Full time: Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
One of this season’s more entertaining games ends all square after Spurs cancelled out Philippe Coutinho’s classy opener with an equally excellent equaliser cooked up by Christian Eriksen and scored by Harry Kane. That was a splendid game of football which neither side deserved to lose. Follow that Barcelona and Real Madrid ...
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Full-time at Anfield: Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeep!!!! A thrilling game comes to an end with the sides sharing the points at Anfield. Spurs inflicted one final heart-in-mouth moment on Liverpool, but couldn’t nab a late winner. A point gained or two lost for Spurs? We’ll know tomorrow when we see how Leicester’s match against Southamptopn pans out. For now, the gap between Spurs and the league leaders is down to four points, but Leicester have a game in hand.
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90+4 min: Liverpool substitution: Jordan Ibe on for James Milner.
90+3 min: Alderweireld meets the corner at the near post, but heads wide.
90+2 min: We’re into the second of three added minutes that the fourth official suggested and Mousa Dembele frightens the bejaysus out of Liverpool fans with a speculative daisycutter from distance that looks to be fizzing towards the bottom right-hand corner until Simon Mignolet dives to intervene. A corner for Spurs.
89 min: Spurs win a free-kick about 25 yards from goal, more or less dead centre. Christian Eriksen aims for the top left-hand corner and isn’t too far away with his effort. The ball whistles about a foot high and wide.
88 min: Spurs substitution: Ryan Mason on for Dele Alli. Hugo Lloris must be confident he can get through the closing stages, although he was anochored to the spot when Coutinho fired narrowly wide a few minutes ago. I suspect that may not necessarily have been related to his injury, mind. He was simply bamboozled by the Brazilian.
87 min: Eriksen attempts to play a through ball in behind the Liverpool defence and does exactly that, but catches Harry Kane by surprise and a little flat-footed. The ball rolls through to Simon Mignolet.
84 min: Coutinho rifles the ball low, hard and ... inches the wrong side of the upright after Liverpool had capitalised on a half-clearance by Spurs. If any team is to take all three points here, Liverpool are looking the likely winners with five minutes to go. The fitness of the players is truly remarkable.
81 min: Liverpool have a corner, which James Milner takes. It’s a poor delivery and Danny Rose clears at the near post to concede another corner. Milner’s next delivery is better and the ball goes wide again off a Spurs head, only for Jon Moss to award a goal-kick.
81 min: Liverpool substitution: Joe Allen on for Adam Lallana.
80 min: Hugo Lloris looks to have picked up a knock, but is soldiering on in goal for Spurs for the time being. He’s limping and appears to have damaged a knee.
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78 min: Christian Eriksen picks out a Dele Alli run with an exquisite pass with the outside of his right boot that places the ball on the midfielder’s chest. His touch was a little too heavy and gave Mignolet the chance to dash off his line and claim possession.
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76 min: Liverpool corner. Coutinho plays the ball towards Origi, but it’s too high. Mousa Dembele subsequently outmuscles Jordan Henderson to ensure Spurs get a goal-kick.
75 min: Kyle Walker is having a torrid time of it when on the back foot against Philippe Coutinho, but does well to intercept an attempted cross from the Brazilian, who was trying to pick out Adam Lallana, who was in space in the Spurs box. Good defending.
73 min: We’re into the final quarter, but the players show no signs of fatigue and the pace of this very entertaining game remains frenetic. From a Liverpool corner, Spurs break up the field and the ball is played to Nacer Chadli, in acres of space, by Eriksen. Henderson bursts a lung getting back to tackle the Spurs substitute.
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71 min: Liverpool substitution: Daniel Sturridge off to a warm ovation, Divock Origi on.
70 min: Kyle Walker shows Philippe Coutinho down his outside, prompting the Brazilian to shoot through the full-back’s legs from a ridiculously tight angle. The ball squirts along the goal-line and wide of the far post, prompting Coutinho to curse his luck before breaking into a goofy grin. You can take the samba boy out of Brazil etc. and so on. That would have been an exceptionally cheeky and audacious goal had it gone in.
69 min: Jordan Henderson wins a corner for Liverpool off Toby Alderweireld, who heads Philippe Coutinho’s subsequent inswinger clear.
67 min: Spurs substitution: Nacir Chadli on for Son. At some point in the past few minutes of excitement, Emre Can picked up a yellow card for a foul on Alli, which means he’ll have to sit out Liverpool’s next two games as a result of the totting-up process. The amnesty on yellow cards accrued isn’t until the week after next, I believe.
66 min: Tottenham turn the screw, with Simon Mignolet forced into a fine save from Eriksen, who shot through Sakho’s legs from distance. Mignolet dived low to his right to keep the ball out with one outstretched arm boasting a very strong wrist. Excellent goalkeeping from a much maligned stopper.
64 min: That was a fine goal from Kane, but the importance of Eriksen’s input shouldn’t be underestimated either. The Danish international did splendidly to keep the ball in play with a neat flick when it looked to be going out for a goal-kick, picking out Kane, who was standing with his back to goal. In one movement, the striker turned and scored with a rasping drive inside the far post.
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GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Kane 62)
Kane swivels and scores in one movement as he picks up a pass into the penalty area from Christian Eriksen.
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60 min: Danny Rose is penalised for some indiscretion or other and James Milner hoofs the ball forward from just inside his own half. Spurs clear.
58 min: Son catches Moreno napping to sprint into the Liverpool penalty area and volley a shot wide of the far upright. He got plenty of welly on the ball as it dropped over his shoulder about 12 yards from goal, but was found wanting in the accuracy stakes. That would have been a splendid finish, had the net rippled.
57 min: Chance! Sturridge drifts into space between Wimmer and Alderweireld and attempts to head a floated cross from the left goalwards. The delivery was a might too high and he was unable to keep his header down.
56 min: Quick reminder: defeat for Spurs here would leave Leicester five points clear at the PRemier League summit with a game in hand. They play Southampton tomorrow in the lunchtime kick-off.
54 min: More good work from Sturridge, who gives Alderweireld plenty ot think about as he shimmies one way and then the other in the Spurs penalty area, before shuttling to the byline and attempting to drill a cross into the penalty area. There’s nobody up in support.
52 min: They’ll be dancing on the streets of Leicester celebrating that strike from Philippe Coutinho. Sturridge and Coutinho combined to carve the Spurs defence open, with the Brazilian picking the ball up about 30 yards from goal, playing a one-two with Sturridge and taking advantage of Eric Dier’s generosity in playing him onside to pick up the return pass and deftly poke the ball just inside the right upright.
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GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Coutinho 51)
51 min: Philippe Coutinho breaks the deadlock, slotting into the bottom right-hand corner after a lovely one-two with Sturridge. Liverpool lead!
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50 min: Kyle Walker curls a cross into the Liverpool penalty area from the right flank, but Mignolet gathers as Kane waits to pounce on any spillage.
49 min: Harry Kane picks out Dele Alli with a wonderful cross into the Liverpool penalty area. With his back to goal and unable to see the goalkeeper, the youngster heads the ball straight up into the air.
48 min: Dejan Lovren is having one of his better games for Liverpool this afternoon and makes another crucial interception. He’s breathing very, very heavily.
47 min: Danny Rose gets in behind James Milner and attempts to pick out Dele Alli with a cross. Liverpool clear, courtesy of Mamadou Sakho.
Liverpool 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur - second half is GO!
46 min: We’re off for the second half, which will almost certainly mean another 45 minutes of my fingers skittering around the keyboard as the players show enviable levels of energy on the pitch. No changes on either side, so it’s as you were ...
Half-time at Anfield: Liverpool 0-0 Tottenham
And breathe. That was an entertaining half with no let-up in the action and chances at both ends. Spurs started the stronger of the two sides, but Liverpool were more than a match for their visitors in the closing stages of the half. They had the better of the chances too, with Lallana (twice) and Sturridge both going close. For Spurs, Kane has looked a constant menace and will feel he should have done better on at least two occasions. More, please.
45 min: Dele Alli tries his luck with a long-range half volley. It’s on target, but doesn’t pose any problems for Mignolet.
43 min: Liverpool have been getting stronger and stronger as this half progresses and currently have most of the momentum. Coutinho’s influence on the game is growing, while Adam Lallana is looking dangerous too. Spurs are playing a very high defensive line, which looks ripe for exploitation. By contrast, in their own defence Liverpool are playing a Mamadou Sakho, who also looks ripe for exploitation.
40 min: Standing about seven yards from goal with the ball dropping nicely for him, Adam Lallana mis-hits his attempted volley into the ground, but still forces a good save out of Lloris. Another corner for Liverpool, which Lloris punches clear. On the sideline, Jurgen Klopp is throwing an absolute wobbly; I have no idea why.
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38 min: Harry Kane shoots straight at Mignolet after getting the better of Mamadou Sakho and advancing into the Liverpool penalty area. He had Dele Alli to his right and would surely have played the pass, but for good work from Nathanial Clyne who did well between the two Spurs players.
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38 min: Liverpool win another corner after good link-up play between Lallana and Coutinho. As you were ...
36 min: Emre Can does superbly to win the ball on the edge of the final third and thread a pass in behind the Spurs defence for Daniel Sturridge to chase. With Dier playing him onside, the striker is through on goal but shoots early, straight at Lloris and can only win a corner. Spurs clear. That was a wonderful opportunity for Liverpool to take the lead.
34 min: Spurs lump the ball forward into space in front of the Liverpool back four, where Mamadou Sakho beats Kane to the chase and clears. At the far end of the field, Liverpool win a corner, which Philippe Coutinho takes. He clips the ball towards the near post, Spurs clear and James Milner scuffs wide to give the visitors a goal-kick.
32 min: Danny Rose plays the ball to the edge of the penalty area, where Dele Alli lays the ball off to Harry Kane with his chest. The pass isn’t quite inch-perfect, so the striker is unable to do any more than scramble a corner for his side. Nothing comes of it.
30 min: Kyle Walker plays the ball up the touchline to Harry Kane, who lashes a cross into the Liverpool box. As he’s out on the touchline lashing in crosses, it’s no great surprise that there’s nobody in the penalty area to get on the end of them. Mignolet gathers comfortably.
27 min: Liverpool fans appeal in vain for a penalty when Kyle Walker dives in take the ball off James Milner’s toe. It was a clean tackle and referee Jon Moss signals for a goal kick, prompting many in the ground to think he’s awarded a spot-kick.
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26 min: Counter-attacking with a four-on-two, Sopurs advance deep into Liverpool territory. Spoiled for choice about what to do next, Harry Kane unleashes a shot-come-cross that’s no use to man or beast: it sails wide of the far post.
23 min: Coutinho gets booked for simulation after launching himself through the air with Toby Alderweireld in close proximity. As well as a yellow card from referee Jon Moss, he gets a bollocking from the Spurs centre-half about the spirit of fair play.
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20 min: Oof! That was close. Diving in to intercept an Alberto Moreno cross into the Spurs penalty area, Son comes close to scoring a spectacular own goal, only to have his blushes spared by Hugo Lloris. The goalkeeper did exceptionally well to get down to the bottom right-hand corner and scramble the ball around the post for a corner. Nothing comes of it.
19 min: A mix-up between Lovren and Mignolet ends with the Liverpool goalkeeper having an attempted clearance charged down by Harry Kane. Mr Mignolet is mightily relieved to see the ball drift well wide of the goal - it could have gone anywhere.
17 min: Corner for Tottenham, with Lovren intervening again. Christian Eriksen gives it short, has the ball returned to him and wildly overhits his second ball. The quality of set piece play here is fairly poor so far, from both teams.
16 min: Son fouls Alberto Moreno to give Liverpool a free-kick wide on the left, halfway inside the Spurs half. Coutinho’s inswinger is over-cooked and Hugo Lloris catches comfortably.
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14 min: Dejan Lovren is forced to concede a throw-in deep in Liverpool territory, after Kyle Walker had got the better of Sakho. Good defending from the Croatian.
12 min: A heavy touch from James Milner as he attempts to control a Coutinho pass into the Tottenham penalty area, enables Kevin Wimmer to dive in and save the day before the Liverpool man can regain his balance and pull the trigger. Coutinho should have done better with his follow-up shot; the ball broke kindly for him but he fired a tame effort straight at Hugo Lloris.
11 min: Not a great deal between the two sides after the first 10 minutes, but Spurs are probably edging it on points. They’ve had the only shot on target, but Liverpool are showing some nice touches as well.
10 min: Adam Lallana cuts in from the right along the byline and attempts to pull the ball back for Coutinho, but has to settle for a corner. Nothing comes of it, as Rose heads clear at the near post.
8 min: Chance! Christian Eriksen stings the palms of Simon Mignolet after being teed up on the edge of the penalty area by Kyle Walker, who could conceivably have had a pop himself after Son had picked him out with a pull-back. Excellent play from Spurs.
7 min: Son attempts to get in behind Mamadou Sakho to reach a deft Eriksen pass, but the burly French defender is having none of it.
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6 min: With Liverpool attacking on the break, Adam Lallana sends a decent cross into the Tottenham Hotspur penalty area, but there’s nobody up with him to take advantage or possession. It’s been a lively start.
5 min: Danny Rose and Christian Eriksen combine on the left flank, but the former’s attempt to send a cross into the Liverpool penalty area is blocked.
3 min: Liverpool win a free-kick wide on the right, on the edge of the final third. The ball’s swung into the penalty area, towards Philippe Coutinho, but eventually finds it’s way into the arms of Hugo Lloris, who tries to set up a quick counter-attack.
2 min: Dele Alli takes advantage of a poor attempted clearance to try to send Son Heung-min on his way in behind the Liverpool defence. His through-ball is poor and a decent chance goes to waste.
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur is go ...
Liverpool get the ball rolling, with Tottenham Hotspur playing into the Kop end during the first half. Despite the seven places which separate them in the table, the bookies have Liverpool as favourites for this one, presumably because they’re at home and Spurs haven’t won in the League at Anfield since dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Not long now ...
The teams are out on the pitch going through the pre-match niceties, there’s a Rogers & Hammerstein classic playing over the PA and it’s a perfect evening for a game of football. What’s not to like, eh? Liverpool’s players wear red shirts, red shorts and red socks, while Spurs wear their usual kit of white shirts, navy blue shorts and white socks. Play will be under way very, very shortly.
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Jurgen Klopp speaks ...
The German seems in chipper form and has this to say ahead of the game: “We score not enough goals, we concede a little bit too much goals, but we became a little bit more stable ... until the 47th minute against Southampton,” he says. “The training with the players who were not on international break was great and most of the players who came back only played one game apart from Adam Lallana, so we are back, we are recharged and we are ready.”
Mauricio Pochettino speaks ...
Asked how he sees things panning out: “It’s a very important game for us,” he says. “Playing against Liverpool at Anfield ... it is very tough to play against them. It is important to be optimistic, to be tough and to try to win the three points. We need to try, we are ready. We are ready to compete. It’s always easier to speak than to deliver, but we must be confident and fight and try to win the three points.”
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspurs line-ups
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Milner, Coutinho, Lallana, Sturridge.
Subs: Toure, Allen, Origi, Ibe, Skrtel, Smith, Ward.
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose,
Dier, Dembele, Son, Eriksen, Alli, Kane.
Subs: Mason, Vorm, Trippier, Chadli, Onomah, Carroll, Davies.
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)
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Early team news ...
Tottenham’s record at Anfield is poor, the London side having won just one and lost 14 in their past 21 league visits to Anfield. Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Danny Rose are all expected to feature following their impressive displays for England during the international break, while Liverpool’s recent good run was brought to an abrupt end by Southampton, who came from two down to beat Jurgen Klopp’s side two weeks ago.
For the hosts, Roberto Firmino could miss out due to a hamstring injury, while Christian Benteke will play no part after knacking his knee on international duty with Belgium. James Milner is avaailable for selection after spending time out on the naughty step.
Spurs central defender Toby Alderweireld has been given the all-clear after picking up a stomach bug on international duty, but kick-off could come too soon for Erik Lamela, who picked up a niggle on international duty with Argentina.
It's a big, big night for Tottenham Hotspur
While a win for Mauricio Pochettino’s title-chasing side will close the gap between Spurs and Leicester at the Premier League summit to just two points, any other result would leave Leicester City’s players pumped with optimism and gleefully rubbing their hands together ahead of their lunchtime date with Southampton tomorrow. Mid-table Liverpool have been nothing if not erratic since the appointment of Jurgen Klopp, but on their day are more than capable of giving Spurs plenty to think about. Kick-off is at 5.30pm (GMT), but we’ll be here with team news and build-up long before that.
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