Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool: Joel Matip scores late personal aim after resilient Reds see TWO males despatched off with Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota given their marching orders

The amount elevated from the knot of Liverpool supporters within the nook of the stadium shortly after the Diogo Jota sending off on 69 minutes. It was as if they anticipated one thing extraordinary, one thing that they might recount in years to return to their youngsters’s youngsters: that journey to Tottenham once we confronted down Ange Postecoglou’s all-out-attack with 9 males.

Dominic Szoboszlai was the primary to choose up on their hope. A brand new signing who already seems Liverpudlian to his core, he stopped in entrance of the followers and gestured frantically. They responded, elevating the quantity. Trent Alexander Arnold was subsequent. He’s Liverpudlian to his core and now, because the clock ticked on to 90 minutes, he implored the followers to offer nonetheless extra. They usually did.

The clocked had moved on to 95 minutes. Solely seconds remained to attain one thing momentous. It’s one factor to carry out towards a very good crew with ten males. To take action with 9, for greater than 20 minutes towards this Spurs crew, would benefit the efficiency of the season.

And so amidst all the enjoyment at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it was onerous to not really feel overwhelmed with empathy for Joel Matip and never simply because he was among the many heroes right here. In a sport with a surfeit of pleasure, Liverpool skilled a few of the worst luck attainable. Some key selections had been debatable: Jota’s first yellow card, Curtis Jones’ first-half crimson.

But the aim Luis Diaz scored on thirty fourth minute, which was one way or the other dominated offside by VAR Darren England when it appeared nicely onside, is a dagger to the physique of truthful play. It’s comprehensible when officers obtained calls mistaken in actual time. If we now can’t belief the VAR to use the rights strains and name the regulation appropriately, then the entire rule of soccer regulation breaks down. On Saturday, the officers physique had already apologised for a big error. Not less than in admitting that so rapidly they’d some dignity a lot good it did Liverpool. ‘Who does that assist now?,’ mentioned Jurgen Klopp. ‘We gained’t get the factors.’

Joel Matip scored a late personal aim as Tottenham left it late to beat Liverpool in a dramatic Premier League conflict on Saturday

The aim triggered manic scenes simply when Tottenham appeared to be heading for a 1-1 draw towards nine-man Liverpool

Curtis Jones was despatched off for the Reds towards Tottenham following a excessive problem on Yves Bissouma within the first half

Luis Diaz regarded to have given Liverpool the opener just for the aim to be wrongly disallowed for offside, with PGMOL admitting after the sport {that a} ‘vital human error’ had been made

Jurgen Klopp was not pleased with the choice or PGMOL’s apology, believing the second modified the momentum of the sport

Nonetheless, earlier than descending right into a lawyer’s breakdown of soccer legal guidelines, take a second to think about the sheer drama of this present. Klopp, even in his frustration, may. ‘I’ve by no means seen something like that,’ he mentioned of the nine-man efficiency. 

‘It was prime, prime….’ There isn’t any greater soccer reward. He didn’t get factors from the sport however insisted: ‘I did get rather a lot out of it and I’ll assist the boys discover that.’ Certainly this does look a distinct Liverpool to final season, one able to problem once more.

And but they weren’t the victors. It’s Tottenham who’re joint prime of the league. There was one final likelihood for Spurs, one final assault. 

Cristian Romero pushed the ball huge to Pedro Porro. He fired in his cross which such ferocity that Matip simply instinctively reacted, caught out a foot and directed previous his personal goalkeeper.

A sport of this high quality, with its wonderful ebbs and flows, deserved its dramatic finale. It was the Premier League at its best, the urgent rabid, the approach very good and the tactical responses to setbacks excellent. 

On the finish of it, Large Ange was acknowledging a euphoric stadium, which was swaying arm in arm to an excellent rendition of Robbie William’s Angel. 

Who had this on their Bingo card when Harry Kane left in August? That is greater than a sense. This Tottenham look to be made from one thing extra substantial than that.

It was one other late, late win after the victory right here towards Sheffield United and there’s nothing like that to ratchet up euphoria but Postecoglou doesn’t fairly purchase it. ‘

There was a good bit occurring and I am making an attempt to course of it,’ he mentioned. ‘I’m not sitting right here considering we’re forward of some schedule. We had some vital challenges [pre season] and we’ve handled them nicely. I don’t understand how far we will go along with this group, we simply should maintain pushing on.’

And earlier than the controversy, some excellence must be acknowledged. Alisson stored Liverpool on this sport, his saves from James Maddison and Son Heung-min after the break among the many finest you’ll be able to see. 

Szoboszlai was astonishing, from directing the play with eleven males, sitting deep with ten after which as a lone attacker with 9. James Maddison swaggered via the sport with a substance that grows match by match.

He’s irresistible, his move to safe the opening aim elegant. And but it wasn’t even one of the best of the sport, Mo Salah exhibiting he nonetheless has it with a move for Diaz that ought to have been transformed simply earlier than the break. Son wasn’t absolutely match and but leads the road with a gusto and power that’s breath-taking and returned to be being a finisher of the best high quality.

Son Heung-min put Tottenham forward after 36 minutes, slotting the ball house after nice work from James Maddison

Cody Gakpo scored simply earlier than half-time however appeared to injure himself in doing so – which can be a priority for Klopp

Diogo Jota was given his marching orders within the second half after choosing up two bookings in fast succession – although it appeared as if he did not make any contact with Future Udogie for his first 

Liverpool – regardless of dropping all the way down to 9 males – defended resiliently and appeared to be heading for a hard-earned level

Matip although put the ball at the back of his personal web and regarded pissed off as he was consoled by Liverpool keeper Alisson

So to the controversies and incidents. The turning level: Curtis Jones wasn’t being malicious when he went in on Yves Bissouma on 28 minutes however he did barely misjudge his problem, slip over the ball and find yourself excessive, studs exhibiting on his shin. That’s all the time going to be a crimson card within the VAR period. Whenever you freeze the body, it seems even worse. In regular time, it simply regarded an sincere mistake. ‘We play the sport in actual time however decide it in gradual movement,’ mentioned Klopp.

The Diaz aim that wasn’t on 34 minutes was an outstanding via ball from Salah and even higher strike. It deserved to be given for that alone. Even when the primary TV clip shot up it appeared he was nicely onside. Inside seconds although the assistant’s offside flag was confirmed. It’s onerous to conceive how that occurred.

So Tottenham struck the opener, a aim of such purity it echoed one of the best of the membership. Maddison’s move was weighted so nicely, it invited the diagonal, attacking run which Richarlison delivered and his delicate, assured contact again throughout aim was simply nearly as good, with Son’s run to complete additionally excellent.

Jurgen Klopp thanked the travelling supporters following full time as his facet got here inside inches of holding on

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou once more obtained the plaudits from the followers inside the bottom at full time

It will likely be a tricky outcome for Liverpool to take after performing admirably nicely regardless of the numbers benefit for Tottenham

And but, deep into added first half minutes, Szobszlai crossed and delivered the proper cross into the field on to Van Dijk’s head. It appeared Cody Gakpo had missed his likelihood, miscontrolling. However he swivelled and shot on the flip to equalise. Injured within the free kick that led to the aim, he wouldn’t return, Jota approaching as an alternative.

What a ten-men efficiency requires is immense self-discipline. What it doesn’t want is 2 silly fouls in 90 seconds to go away your crew with 9 males. Each from Jota had been on Future Udogie, the primary debatable, maybe a sly tactical one, although perhaps Udogie tripped over his personal toes. Honest sufficient, however that’s your warning. When he dived in a minute in a while the identical participant, he was inviting his personal expulsion.

Klopp responded by withdrawing the tireless Salah. Gomez and Diaz. With a 3-4-1 formation. Szoboszlai now his solely nominal attacking participant, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson now wing backs. They nearly made it to 96 minutes. Had they completed so, they’d have recorded it within the annals of Anfield. Because it was, we had a sport for the ages however refereeing selections that we thought had been confined to historical past.