(AFP) - Liverpool moved back top of the Premier League in dramatic fashion as Toby Alderweireld's last-minute own goal beat Tottenham 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday (March 31).
Jurgen Klopp's side move two points clear of Manchester City once more at the top of the table, but City have a game in hand.
Liverpool's hopes of ending a 29-year wait to win the title looked set to be dealt a massive blow as Lucas Moura's strike 20 minutes from time cancelled out Roberto Firmino's early opener.
However, Hugo Lloris could only palm Mohamed Salah's header into the path of the unfortunate Alderweireld to condemn Tottenham to a fourth defeat in five Premier League games.
Spurs are now in serious danger of crashing out of the top four as they remain level on points with Manchester United and could be usurped by north London rivals Arsenal into third should the Gunners beat Newcastle on Monday.
And the visitors will be left to regret a huge missed chance by Moussa Sissoko five minutes from time when Liverpool were wobbling.
The hosts had got off to the perfect start when Firmino headed home the opener on 16 minutes from a delightful Andy Robertson cross.
Â
That was Robertson's 12th assist of the season from left-back and the Scotland captain was involved again in a flowing move moments later as he forged down the left and neat touches from Salah, and Georginio Wijnaldum teed up Sadio Mane to curl just wide.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino was serving the last of a two-game touchline ban and without the guiding hand of the Argentine, they lacked inspiration in the final third.
However, Liverpool were often causing their own problems by gifting away possession inside their own half and Dele Alli pounced on a slack pass by his England teammate Jordan Henderson to power a volley that dipped just over the bar with Spurs' best effort of the first-half.
Virgil van Dijk had a great chance to double the hosts' lead at the start of the second period, but the Dutch defender headed over after a well-worked short corner between Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Milner.
However, Liverpool were thankful again to Robertson at the other end as he made a vital block to prevent Christian Eriksen firing home the rebound after Alisson Becker was forced into his first save of the afternoon by Harry Kane.
When these two sides met at Anfield last season, Salah scored one his many goal of the season candidates amidst an incredible 44-goal campaign.
The Egyptian still has a respectable 20 this season, but only one of those has come in the last 11 games and he passed up a great chance to give Liverpool some badly needing breathing space when his shot was blocked by Alderweireld with Mane better placed and begging for a pass.
That missed opportunity looked costly as Tottenham struck back. Kane's quick thinking and excellent long-range pass picked out Kieran Trippier, who fed Eriksen and his scuffed shot fell perfectly for Moura to turn home.
As Liverpool surged forward in search of a winner, Spurs could have picked them off as Sissoko blazed over with just Alisson to beat before Alli clipped a shot inches wide.
Instead, there was delirium in front of the Kop end as Lloris should have handled Salah's header, but instead parried the ball into Alderweireld and the ball ricocheted over the line to breathe fresh life into Liverpool's title challenge.
Soccer: West Ham beat Fulham 2-0 to post fourth win in a row. 3 Min Read. Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v West Ham United - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - December 15, 2018 West Ham
West Ham beat Fulham 2-0 to post fourth win in a row
Desperate for a win to help their quest for Premier League survival, Neil Warnock's side started strongly Soccer: Wolves deepen Cardiff's relegation plight with 2-0 win Home
Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead of season run-in. Football - Champions League - Liverpool Training - Melwood, Liverpool, Britain - April 16
Manchester City endured some anxious moments but escaped from fourth-tier Newport County with their FA Cup hopes intact as Phil Foden scored twice in an ultimately comfortable 4-1 fifth-round
Man City end Newport's Cup dream to reach quarter-finals
LONDON: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blamed Manchester United's lack of ruthlessness as the Norwegian suffered his first domestic defeat as caretaker manager in a 2-0 loss at Arsenal on Sunday. Granit Xhaka's early strike and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang's penalty 21 minutes from time saw Gunners leapfrog United into the Premier League top four.
Arsenal inflict first domestic defeat on Solskjaer to surge
Messi scored Barcelona's second goal in a 3-0 win. Lionel Messi scored his 400th La Liga goal as Barcelona beat Eibar at the Nou Camp to regain their five-point lead at the top of the table.
Messi scores 50th career hat-trick in Barcelona win - goal.com
England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks has died aged 81. Regarded as one of the game's greatest in his position, Banks was named Fifa goalkeeper of the year six times and earned
Football: Tampines Rovers thrash Home United 5-1 to top Singapore Premier League table SINGAPORE - Two games, two wins, 10 goals scored. The 2019 Singapore Premier League may only be in its second round this week, but Tampines Rovers are proving themselves worthy contenders for their first domestic league title since 2013.
Tampines Rovers thrash Hougang United in Singapore Premier
That is part of football." File photo: Anfield stadium is home of Liverpool Football Club one of the most successful English Premier League football clubs. Image: shutterstock. Liverpool could end a 29-year wait for the league title if they can hold on until the end of the season and Klopp knows the club's fans are likely to be feeling tense.
Klopp dismisses talk of Liverpool crumbling under pressure
Lions dominate Patriots to earn first victory of season, 26-10. becoming the first player to reach the mark for the Lions since Reggie Bush ran for 117 yards against Green Bay on Nov. 28, 2013
Hungry lions on eBay | Seriously, We have EVERYTHING
AD
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson says the memory of a Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona will stay with him "forever" ahead of the showpiece event on June 1.. Jurgen Klopp's side lost
Champions League S/F: Three Things we Learned From Barcelona
Clock Repair Times Ticking
Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1 - Serie A
Pep Guardiola's bid to win the Champions League for the first time since 2011 will come under threat from his old friend Mauricio Pochettino when Manchester City face Tottenham in the quarter-final second leg later on Wednesday.
Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Guardiola's Champions League bid
More racial abuse cases heighten calls for action LONDON • Football authorities are facing more scrutiny over their handling of fans' racial abuse of players after three English clubs reported alleged incidents on Saturday and Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha called out an online message branding him "a diving monkey".
More racial abuse cases heighten calls for action, Football
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen