Equal on points and with their title rivals all dropping points, this clash would decide who could finally start to open up a gap at the top of the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp made just one change to the team that started the disappointing draw with Fulham, as Rhys Williams replaced the injured Joel Matip in Liverpool’s usual 4-3-3 formation.
Jose Mourinho shifted shapes from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2, bringing Son Heung-min inside to partner Harry Kane and replacing Tanguy Ndombele and Sergio Reguilon with Giovani Lo Celso and Ben Davies.
Liverpool would press high and, rather than risk giving the ball away so close to goal, Tottenham would go long. Moussa Sissoko and Steven Bergwijn often narrowed to form an attacking quartet through the middle with Son and Kane, but these long balls rarely troubled Liverpool. The backline won the aerial battles and the midfield reclaimed the loose balls to start another spell of possession.
Having just failed to break down Fulham and presumably expecting Mourinho to park the bus, Liverpool looked prepared. From the off, Jordan Henderson would drop back to the right of the centre-backs, forming a makeshift back three that outnumbered Spurs’ front two. Tottenham actually appeared to want to pressure Liverpool but Henderson dropping back made it easy for Liverpool to play around the Spurs frontline, forcing them into dropping off to defend.
Unexpectedly Spurs’ right side seemed to be the best defensively. Sissoko seemed wary of the threat of Sadio Mané dropping off into pockets of space behind him, so Andy Robertson was frequently left with space out wide to overlap, yet Serge Aurier dealt with him well, knowing when to stick with Mané and when to drop off to stop Robertson racing in behind.
On the left, Ben Davies was being baited forward by short options and Liverpool would knock balls in behind him for runners, but Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld covered him well.
It was through the middle that Liverpool found real joy. Georginio Wijnaldum, often joined by either Curtis Jones staying back or Roberto Firmino dropping off, would be behind Son and Kane to receive the ball in midfield, requiring Lo Celso to step up to meet him. This would leave Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg alone in front of the defence, where all three of Liverpool’s attackers were looking to drop off and Jones would frequently push forward into. Taking into account that Sissoko and Bergwijn were having to concern themselves with the full-backs out wide too, Liverpool outnumbered Tottenham seven-to-four in the midfield area, ensuring they were always able to find a free man.
This dominance enabled Jones to get a real grip on the game and he set up the opening goal, playing a one-two with Firmino to attack the box, with Mohamed Salah on hand to finish the loose ball when Aurier managed to nick the ball away.
Spurs equalised soon after though. They sprung forward on the counter so quickly the director had to cut away from a replay to catch the finish. Lo Celso had looked bright when Spurs didn’t just send it straight over his head and here he picked up the ball on the edge of his area, pushed straight through the middle and slid a pass through to Son. Caught square, Williams had no chance of catching up with the Korean as he beared down on goal.
At half-time Mourinho switched Lo Celso and Sissoko around, shoring up the centre of his midfield defensively, while Son dropped back further when Liverpool had possession. They were still giving up control of the match, finishing with just 24% possession, but simply by squeezing out Liverpool it became a more even game, as the Reds had less space to break them down.
Being more compact meant they actually won the ball back more and so were able to counter, while Kane also began to win more of the long balls, flicking them on for his teammates. Bergwijn got in behind twice, but wasted the chances.
Nevertheless it was Liverpool who emerged victorious as Firmino headed home a corner late on.
Liverpool had dominated the first half yet went in at half-time on even terms, whereas, despite Liverpool having the better run of play, Tottenham created the better chances in the second half only to lose out at the death.
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