Liverpool and Tottenham demonstrated simply what an thrilling Premier League title race we’ve got on our palms because the pair performed out a pulsating 90 minutes at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The Reds ran out 2-1 winners courtesy of a late Roberto Firmino header and it was a sport they largely dominated – but Tottenham can really feel unlucky to haven’t come away with a degree on the very least based mostly on the sheer high quality of possibilities they created.
Prior to now three seasons we’ve got been handled to title races characterised by the very elite operating away with proceedings.
Manchester Metropolis despatched data tumbling beneath Pep Guardiola en path to their 2017/18 title triumph, and although Liverpool pushed all of them the best way the next season, it was nonetheless two groups who had been head and shoulders above the remainder.
Liverpool then made up for the 2018/19 disappointment in model by successfully having the title wrapped up by Christmas – not even a world pandemic and three-month soccer hiatus might deny them one of the convincing Premier League wins in top-flight historical past.
However issues are a little bit totally different this season for all types of causes – the dearth of crowd, the absence of pre-season and the extra congested fixture schedule that these in Europe are having to take care of – and the newfound chaos is a welcome change from the predictability of the final three years.
This was notably evident on Wednesday night as Liverpool leapfrogged Spurs on the Premier League summit with victory over their title rivals – a win that was in some way convincing but unconvincing on the identical time.
Within the first half, Liverpool had been excellent. The midfield three of Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Curtis Jones completely ran the present. The passing and motion was fast, sharp and slick because the Reds carved out quite a few promising openings.
Hugo Lloris was ceaselessly referred to as into motion, however the majority of saves had been routine. Solely a deflected Mohamed Salah effort following nice work from Jones might beat the Spurs goalkeeper. They’d the purpose that Chelsea and Arsenal earlier than them had didn’t seize in Tottenham’s two earlier Premier League outings in opposition to so-called ‘Large Six’ opposition.
Mourinho’s aspect had hardly obtained out of their very own half, not to mention threatened, however had been remarkably stage simply after the half-hour mark. Giovani Lo Celso picked out Son Heung-min with a terrific via ball, and his end was equally chic.
Not like final season, Liverpool have their flaws. Defensive capabilities have by no means been Trent Alexander-Arnold’s strongest asset, however he seems extra susceptible with the absence of Virgil van Dijk on the coronary heart of Liverpool’s again 4.
The Dutchman’s presence continued to be missed within the second half as twice Steven Bergwijn raced clear via on purpose down the Reds’ proper as Liverpool didn’t win the ball within the air, however twice he was wasteful, first prodding vast after which rattling the submit. Harry Kane then headed a terrific probability over from a nook. For all Liverpool’s possession and dominance deep within the Tottenham half, these three possibilities had been extra clear lower than something that they had mustered all night.
However because the clock ticked down, the Liverpool of 2019/20 resurfaced, Firmino powering dwelling Andy Robertson’s nook within the 89th minute. Though Alexander-Arnold is but to hit the heights of final season, on the other flank Robertson excelled.
Liverpool are a extra flawed aspect this season, they’re extra susceptible defensively and they’ll seemingly slip up once more, however Wednesday’s win demonstrates that they nonetheless have final time period’s capability to grind out a win, and on this most unpredictable of title races, that’s extra useful than ever.