Liverpool 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1: Who’s Insufferable Now?

The football gods were smiling on Anfield today, when things looked the darkest.

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Liverpool 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Liverpool: Firmino 16’, Alderwireld (OG) 90’
Tottenham Hotspur: Lucas 70’

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Pre-Match

Spurs are finally in town and there’s lots to think about this Sunday. Football is back after the last international break, we only have seven matches including this one left until the end of the season, and Liverpool have another must win match ahead of them. Things look a lot better for us than for Spurs at the moment, too, with much of our squad finding their fitness while they’re missing some key players, and oh yeah, in case you forgot, Mauricio Pochettino is serving a two match touchline ban so he’s sitting up in the stands. There’s also the Kick It Out! campaign against racism making their annual appearance today, in a... funny (can we call it that? is it funny?) sort of timing. Let’s have some fun today, shall we?

First Half

And we’re off! Things are happening! Mohamed Salah sent a shot skyward in the first five minutes and Spurs are pressing hard. It remains to be seen if the rest that some players, like Salah, received over the international break has been beneficial outside of more time to return from injury and the possession has definitely shifted to Liverpool in the past few minutes!

Roberto Firmino opens the scoring for the Reds, heading in a gorgeous cross from Andrew Robertson (listen, I put his full name for tagging purposes, I know it looks weird) and makes everything feel a little bit less nervy going forward. We’ve got the lead, just gotta hang on, but it looks like a good start for Liverpool. “It’s only a matter of time before Liverpool go 2-nil up,” said a commentator and honestly, it feels that way. Spurs have lost nearly all their nerve so far, and it doesn’t look like it’s coming back any time soon.

Alisson, on the other hand, has been making some bold choices today and it’s definitely not helping the nerves of this supporter as he’s doing that thing where he likes to show off how capable he is with his feet. We don’t care about how capable you are with your feet, Ali, we need you capable with your god damn hands.

Ten minutes left in the first half and Spurs are trying to fight back into it, with Dele Alli firing a rocket that goes just barely over the crossbar, so Liverpool need to be really keen on scoring before the end of the half to make sure we keep things in our favor. Harry Kane, by the way, is absolutely dreadful playing on the side and it’s a pleasure to watch. We finish the half with our 1-0 lead, though, and here’s hoping we can hang on in the next half.

Second Half

We start the second half with no changes, as usual. We’re picking up where we left off, and so are Spurs, with their high press and not much else. They haven’t been able to connect many passes in their favor and we need to take more advantage of that going forward. Spurs, to their credit, have switched to a back four to try and contain our attack.

At the very least the Reds have Anfield behind them today, with all the supporters making as much noise as possible. Things have gotten a little frantic in these first five minutes of the second half, with each team pressing within an inch of their lives, but unable to make anything of it. Bobby Firmino almost gets another header in past Hugo Lloris but sends it too high.

Back to Alisson, who makes up for his previous transgressions by blocking a left footed Harry Kane shot that then falls to Christian Ericksen who sends it wide. Spurs are looking a bit more lethal with their possession right now, but they still can’t make anything happen and I’m not sure if that’s due to our work against them or their ineptitude right now but they don’t look a good side. Their make their first change after a phone call from Poch in the stands again, with Son coming on for Sanchez to I guess find their fangs? Whatever it was that they did, it worked to find Spurs’ equalizer through Lucas Moura. Pressure’s truly on now, lads.

Klopp makes a double change to take control back of the game, bringing on Divock Origi for James Milner and Fabinho for Jordan Henderson, shifting the shape of the game because uh, where is Origi going to go? Who cares, just get that second goal, guys. (Also bring that noise back, Anfield, we need it). We’ve had a couple close shots, with Trent Alexander-Arnold having a shot just barely tipped over and Bobby getting another head on a corner. Liverpool earn a free kick off a foul from Lucas Moura in an advantageous spot, and Origi at least makes it a corner? Who let him take the shot? If we don’t score again you’ll hear my screaming all the way from Los Angeles.

WE DID IT!!!! A MIRACLE SOMEHOW, WHO CARES IF IT’S AN OWN GOAL TECHNICALLY, BUT SALAH WAS THE LAST LIVERPOOL PLAYER TO TOUCH IT SO WHO FUCKING CARES! IT’S TWO TO LIVERPOOL!!!

Final Thoughts

LIVERPOOL DID THE THING JUST WHEN THINGS LOOKED MOST DIRE, THE FOOTBALL GODS CAME THROUGH. Who’s insufferable now?!?! IT’S ME, IT’S US.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com