An authoritative performance in North London on a rainy Thursday evening ensured Liverpool FC’s first win in top-flight football since the turn of the year as Jurgen Klopp’s men secured much-needed three points on the road.
Roberto Firmino’s goal on the brink of half-time was followed up by Trent Alexander-Arnold finding the back of the net minutes following the start of the second-half before Spurs pegged back through Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and it was Sadio Mane who sealed the game in the Merseysiders’ favour in the final third, lifting the defending champions to the fourth spot in the standings.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
Liverpool FC got a golden chance to take an early lead and that too inside the very first minute when Arnold’s superb diagonal pass found Mohammad Salah, who teed up his attacking partner Sadio Mane with ease, only for the latter’s effort on goal to go wide.
On the other end of the pitch, the hosts thought they had gone ahead through Son Heung-min’s calm finish past Alisson Becker in the Liverpool FC goal but VAR thought otherwise and the scoreline remained nil-nil after an eventful opening ten minutes.
The visitors had to endure a couple of fiery Spurs attacks and the makeshift Reds backline was instrumental in keeping the Son-Kane duo at bay.
As the game looked set to go into half-time goalless, a moment of brilliance from skipper Jordan Henderson in finding Mane with a scooping pass allowed the Senegalese to square up the ball for Firmino to bundle inside the net for the opening goal of the game and Liverpool FC’s first of the new calendar year.
Merely minutes after the start of the second half, Hugo Lloris’ palming away of a strike from Sadio Mane led to the lurking Trent Alexander-Arnold firing in a crispy rebound which was too strong for the Spurs goalie to keep out.
A two-goal advantage for Klopp’s side was overturned in a swift manner by Spurs through Hojbjerg’s absolute screamer of a strike just two minutes since Arnold’s goal.
Mohammad Salah got into the action following a fantastic build-up play from the Premier League holders as the Egyptian fired in an effort into the top right corner, however, Firmino’s handling of the ball in the build-up meant that VAR chalked off a potential third goal for Liverpool FC.
𝐁𝐈𝐆. 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄. 💪🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 28, 2021
Arnold turned provider in the 65th minute with a well-timed ball into the box, which took an awkward bounce for Spurs defender Rodon, allowing Mane to get the better of Lloris with a first-time finish, securing the game in the visitors’ favour.
