Liverpool kept pace with Manchester City in the Premier League title race as a last-minute Toby Alderweireld own goal snatched all three points in a 2-1 win against Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday.
The result sees the Reds go top, two points ahead of City who have a game in hand and play Cardiff City in midweek.
Roberto Firmino broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, directing a header into the back of the net following a sublime cross from Andrew Robertson. Spurs dragged themselves level with 20 minutes to play thanks to a quick free-kick from Harry Kane instigating a move that saw Lucas Moura steer in Christian Eriksen’s square ball from close range.
In the final minute of regulation time, Mohamed Salah’s header was parried by Hugo Lloris only to rebound off Alderweireld’s shin and over the line.
Here, we analyse how Jurgen Klopp’s tactics affected the game.
BASIC STATS
Goals – 2
Shots – 14
Possession – 49.5%
Tackles won – 16
Aerials won – 12
Dribbles – 4
30-SECOND REPORT
Klopp set his side up in a traditional 4-3-3 with Firmino, Salah and Sadio Mane making up a familiar looking attack. In midfield though, security was prioritised as James Milner and Jordan Henderson started ahead of Fabinho, Naby Keita and Adam Lallana.
Mauricio Pochettino was serving the second of his two-match touchline ban following his altercation with referee Mike Dean after defeat to Burnley. The Argentine watched on from the stands as he fielded a 3-5-2 system.
Spurs began the sharper of the two sides and won battles in different areas of the pitch. However, they weren’t equipped to pose a consistent threat in the final third while Liverpool always did so even when ceding possession to their visitors over certain spells of the game.
Pochettino’s side seemed to lose confidence after the hosts struck first but grew into the game again during the second half. The encounter seemed destined to end in a stalemate before the Reds snatched a fortuitous winner at the death.
Mohamed Salah had a hand in the winner.
TACTICAL TALKING POINT
Forcing Spurs back
Spurs operated with a very narrow midfield as Kane was partnered by Moura up front. That meant they relied heavily on their wing-backs to generate width. Klopp recognised an opportunity there to suffocate their three-man central defence and force Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose to retreat.
Liverpool’s front three are well-versed in the high-press and went man-for-man against the Spurs centre-backs. Given the away side’s insistence on playing out from the back, Trippier and Rose were forced to drop deep in order to provide passing options. If they didn’t, Spurs would end up surrendering possession. If they did, their central midfielders would struggle without options out wide.
When Liverpool did win possession, they acted to swiftly to spray it out wide where their full-backs had plenty of space to operated in. In fact, that’s precisely how they made the breakthrough with Robertson having all the time in the world to whip in a majestic cross for Firmino to nod home.
VERDICT
Tactically speaking, this was a pretty even battle between Klopp and Pochettino. The Liverpool boss had the better set-up, striking the right balance between defence and attack. Spurs didn’t given themselves enough options in attack but grew into the game and perhaps deserved a draw. Still, Klopp managed to get the win while their title hopes seemed to inch away from them. His constant gesturing and encouragement from the technical area had a bearing on his side – and the Anfield support. It’s not entirely about tactics.
Rating 7/10
