Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table ahead of Manchester City courtesy of a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
Roberto Firmino sent Jurgen Klopp's side ahead in the 16th minute, but Lucas Moura came up with a second-half leveller as Tottenham looked to pick up a point on Merseyside.
A 90th-minute own goal from Toby Alderweireld secured a huge win for the home side, however, leaving them two points clear of champions City, albeit having played one game more.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live coverage of the action below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Premier League clash between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur from Anfield. Liverpool dropped to second spot in the table when Manchester City beat Fulham on Saturday, but would return to the summit with all three points this afternoon. Tottenham, meanwhile, have lost three of their last four in the Premier League and are now locked in a serious battle to secure a top-four finish. Stay tuned for what should be a super game!
TEAMS!
LIVERPOOL: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Milner; Mane, Firmino, Salah
TOTTENHAM: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose; Sissoko, Eriksen, Alli; Lucas, Kane
Interesting midfield selection by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, with Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner and Jordan Henderson named as the three, with Fabinho and Naby Keita on the bench. As for Tottenham, it is Lucas and Harry Kane as the front two, with a 3-5-2 formation allowing Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier to push forward from wing-back. Son Heung-min is only on the bench.
Here we go then; both sets of players are on the field and we are just about ready to get this game underway. It is a huge, huge football match. Can Liverpool return to the top of the table, or will Tottenham boost their top-four hopes with a huge win? Stay tuned for live updates from Anfield.
KICKOFF: Tottenham kick things off at Anfield...
... as expected, there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium, and Liverpool have started on the front foot as they move the ball with pace. Tottenham have to stay strong early on here.
Mauricio Pochettino is suspended and therefore sitting in the stands this afternoon, but Tottenham have the brief and will be looking to carry out his plan. You do get the feeling that the first goal here - if there indeed is one - could be huge. Can the away side find it?
SHOT! Salah misses the Tottenham goal from distance!
SHOT! Lucas has a strike deflected wide of the Liverpool post from outside the box.
Rose just about manages to recover under pressure from Salah, who would have had the chance to break into a dangerous position. Tottenham are managing to enjoy some possession now.
SHOT! Liverpool again try to get Salah involved down the right, but Rose does well to make the clearance. Tottenham then break through Lucas, who combines with Kane before attempting to strike, but the Brazilian is crowded out. Eventually Sissoko hits it, but it is well wide.
Kane is dropping deep when Tottenham break, allowing Lucas to run past him. The away side have had chances to counter early on here, but the final pass has been lacking thus far.
Alli, Eriksen, Kane and Lucas all charge forward when Tottenham have the ball, but Liverpool have thus far been able to defend their lines. We are still waiting for the first real chance here.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 TOTTENHAM (FIRMINO)
Liverpool make the breakthrough in the 16th minute as Robertson delivers a wonderful cross onto the head of Firmino, who guides his effort into the back of the net past Lloris!
Tottenham just need to be careful that this match does not get away from them as Liverpool, spurred on by the home crowd, look to add a second to take real control of this match.
SHOT! Alexander-Arnold just misses the post with a long-range strike!
SHOT! Alexander-Arnold and Robertson are almost playing as wingers at the moment as Liverpool continue to force the issue. Tottenham are really, really struggling in the wide areas here. Mane is the next player to have a shot for the home side, but his effort is wide of the post.
Sanchez has to make a last-ditch challenge to take the ball away from Salah.
Alisson's scruffy in his work once again as the Liverpool goalkeeper fails to gather under pressure from Alli, but he does get away with it. The Brazil international needs to be careful here.
Tottenham really, really cannot afford to concede a second here.
OFF THE POST! Strange set-up inside the Tottenham box as Liverpool deliver a corner, and it actually comes off the outside of the post from Alexander-Arnold. Lloris did not look comfortable.
Tottenham deliver two crosses in quick succession, but there are no takers as Alli and Kane both miss the chance to make a connection. End-to-end football at the moment here.
Lucas looks to head towards Kane, but Liverpool clear their lines once again before putting pressure on the away side's back four. The first 31 minutes of this match have flown past.
Firmino gets the better of Sanchez inside the Tottenham post, but Vertonghen makes the block.
SHOT! Alli's strike from distance is not too far over Alisson's goal.
Alderweireld comes across to challenge Mane as Tottenham survive another dangerous moment inside their own box. It is clear that the home side want a second before the interval.
CLOSE! Mane just misses the post with a curling effort from outside the box!
Little over five minutes of the first period remaining and it really has flown past here.
SHOT! Lucas strikes wide of the post from outside the Liverpool box.
Much better from Tottenham in the last few minutes as they move the ball from left to right. Liverpool are making mistakes at the back and in midfield, which will encourage the away side.
Alli, Lucas and Kane have all used the ball well for Tottenham, who will certainly feel that they can cause issues in the second period. There is space for the capital outfit if they can use it.
HALF TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 TOTTENHAM
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Liverpool leading Tottenham 1-0 courtesy of a header from Firmino. Both teams have had opportunities to add to the scoring, but it is very delicately poised ahead of a huge second 45 minutes here.
STATISTICS! Liverpool had 57% possession in the first period, managing five attempts, although just one of those - the goal - was on target. Tottenham, meanwhile, had five attempts, but were unable to find the target. No bookings to report in the opening 45 minutes of action here.
BENCH WATCH! Llorente, Son and Wanyama are amongst those on the Tottenham bench this afternoon, while Liverpool have the likes of Fabinho, Keita, Lallana, Origi and Shaqiri in reserve. It will be very interesting to see how both managers use their bench in the second period here.
KICKOFF: Liverpool resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, you suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops here.
Tottenham cannot concede at this stage of the match. It would be a long road back from two goals behind, but a leveller would really make this a fascinating contest.
CHANCE! Big chance for Van Dijk at the far post as the Netherlands international meets a cross from Milner, but his header misses the target. Tottenham need to be really, really careful here.
Possession football from Tottenham at the moment as they move the ball from left to right. Pochettino looks on the stands and will have been encouraged by the start to the second half.
CLOSE! Firmino heads a Milner cross over the Tottenham crossbar from a good position.
Sanchez does well to prevent Firmino from breaking into a dangerous position. Liverpool want a free kick, but the referee is not interested. This game is really, really livening up here.
CHANCE! Huge moment! First, Alisson keeps out a strike from Kane, the rebound falls for Eriksen, but his effort is deflected over the crossbar off Robertson. Huge moment for the away side here.
CHANCE! Big chance for Liverpool as Salah breaks into a dangerous position, but the attacker sees his goal-bound strike blocked by Alderweireld. End-to-end football on Merseyside.
Little under 30 minutes of the second period remaining and it is so delicately poised.
How long will Pochettino leave it before making a change? And indeed Klopp? Both teams continue to have good moments on the break, but still just the one goal at Anfield.
Tottenham have the ball with little over 25 minutes of football remaining. Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances at the moment, but Matip has just had to clear a low Eriksen cross.
Wijnaldum hooks a corner kick clear as Liverpool move out of their own box once again.
Van Dijk looks to control a deep corner inside the Tottenham box, but Sissoko is on hand to make the challenge and Tottenham can resume from a goal kick. Little over 20 minutes to play here.
SHOT! Salah misses the Tottenham goal with a strike from distance.
TOTTENHAM SUB! Son replaces Sanchez for Tottenham.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-1 TOTTENHAM (LUCAS)
Huge moment! Tottenham level the scores in the 70th minute as a quick free kick from Kane finds Trippier on the right. Eventually it comes into Eriksen who trickles one into Lucas and the Brazilian finishes into the back of the net from close range! All square at Anfield.
Little over 15 minutes of the second period remaining here and Liverpool will feel that they have to score because it is difficult to see where Man City are going to drop points.
Trippier manages to clear a dinked cross from Alexander-Arnold as Tottenham survive a period of pressure. Liverpool are preparing to make a double change with Origi and Fabinho entering here.
SAVE! Smart save from Lloris to tip a Alexander-Arnold effort over the crossbar!
LIVERPOOL SUBS! Henderson and Milner are replaced by Fabinho and Origi.
CHANCE! Alexander-Arnold delivers another corner into the Tottenham box and it hits Firmino, but Lloris is able to jump on the ball. Huge moment for the home side to score a second!
YELLOW CARD! Lucas (Tottenham) is booked for a foul on Salah.
CLOSE! Origi sees his free kick deflected just wide of the Tottenham post.
TOTTENHAM SUB! Davies replaces Lucas for the away side.
Van Dijk almost finds Mane with a long-range pass, but the ball just bounces away from the attacker. Little over five minutes of the second period remaining and the score remains 1-1.
CHANCE! Oh it is a horror! Sissoko leads a two versus one for Tottenham as he breaks into the Liverpool box, but the midfielder fires high and wide. It is terrible from the midfielder there!
Another good moment for Tottenham in the final third, but Rose misses everyone with his cross. The away side really are looking dangerous at the moment as Liverpool throw players forward.
CLOSE! Alli just misses the far post with an effort!
Huge header from Kane to clear a corner from Alexander-Arnold.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-1 TOTTENHAM (ALDERWEIRELD OG)
Heartbreak for Tottenham as Alderweireld bundles into the back of his own net after Lloris had saved a header from Salah. Incredible moment in the Premier League title race.
We are into the second minute of added time at the end of the 90.
Tottenham are still looking to force a late equaliser here.
LIVERPOOL SUB! Salah is replaced by Lovren.
Liverpool are almost there.
FULL TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-1 TOTTENHAM
Well then. Liverpool are back on top of the Premier League table courtesy of a late, late win over Tottenham. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
