Spurs Stand Tall to Earn a Point at Liverpool

Click below to listen to the audio version.

Saturday 7th May 2022

Match Report

Liverpool 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Venue: Anfield, Liverpool

Competition: English Premier League

"Pre-Match Thoughts – Another must win game in this incredibly tense race with the gooners for that precious 4th spot. Today we're up against possibly the best team in the world right now, and it's on their turf too. On top of that we have a dreadful record against Liverpool, having only won one of the past 20 meetings. With the title in the balance, they need to win this just as much as we do. On a positive note, there's a perception that the way Spurs play, catching teams on the counter, could be the best way to beat Liverpool.

It's going to take a momentous effort from the team to get anything out of this one. I'm going to stay relatively positive and predict a 2-2 draw."

As expected Kulusevski returned to the starting line-up in place of Lucas Moura. It was the only change to the team that beat Leicester last week.

12' Despite being pressured by two Liverpool men on the right side, Kulusevski still managed to dig out a pass over the top that landed beautifully into the path of Højbjerg down the line. The Dane was quick to cross to Kane on the edge of the area who took a touch down the left side of the box and went for the shot, but Henderson slid in to make the block.

28' A nervy moment from Sessegnon as he tried to head back to Lloris and almost looped it over him and onto the head of Salah in the six-yard box. Luckily Lloris sprung up and clawed the ball away to prevent Salah from nodding it in.

After half an hour, Liverpool had looked the more likely to open the scoring, but Spurs did look threatening throwing numbers forward when given the chance to counter.

39' We were coming under increasing pressure, and after a Liverpool corner was drifted in from the left, Van Dijk rose to beat everyone to it and hit the crossbar.

42' Diaz cut in from the left, played a one two with Mane and smashed a shot low for the bottom right corner that Lloris did well to dive down and keep out.

42' It was end to end stuff as Kane suddenly found Son around the top corner of their area. He played it back to Højbjerg who was central, around 35 yards out, he put his head down and drilled one at goal that beat the keeper but crashed off the outside of the post.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – Spurs have done well to get to the break level. Liverpool look so dangerous going forward and have had their chances, but Spurs have looked a threat on the counter too. Both sides have hit the woodwork, and with it all square still, it's there to play for in the second half. Conte is usually good at motivating them in the dressing room, so let's hope we come out strong, as any points here would work wonders for our top four hopes."

Under heavy pressure Spurs continued to demonstrate disciplined and organised defending. It required a huge amount of concentration at all times though, and Liverpool were eager to pounce on any lapses in it.

56' GOAL! A BEAUTIFUL GOAL! Kane bought down a high hoofed ball from Royal with a touch of class, took it by Alexander-Arnold and dribbled it to the top of the box, it looked like the shot was on but he slid it down the left side of the area to Sessegnon who squared it first time into Son to side-foot it home! 1-0.

COME ON YOU SPURS!!!

59' Royal overhit a cross that Sessegnon did well to keep alive at the far post by knocking it back into Son around six-yards out, but it was too close to him and it deflected off his thigh and fell wide.

74' Goal. Just after Davies had made a heroic block to deny Salah, Mane on the right played it central to Thiago who completed the right to left switch by laying it on to Diaz who cut inside with real purpose, drifting by Kulusevski then Højbjerg before blasting it right-footed at goal. It crashed off the bottom of Bentancur's boot and found the bottom corner. Lloris had no chance. 1-1.

78' Sessegnon made way for Sánchez which saw Davies move out to the left to keep a close eye on Salah.

87' Kane found Son who waited for Davies to overlap before playing him in down the left side of the area. Davies lashed a shot at goal from a tight angle but it was over the top.

90'+4' Winks crossed and found Højbjerg with a free header from six-yards out but he unsuccessfully attempted to square it to Kane when he should have gone for goal.

"Thoughts at Full-Time – A well-earned point in a match that predominantly saw Liverpool attacking and us defending, but with our threat going forward it could have gone either way. Especially as we had a couple of good chances to nick it late on, and the fact that their goal came courtesy of a fortuitous deflection that took it away from Lloris. I don't think many of us were expecting anything from today though, so to get a point that could prove crucial is a positive, and should give the side confidence heading into that crunch North London derby with Arsenal at home on Thursday. As it stands they remain a point ahead of us, and we'll all be supporting Leeds tomorrow."

GOALS - Son (56'). Diaz (74'). ASSISTS - Sessegnon (56'). Thiago (74').

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 8 – Commanding in important moments. Did well to recover Sessegnon's error and confidently claimed a few loose balls in the box. Didn't actually have too many saves to make. But for an unfortunate deflection he would have kept a clean sheet.

• 4. Cristian Romero – 9 – Chose a few wrong passes but most times he was good enough to make amends by tackling them afterwards. Grew into the game and made countless crucial headers to cut balls out and stood strong in tackles in vital moments.

• 15. Eric Dier – 9 – Orchestrated the backline in another passionate, leader-like performance. Also made a number of important interventions to halt Liverpool attacks.

• 33. Ben Davies – 9 – A few nervy passes early on but another who grew into the game and showed good experience and composure to keep it tight throughout. Made a fantastic diving block to prevent a dangerous Salah shot at goal. Played well central and on the left. A ninety minute every week player these days.

• 12. Emerson Royal – 8.5 – Much better from him again. Did well in his battle up against Robertson. Made some important interceptions and ploughed his way down the right side when given the opportunity. His delivery was still off but at least he found some decent passes and won a few corners. No idea what he was doing over on the left, but his hoofed cross-field ball found Kane and led to the goal.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur – 7 – Looked off the pace early on but recovered well to become his cool composed self in the centre of the park later in the game. Full of running right to the end. Harsh that in blocking Diaz's shot he deflected it into his own net.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 8.5 – Another warrior-like performance from him as he battled away all game. Hit the post with a cracking laced shot from distance. Had a huge chance with a header right at the end, but he attempted to square it to Kane when it looked like he could have scored himself.

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon – 7.5 – Ran at Alexander-Arnold down that left-wing a couple of times. Almost cost us with a header back to Lloris but thankfully the skipper bailed him out. Provided a lovely assist for Son. Much better from him on the whole.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski – 7 – Started brightly, looked confident and eager to have a go. Not intimidated in the slightest. Superb bit of play to see Højbjerg away down the right wing. Faded out of the game as he tired and made way for Winks at the end.

• 7. Son Heung-min – 8.5 – Worked his arse off and tried to make the most of the ball whenever he got it. Put yet another crucial goal away which puts him closer to Salah in the race for the golden boot.

• 10. Harry Kane – 7 – Looked up for it early on. Showed a sumptuous touch, intelligent run and composed pass in the build-up for the goal. Looked like it'd fallen to him in the box right at the last but just couldn't get the bouncing ball under control for the shot. Struggled to find chances of his own all game as Van Dijk kept a close eye on him.

Substitutions:

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon ⬅ 78' ➡ 6. Davinson Sánchez – 7 – Lunged in to make a good tackle on Salah with his chest. Did his job keeping it tight.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski ⬅ 85' ➡ 8. Harry Winks – 7.5 – Did well. Made a good tackle right off the bat, then made another soon after before curling in a peach of a cross that Højbjerg could well have headed home to win it in the dying moments.

• 7. Son Heung-min ⬅ 90'+1' ➡ 23. Steven Bergwijn – N/A – Made a promising little run right off the bench down the side of the area but was blocked out by Van Dijk. Not given much of a chance again.

Man of the Match – 4. Cristian Romero - Another huge performance from him to help keep Liverpool's scintillating attack at bay.