Premier League Champions 5, Tottenham 1 - Match Recap: The Reds Rampant to Win their 20th League Title
Bill Shankly told us that Liverpool Football Club exists to win trophies. Indeed it does.
Liverpool 5 - 1 Tottenham
Liverpool: Díaz 16’, Mac Allister 24’, Gakpo 34’, Salah 63’, Udogie (OG) 69’
Tottenham: Solanke 12’,
Pre-Match
I first woke up at 4:36AM this morning. I thought I was just thirsty so grabbed some water and went back asleep. Waking up again at 6:15AM forced me to acknowledge that I might well just be responding to the nature of the occasion like a child excited to go to a theme park. I bowed to the inevitable and have been listening to various Liverpool podcasts since around 6:30AM — that’s my build-up to kick-off. (Nice one to TAW and TLC.)
The feelings are conflicted, though. It’s strange to go into a match of this magnitude with so few nerves — I write this as Bournemouth avoid a red card and then immediately score against Manchester United, and the commentators move quickly into discussing Liverpool’s potential title win later on today. It’s a strange feeling that it’s all so conversational. What a surreal day it is already.
I have to assume most in Liverpool are bouncing around, players and fans alike. There’s still peril (and there’s certainly a chance that Tottenham’s weapons could punish and thus embarrass us), but there’s no escaping that it feels more like a party than a cup final.
The line-up was less important than the scenes around the ground. An absolute sea of red to welcome the Champions-elect, fanfare appropriate for a crowd ready and wiling to help this brilliant side over the line.
The line-up is arguably Liverpool’s strongest, though Luis Díaz through the middle is arguable. His selection over a center forward suggests Arne Slot needed connecting work rate, and expected the Reds would have some space to work.
First Half
It’s funny because immediately after kick-off I realized I didn’t particularly care how we got it over the line, just that it was done. In the build-up you obviously would prefer Liverpool scoring early and often, turning it into a minimum fuss occasion. I realized quickly that it doesn’t particularly matter how leagues are won, just that they are.
Their goal made it seem inevitable that we were doing things the hard way, but thankfully Liverpool remembered what was at stake shortly afterward. Tottenham are fragile this season, but they can still hurt you if you let them: they’re in 16th and have lost 18 games thus far this season, but their first half goal was their 62nd in the Premier League, one fewer than Arsenal have managed.
The first 20 minutes belonged soundly to Luis Díaz, who not only got himself on the scoresheet but was absolutely everywhere, winning the ball deep in Liverpool’s half and providing an extra man in midfield for transitions into attack. It was very close to being a prime Roberto Firmino effort. The goal was prime Liverpool, connecting fluidly and looking two or three steps ahead of their opponents.
The second 25 belonged to Alexis Mac Allister, who was rampant. Much like Díaz, the gorgeous goal Mac Allister managed served to underscore a total performance, a performance of a complete team. The first goal was a team goal, cutthroat. The second goal showed a different aspect of this Liverpool side: how impossible these are to play against. Tottenham were scrambling, desperately trying to get out of their box, but the Liverpool press would not let them breathe. And then the ball found its way into the net.
Cody Gakpo’s goal echoed this: a Liverpool side who are hungry for the silverware that makes their achievements real. Gakpo gave the Reds some breathing room, and the room was palpably calmer into halftime.
Second Half
The stranglehold continued after the break: the Reds were not letting up, and should probably have made it four before 50’. Whatever Slot and Virgil Van Dijk discussed at halftime worked, as there was no complacency; no one mentally fast-forwarded to full time celebrations.
The ball was rarely in Liverpool’s half in the opening 15 of the second half, and when it was it usually meant recycling possession to create more space. Robertson very unlucky not to score with a cheeky back heel from the penalty spot. We don’t need glorious football to enjoy today, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
The one attack Tottenham did manage was dealt with so well Mohamed Salah scored on the other end. Selfies all around.
After Salah’s goal it became a procession: everyone wanted a goal and the question became who would be next on the scoresheet. The exhaustion on Destiny Udogie’s face as he put the ball in his own net to make it five for the Reds was probably how all the Spurs players felt: shattered from exertions in what was quickly becoming a formality. Tottenham would probably shake hands on 70’ to let the party start properly.
Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endō come on with a swathe of red balloons, providing a bit of healing from memories of beach balls past. Full time, ref, surely.
Final Thoughts
Liverpool Football Club, Champions of England.
Following Jürgen Klopp can’t be a simple task, but Arne Slot has made it look easy. Klopp laid the groundwork, but Slot’s side is mature and pragmatic, making winning silverware look routine. What a gorgeous game that was, and what a wonderful time we’re all having. Up the Reds, the 20-time-League-winning Reds. Imagine being us.
It’s weird for me to not be in Liverpool, either to watch the match or to be at the parade later on. I am usually in the city for these things, and thus while this is a balm for the alienation of celebrating a title amidst the peak of the COVID pandemic, I also can’t escape the feeling that I’m still missing some of my friends. Maybe that’s a bit why I woke up feeling a bit weird?
It’s only a minor concern, of course. We’re having a party here (bar me typing on my laptop, but I’ll be back in the scrum soon). There are Liverpool bars across the world who will all be doing their best to echo on a small scale the absolute scenes taking place on Merseyside at the moment.
When the Reds win trophies there are bars and households having a ball in every country and it feels like in every city. Wherever you go, there’s usually a bar locals will point you to. Community built around this football club stretches so, so far. We’re lucky to see things like these. I love the bones of all of them, and of all of you.
And we’re so delighted these did the decent thing and won it at home. For us, winning it at Anfield is not about us personally being able to be in the ground to watch it happen, but rather increasing the global connections we feel every game: being able to hear the 60,000 fans in the ground makes us feel all that much closer. We build up our feelings based on yours, and we sing our songs because you do.
Up the Reds, the undisputed most successful English football club. Oh come let us adore them.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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