Highights
- Liverpool snatched victory in the final moments at Anfield as Toby Alderwiereld scored a late own-goal
- Roberto Firmino opened the scoring after 16 minutes by heading home Andrew Robertson's cross
- Spurs hit back on 70 minutes as Lucas Moura slipped into the area and fired past goalkeeper Alisson Becker
- The result sees Liverpool keep pace with rivals Manchester City, who still have a game in hand to play
If the Premier League title is delivered to Anfield this season, the last 30 minutes here may be seen as the day it became destined.
There are many big moments over 38 fixtures, but something about the clocks going forward focuses the mind. After that, the consequences of any victory, any loss of points, seem accentuated. As this game entered its final third, there was a real sense of import inside Anfield.
Liverpool, leading 1-0, had a single objective in that period: to hang on. Tottenham were getting stronger, the locals were getting nervous. Understandably so. Spurs are a good team and since half-time had been in the ascendancy.
This would be a good win. The margin of victory did not matter. Liverpool did not need the emphasis of a second goal; they needed a big round zero next to the visitors’ name. Up in the stand, banned from the touchline for his outburst at Turf Moor, Mauricio Pochettino made his play.
On came Son Hueng-min for Davinson Sanchez, the back-three changed to four, the forward line bolstered. A minute later, Spurs were level. Anfield was stunned into eerie silence.
They probably felt, as we all did, that here was the title slipping inexorably away. A draw would leave Manchester City top on goal difference with a game in hand. At that point, Tottenham broke clear in search of the win. And not just the standard counter-attack, either.
This was two against one, Moussa Sissoko supported by Son, against Virgil van Dijk. The defender’s positioning was nothing short of brilliant, adding to his case to be crowned Footballer of the Year. He held them up, he cut them off, Sissoko felt uncertain of finding Son so went it alone, and shot over. Goals win matches, obviously. Yet no one should undervalue Van Dijk’s role in this victory. Had Tottenham scored then, all would surely have been lost.
Instead, Liverpool were still hopeful when a corner was won in the 90th minute. Alexander-Arnold curled it in. Cleared. The ball fell to the outstanding Andrew Robertson, he played Alexander-Arnold back in and called for the return. It did not come.
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