Alisson suffers keeper fate as Konate sends new message
This was an afternoon that neatly surmised the lot of a goalkeeper.
For almost 75 minutes, Alisson Becker had been a pivotal factor in Liverpool being on the verge of an impressive victory.
With the much-changed visitors creaking under the weight of constant Tottenham Hotspur pressure and having to adjust to a scratch midfield struggling to protect the backline, Alisson was in outstanding form.
In the first half, he stood tall long enough to prevent Heung-Min Son from scoring, and then produced a fingertip save to deny Dele Alli.
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And after the break, his sheer presence was enough to startle Harry Kane and smother the striker’s eventual effort when it had seemed easier to score.
Alisson’s sweeping abilities had already thwarted a clutch of Tottenham counter-attacks when he was invited to clear another throughball.
This time, though, the Brazilian completely missed his attempted clearance and Son capitalised to earn the home side a point. Harsh, but Alisson knows the landscape by now.
Ahead of him, with Virgil van Dijk again absent, Joel Matip was uncharacteristically unsteady but centre-back partner Ibrahima Konate continues to blossom, his indomitable performance hinting at more to come.
Robertson goes too far
It started with a bad miss and ended with a bad tackle.
In between, he played Tottenham onside for their opening goal, survived a leg-breaker, crossed for an equaliser and stooped to head home only the fifth Premier League goal of his Liverpool career.
Certainly, Andy Robertson has had quieter afternoons.
That it ended in the acrimony of his delayed dismissal will perhaps overshadow another all-action display from the Scotland skipper, who along with Trent Alexander-Arnold was pivotal to the Reds finding the key to unlock Tottenham’s five-man defence.
Indeed, it was from Alexander-Arnold’s cross that Robertson stooped to head Liverpool into the lead mere minutes before his afternoon was ended prematurely.
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His three-match ban – taking in the Carabao Cup and Premier League meeting with Leicester City and the Boxing Day visit of Leeds United – is untimely given the left-back has of late rediscovered his verve, even if Kostas Tsimikas has this season proven a more than capable deputy.
But on an occasion when cool heads were required, Jurgen Klopp was right to admit Robertson had allowed his emotions to get the better of him.
The defender is a player whose game is often played on the edge. He’ll know the limit for next time.
Morton learns hard way
You never forget your first time. And for Tyler Morton, more will have been learned during a full Premier League debut than during any of his previous senior Liverpool appearances.
It would have been difficult enough for the 19-year-old stepping out in front of baying, partisan crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But to do so while being asked to anchor a scratch midfield missing first-choice trio Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara underlined the size of the task.
While Morton had impressed during performances in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, this was a more difficult afternoon, exposed by Tottenham during a period in the first half when he wasn’t helped by Liverpool constantly coughing up possession further upfield.
What was encouraging, though, was Morton remained completely unfazed, still playing his passes and making tackles even after a booking. That temperament will hold him in good stead.
In a contrasting engine room, James Milner – who made his Premier League debut only 10 days after Morton was born, was dutiful as ever, although Naby Keita experienced something of a rollercoaster afternoon, impressive with some forward forays and diligent defending, but crucially losing out in a 50-50 with Harry Winks in the build-up to Tottenham’s opener.
Klopp, aghast on the touchline, wasn’t happy with that. But he’ll know Morton will be better for this experience.
