goal would be crucial, and Liverpool got it to restore their two goal lead, or so they thought. On 55 mins after a swift move, Salah appeared on the right of the box, shifted the ball to his left foot, and fired it past Lloris. For the second time in the evening, VAR intervened, and referee Martin Atkinson disallowed the goal for handball by Roberto Firmino in the build up to the goal.

On 64 minutes Mane did extend Liverpool's lead to two goals. A cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold deflecting off defender Joe Rodon landed in the path of Sadio Mane arriving in the penalty area. Mane latched onto the ball and smashed it into the roof of the net to put Liverpool 3-1 up.

This was a lead that Liverpool were not going to give up, and despite Jose Mourinho bringing on Gareth Bale, Spurs rarely threatened for the rest of the game. The victory takes Liverpool back into the top 4 in the league on 37 points, while Spurs remain in 6th place.