Football News: Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - A Liverpool Perspective

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Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool A Liverpool Perspective

That was a very controlled, for the most part, performance to give Klopp his first ever Wembley victory. While Spurs were allowed plenty of the ball, they were pretty much restricted to playing it about until they gave it away until the final knockings. Though they could have snatched a draw with what should have been a penalty in the dying seconds. Maybe karma has bitten them after their diving gave them a penalty they should never have had last season at Anfield when the officials got it all wrong? Who knows, but Mane was lucky to get away with that.

One thing is for sure, this is not the team of last season. Last season they were full of confidence and stroking the ball about between themselves. This season Spurs are lacking confidence and riddled with errors. Added to being pressed, that was enough to cause Spurs to struggle badly and spend the match as a clear second best to every ball. Even the two centre backs struggled, while Eriksen showed his major weakness for me, he struggles when closed down.

Liverpool themselves played well, created plenty of chances and should have picked up a much more comfortable win. It was not the freewheeling all-out attack of previous seasons under Klopp, it was a mature, composed performance. However the team needs to keep going for the full 90 minutes, instead of settling after about 80 minutes and allowing Spurs back in. A side in better form would have taken advantage.

One more thing it was good to see them turn up for an early kick off for a change. Usually Liverpool are sluggish and lack their usual zip, but this time it was Spurs who were sluggish and never seemed to recover from the early disallowed goal.

Klopp - finally figured out how to get the team up and firing for an early kick off and it made the difference. However, there is still that ridiculous Matip sub in the final minutes that just puts pressure on the team. The organisation falls apart at the back with him there, especially at set-pieces. Rating: 7.

Alisson - had a very good game, realised he was not going to be given time to pick out a pass and so never dawdled on the ball. He gives a real feeling of solidity to the team. Rating: 7.

Alexander-Arnold - showed some good link up play, he is really beginning to build up an understanding with Salah and worked a few opportunities to create space well. Rating: 8.

Gomez - was caught out a couple of times by Moura's pace, allowing himself to be sucked in to a needless attempt to win the ball and giving Moura the chance to just knock it past him and chase it as Gomez went the other way. That is something he will have to learn from, because other quick players will see that and look to try it too. Rating: 6.5.

van Dijk - much better than last time out, Kane barely got a sniff of the ball, let alone a chance. He was the player the team needed, strong, composed and well positioned. Rating: 7.5.

Robertson - was working well without being as forthright and dominating as he can be. He worked hard, kept Trippier from being much of a threat but did not really impose himself in the attacking third. Rating: 7.

Wijnaldum - started off with his usual style, shying away from getting into areas where the ball could get to him and then he scored. After that he was a revelation. Clearly his problem away from home is confidence because he shone after scoring, getting involved in every attack. He was even better than he usually is at home, instead of vanishing like usual away from home. Now the key is for him to carry on like that. Rating: 8.5.

Keita - another decent game but not quite at the level expected of him. There were some signs of him beginning to gel with the rest of the team. His runs were good but he needs a goal to lift his confidence. Rating: 6.5.

Milner - another excellent game, he is really having a hell of a season. He covers every blade of grass, is involved in every attack and yet still gets back to fill in the full-back areas when needed. Rating: 8.5.

Salah - may not have scored, but his movement causes absolute havoc and the thought of him getting one on one terrified their defence into mistakes. Whenever a loose ball was there to be won, he just showed a burst of speed and the centre back, who would otherwise have gone and tried to win it, immediately started backing away. They are petrified of allowing him to nick it past them and it is creating so much more space for the rest of the team to operate in. Yes there were times he probably should have passed rather than shoot, but he is a goalscorer and needs to shoot if he is going to score goals. Rating: 7.

Mane - his performance was very similar to Salah's, scared them into mistakes, created chances but was a bit greedy etc. Like Salah, his sheer presence enables someone else to have space to attack. Rating: 7.

Firmino - was superb, scoring, creating chances, tracking back, it is almost like having Kante in a forward role. Firmino is everywhere. It is a real worry that he might potentially miss some games through injury after his eyeball viciously attacked Vertonghen's fingers. How on earth the ref saw that as a foul by Firmino I will never understand. Probably the man of the match. Rating: 9.

Subs:

Henderson - replaced Firmino in the 74th minute after his eye injury. It required a bit of a reshuffle and upset the team's balance. Rating: 5.5.

Sturridge - came on in place of Keita in the 83rd minute, which at least gave the team an attacking pivot up front, but it was too late to really make a difference. Rating: 5.

Matip - again replaced Alexander-Arnold at the death and made the defending from set pieces lose its organisation. I really do not get the point in this substitution, it unsettles the team and causes problems. Rating: 4.

Written by Tris Burke September 16 2018 19:55:59