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Liverpool blew Tottenham away in a classic Premier League encounter. What a game it was. When these two met around December, it was a battle between 1st place v 2nd place but now it is a battle between 5th and 6th. They both need the win and only one person can win. A win for either team would take the team into top 4.
Liverpool is still struggling with injuries and Joel Matip partnered with Henderson at the back to Mark 11th different partnership in 2 games for Liverpool. They have been shuffling the backline for a long time due to injuries.
Spurs have lost 6 times with their encounter with Liverpool before this match while Kane has scored 6 times already in 12 games against Liverpool. A win for Liverpool would take them 4 points clear of Tottenham and the last time Liverpool lost back to back game came as far as 2015. It remained to be seen what the match would bring since Liverpool haven't scored nor win any match in 2021.
Liverpool wanted to change that and they came out fighting right from the start. Mane missed a massive chance in the 2nd minute when he was in the box. He was aiming for the top corner but he fired agonizingly wide. That was shocking and a missed chance that could have settled Liverpool early on.
On the back of that miss, Tottenham launched forward and Kane exchanged a brilliant ball with Son. Son expertly scored his chance that Mane missed earlier but sadly he was ruled for offside, marginally. It was heartbreak for Tottenham and Mourinho particularly. Kane and Son's partnership seems to be booming.
Son was really impressive on the night and did everything expected of him by getting behind Liverpool's defence and running at the defence with pace and unpredictability.
Firmino had a good hit in the 21st minute but it was comfortably saved and in the same minute, Son broke through and fired a straight shot at Allison that was in no way a threat to him.
Henderson gave a brilliant ball to Salah who in turn found Mane. Mane managed to get a foot on the ball but it was saved. It wouldn't have counted anyway even if he scored as he was ruled for offside.
In the 36th minute, Mane ran into the box and was about to pull the trigger when the ball was taken off his foot. It was a brilliant last-ditch defending. What a game this was.
Mane had another great chance and he managed to get a shot out but Lloris managed to catch it. Both teams had chances and Liverpool dominated possession. It looked like the game would finish 0-0 at half time until Firmino struck. Mane found Firmino in the 49th minute (the 4th minute of the added time) with an easy tap-in. It was a well-crafted goal for Liverpool. There was nothing to separate the two teams until Firmino struck. It was indeed an interesting, entertaining and intriguing first half.
It was a crucial ending to the first half and Tottenham went into half time with concerns, not just for trailing but for an injury to Harry Kane, who has been struggling since the 30th minute when he was fouled but he managed to end the first half.
Liverpool started the second half just as the ended it when Mane's shot was parried by Lloris only to fall into the ready feet of Trent Alexander Arnold, who wasted no time in blasting it in, in the 47th minute after the restarted. 2-0.
Firmino found Salah in the box just a minute after the goal but Salah blazed it over but the deficit was halved when Hojbjerg had his long-range effort rattling the back of the net. It was his first goal in Tottenham colours and what a response it was from Tottenham and of course, what a strike from him. It was a beautiful goal, pure class, perfectly executed, leaving Allison helpless. The hunger and energy he used in executing that goal was pure class and it was a cool assist from Bergwijn.
Liverpool thought they had restored their 2 goals margin when Salah scored. Firmino passed to Thiago, who found Mane, who then found Salah. Salah went for the top corner and it was a brilliant goal. It was ruled out for handball as it struck Firmino's hand in the build-up. VAR checked and asked the referee to check too. He checked and deemed it for handball too.
Wijnaldum had his shot go wide in the 61st minute just to give Liverpool back the 2 goals advantage but it wasn't long after when in the 65th minute, Alexander Arnold's long cross found Mane because the defender, Rodon couldn't deal with it early. It came begging to Mane and he made up for his earlier misses when he brilliantly scored. 2 goals restored, 3-1 the scoreline.
Liverpool players were desperate to score as many goals as they can just to make up for their lack of goals before now but Thiago shot wide in the 70th minute while a lovely run by Salah was cleared by Eric Dier in the box when Salah was struggling to sort out his feet.
Liverpool was too good for Tottenham and the game ended 3-1 in favour of Liverpool. Tottenham is now 8 points off Manchester City having played the same number of games. They are both playing each other for their game in hand. It is going to be another cracker. Liverpool goes 4th while Tottenham stays in 6th with injury concern for their talisman, Harry Kane.
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