With only one win against Aston Villa’s youth team in their last seven games, a trip to Jose Mourinho’s House of Merry Bus-Parking was the last thing Liverpool needed if they were going to get back to winning ways, but that’s where the fixture list sent them.
Jürgen Klopp made three changes from the team that lost to Manchester United in the FA Cup. Both centre-backs were out, as Rhys Williams was dropped for the returning Joël Matip, while Fabinho – himself already cover for defensive injuries – was out with a muscle injury, replaced by the other midfielder-turned-centre-back Jordan Henderson, returning from a groin injury. Sadio Mané also returned to the attack of their usual 4-3-3 formation, replacing Curtis Jones.
José Mourinho obviously rested lots of players for the trip to Wycombe Wanderers in the cup, however he made just one change from the team that beat Sheffield United – Sergio Reguilon replaced by Matt Doherty due to injury. He continued with the 3-4-3 formation he used against the Yorkshire side, moving away from Tottenham’s usual 4-2-3-1 shape.
Liverpool have mainly struggled against packed defences though, and, contrary to expectations, Mourinho didn’t look to spoil the game. Maybe he smelt blood with Liverpool’s poor form, however he was less defensive than credited for in the match at Anfield too.
Having said this, Tottenham did end up sitting back a lot. Out of possession, they would form a 5-3-2 shape, with Steven Bergwijn dropping back into midfield. Just like at Anfield, Liverpool found it easy to play around Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, getting the centre-backs to spread wide with Georginio Wijnaldum at the base of the midfield, while Thiago Alcântara would also drop back alongside the Dutchman to help play out. Unable to effectively pressure Liverpool’s backline, Tottenham were forced into dropping off to defend.
Arguably the greatest issue with this was that Trent Alexander-Arnold would come deep on the right to pick up the ball. With Son tucked inside alongside Kane, it was left to Doherty to close him down on the flank. As part of a back five, especially one having to drop off as Spurs struggled to pressure Liverpool, Doherty would have to cover a large distance to reach Alexander-Arnold, leaving the Scouser with space to pick out dangerous passes into attack before the Irishman could get out to him.
This wasn’t the only defensive issue Spurs faced. With Bergwijn hardly a natural defender and Roberto Firmino dropping off into midfield, Liverpool once again found themselves able to control the centre. James Milner would push up behind Bergwijn and, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele occupied with Firmino and Thiago, it was left to Joe Rodon to step out to meet him.
The problem this caused was of course that Rodon would leave a gap in the backline whenever he stepped out for Liverpool to exploit. This was how the Reds took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Rodon concerned himself with Milner, while Serge Aurier wanted to leave Sadio Mané to the Welshman. As Henderson pushed forward with the ball and picked out a pass over the top, neither man went with Mané’s run, allowing him to collect the ball and square it to Firmino to tap in.
Despite the flow of the game going with Liverpool, Spurs had their own chances too. Some of these were simply counter-attacks – Spurs launching a long ball forward, getting Bergwijn up in support as they broke at Liverpool’s defence.
It was Ndombele who was at the centre of the more considered attacks though. His comfort on the ball meant he could turn out under considerable pressure from Liverpool’s midfielders and play into the forwards. It was this that led to a goal for Spurs in the opening few minutes, dubiously disallowed for offside.
Even if he didn’t receive the ball, the determination of Liverpool’s midfielders to get out to him quickly and deny him time on the ball opened up space for his teammates.
On the back foot and now behind on the scoreboard, Mourinho made two substitutions at half-time. Kane, having injured both his ankles, came off for Erik Lamela, while Harry Winks replaced Aurier, switching Doherty to his natural right side and pushing Ndombele forward into an attacking role. This saw Tottenham revert to their usual 4-2-3-1.
To the surprise of no one, Liverpool were also required to make a change, once again losing Matip to injury. Nathaniel Phillips was his replacement.
Liverpool doubled their lead before these changes could even really take effect though. Pressing high, Liverpool won the ball back in Spurs’ half, although Tottenham quickly got back into two banks of four. Andy Robertson played the ball down the left to Mané, who turned inside as Doherty tried to tackle him down the outside, allowing the Senegalese to advance and shoot on goal. Hugo Lloris palmed the shot away, but only out to Alexander-Arnold, who followed up to fire the ball into the opposite corner.
Still needing to claw back a goal, Spurs narrowed their attackers and pushed their full-backs high into attack, leaving a base of the two centre-backs and the double pivot in defence. Ndombele would switch between the two, sometimes remaining high, sometimes coming short to pick up the ball.
It wasn’t long until they struck again though. They won a free-kick on the left, switched play out to Alexander-Arnold on the right and he pushed forward on the ball into the Tottenham half then picked out Mané with a cross.
In committing men forward in search of a goal, Spurs were leaving their backline with a lot less cover to deal with Liverpool’s attacks. This also had a big effect on their build-up: with fewer men in defensive positions, there were fewer passing options for Liverpool to cut out, making it easier for them to press Tottenham and disrupt their build-up.
This posed a major problem for Tottenham. The more desperate they became in searching for a goal, the more open they became, and the more Liverpool punished them. The more they pushed to get back on level terms, the less likely they were to achieve it.
As a result, Liverpool were able to comfortably hold out and claim their first three points of 2021.
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