Spurs and Richarlison thought they had done it. His top was off and he was mobbed by the away end having scored an equaliser that seemingly completed Tottenham’s Lazarus-esque comeback from 3-0 down. The former Everton star had been booed with every touch and even pulled off his pigeon celebration as Ryan Mason’s men came back from the dead.
He’d truly given it the full beans in the 93rd minute.
But this is Spurs. And this season they have become more Spursy than ever before. From kick off, substitute Lucas Moura rolled the ball into the path of Diogo Jota, who slotted past Fraser Forster to secure a famous 4-3 win. It was carnage. It was chaos. It was wonderful.
Somewhere between complaining about the equaliser and celebrating his side's winner, Jurgen Klopp, who had been on his hands and knees on the touchline, pulled his hamstring. His passion overflowed at times as he berated the fourth official, but his war wound is a small price to pay for three points that take Liverpool above Spurs into fifth. The Champions League places may be beyond them, but a positive finish to the season has taken on extra importance.
And the Reds looked like they had made life easy for themselves as they raced into a 3-0 lead. Tottenham were staring another heavy defeat in the face as Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mo Salah scored within 15 minutes, the latter coming from the penalty spot. If Spurs players wanted to show they had minerals after that hammering at Newcastle, this was not the way to go about it. In fact, Gary Neville was already sticking the boot in as some away fans appeared to head for the exit - again.
“The Spurs players might as well set up a direct debit to the fans,” the co-commentator said as Tottenham floundered away from home again. They were shabolic at the back. Somehow a back five looked like a back two at times and Liverpool cut through them with ease. But it was almost too easy for the home side as they took their foot off the gas. The Anfield crowd quietened as their side passed it around comfortably, and Spurs managed to stay on their feet, bloodied and bruised, but not knocked out.
Ivan Perisic charged down the left and Virgil van Dijk’s slip saw the Croatian able to pick out Harry Kane who finished his 208th Premier League goal as Andy Robertson left him free. That put him level with Wayne Rooney and only behind Alan Shearer now in the all-time goalscoring charts.
It was a goal that didn’t spark an immediate comeback but it did give the away side a sniff. In the second half, they did the same thing, staying in the low-tempo game before pushing forward late on. Heung-min Son hit the post with an effort from outside the box before Cristian Romero clipped the other one seconds later after Kane picked him out.
Then the second goal came. Romero threaded one through to Son and one pass split open the Liverpool back line who just looked to have lost all form of shape and system. They’ve had such a soft underbelly this season and even a Spurs side who are all at sea were able to exploit that.
With 90+3 on the clock, Spurs were awarded a free-kick and from the set piece, Richarlison bounced his header over Alisson’s out-stretched arm. Cue chaos in the away end, and on the pitch. But the point they thought they had secured evaporated almost instantly with Jota’s instant response. Anfield erupted after the most remarkable finish. Spurs came back from the dead, and then stabbed themselves in the chest.
Four shots on target for Liverpool. Four goals. 99 seconds between the two goals. One Jurgen Klopp torn hamstring. One Tottenham Hotspur.
