Tap For Menu  
Single word yields best result

Football News: Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - A Liverpool Perspective

Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - A Liverpool Perspective
Image from: freelargeimages.com

Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur A Liverpool Perspective

 


This season, from a Liverpool perspective, is a killer! It is hard on the old heart, with the way it has gone and the last gasp winners at Anfield. However, it has come to a point now where all that matters is the 3 points and how it comes is no longer truly relevant. Not when it is a chase for the first title in nearly 30 years. Everything comes down to whether or not the team picks up 3 points. Everything. That is why it feels like a bit of a waste of time to assess the performance right now, especially that of individuals.

What matters more than anything is the desire and will to win and that they keep going right to the final whistle. That is more important than playing well in games at the tail end of the season. The pressure of a title chase is not conducive to playing well. Passes go astray as muscles tighten and nerves get frayed. Once that hurdle is cleared the first time, then you can start looking for performances to improve in the run in.

Right, with that out of the way, the performance was decent in the first half but poor in the second. The Spurs wing backs were pushed back in the first half but pushed forward in the second and Liverpool's fullbacks allowed them freedom to get in behind. With both midfields trying to get forward as much as possible, the game was open with little protection for either defence.

 


Pochettino - set up his team all wrong from the start and then was left chasing the game as he was too slow to make changes. Why he could not make the change to a back four early on, when it was clearly needed, I will never understand. Though it makes a lot more sense than his continuing persistence with the hopeless Davinson Sanchez. They may have been unlucky to concede the final goal, but they were lucky not to have conceded at least one more in the first half. Rating: 5.

 

Lloris - it was not a game he will want to remember, or a season for that matter, he is really struggling and his blunders are becoming common. His kicking was particularly woeful, but, as both keepers struggled, I would have to think the wind played a big part, as it was swirling around. Right now he looks anything but a World Cup winning keeper. Rating: 2.

 

Alderweireld - one of the best defenders in the world, but he struggled to cover for Sanchez's lapses. Once he was back alongside Vertonghen, he looked so much more comfortable and Spurs much more solid at the back. He was extremely unlucky with the own goal and there can be no blame attributed to him. Rating: 5.5.

 

Sanchez - awful player with no positional sense whatsoever and constantly making errors of judgement. Why he gets in the team is beyond me. As soon as he went off, Spurs looked a much better team at the back. Rating: 2.

 

Vertonghen - always gives his all and is an excellent player but this was not one of his better days. First off he struggled, like Alderweireld, to cover for Sanchez, then he went to left back and improved a lot. Once he shifted back into the centre he was much better. Rating: 5.5.

 

Sissoko - well he tries. That is about all you can say for him. He blew the best chance Spurs had to win it. Rating: 3.5.

 

Trippier - could not handle Robertson at all defensively, but did begin to get back into it in the second half and took advantage of the space in behind Robertson. Began to have more and more effect on the game as it went on. Rating: 4.5.

 

Eriksen - surprisingly ineffective. Not one of his better days at all, as the game pretty much bypassed midfield. Rating: 5.

 

Alli - another one who was pretty much bypassed by the game. It all seemed to mostly happen around him, he struggled to get involved. Spurs were unable to make the most of his ability to time runs into the box. Rating: 5.5.

 

Rose - was way too deep in the first half leaving Alexander-Arnold in acres of space, pushed back in the second half and took the game to Liverpool. He was so much better when he was given license to attack and showed some decent stuff. Rating: 6.5.

 

Kane - he really struggled for long periods, but he was able to win fouls, sometimes by drawing them and going down easily, other times by simply falling over at a brush. Thought quickly to create the goal. Rating: 6.

 

Moura - scored the goal, worked extremely hard but never really managed to get into the game. Has pace but his touch was just not good enough to make chances. Rating: 6.

 

Subs:

Son - replaced Sanchez in the 69th minute. While it was more to do with Vertonghen and Alderweireld being united again at the back, Spurs looked so much better with Son in the side. He did not really offer a huge amount but his presence unsettled the Liverpool defence. Rating: 5.5.

Davies - came on in place of Moura in the 82nd minute. Seemed a mistake as he did not shut down the flank either defensively or offer more of a threat. Rating: 4.5.

Llorente - brought on in the 90th +1 minute to replace Eriksen. Too late for him to impact the game. Rating: 5.

 


Klopp - his team had much the better of the first half, though it seemed an odd midfield choice it worked initially. In the second half though, Spurs improved and he was a bit slow to react, leaving it until after they equalised. It worked out ok and that is what matters but he could have done with making the changes more quickly. Rating: 6.

 

Alisson - after playing a lovely pass out to Alexander-Arnold at the start, his kicking and general play took on a nervous feel. He did make a stop but his all round play was a struggle. Rating: 4.5.

 

Alexander-Arnold - did particularly well in the first half, though his attempts to put the ball under the bar from corners did not work out. He was gradually forced back in the second half and his defensive frailties were exposed. Rating: 6.

 

Matip - allowed himself to be drawn into giving away needless fouls when he was caught out of position and tried to charge in too late. Far too often he is caught out late to the party when he is not watching. Then there was his ridiculously stupid attempt to charge in after Kane into the middle of the opposition half, leaving van Dijk on his own against two. Rating: 3.

 

van Dijk - spent most of the game covering for Matip, which meant it was not his best game. Then he was left worryingly limping following one moment when he rescued the team. He certainly will not be able to carry the team with a dodgy ankle. Rating: 6.

 

Robertson - started the game superbly but faded out gradually as the game went on but that cross for the opening goal was delicious. He just needs to do more of that and get more of the ball on a quick switch of play in games like this. Rating: 6.5.

 

Wijnaldum - one of his poorest performances of the season, though he has set a high bar. He was getting forward but not doing enough while there and then not getting back quickly enough and it was leaving gaps in midfield. Rating: 5.5.

 

Henderson - it was not a good game for Henderson. His lack of mobility was an issue as Spurs looked to play in the gaps behind the full-backs and he was not able to get out there to close down, while the centre backs were not keen to be dragged out of the centre. In games like this, he needs to stop trying to be the one to get out into the wide areas and just drop between the centre backs and let one of them get out there. As it was he was just getting exposed and needed help, which he was not getting. Rating: 4.

 

Milner - looked a little off the pace, surprisingly for Milner, but he is always reliable and always does enough to be a productive member of the team, even on an off day. He was not at his best and did not get forward enough or provide enough protection to control midfield but he never stops running. I have seen people blaming Henderson for not stopping the quick free kick Spurs scored from but Milner was not just there, but closer to the ball and he did not stop it either. Rating: 5.

 

Mane - good first half, but faded in the second as he failed to get as much service. Could have easily added a goal or 2 in the first half, but he had little in the way of good chances second. Rating: 6.

 

Salah - always provides clever movement, but his finishing is just not there at the moment. He did create the havoc which caused the winner though. One thing you cannot complain about is that he does not give up, he keeps pushing it and pushing it and trying again and again to get it in the back of the net. Rating: 6.5.

 

Firmino - scored the opener with a good header and his movement and skill caused some problems but he was just not pulling it off when it mattered. Always chasing back to win a ball he gives away and protecting the midfield and defence when needed, as well as pressuring the ball. He is key. Rating: 6.5.

 

Subs:

Fabinho - replaced Milner in the 77th minute. He got too far forward at times trying to help Liverpool chase a result, when he really should have concentrated on protecting the defence. Performed well other than that and his introduction did change the game back in LFC's favour. Rating: 5.5.

Origi - was brought on instead of Henderson in the 77th minute. Never really got into the game but he gave his all. Rating: 5.

Lovren - chosen to replace Salah in the 90th+4 minute. It was just about time wasting and closing out the game. Rating: 5.

 

Just to explain my ratings. I have gone for what I believe is more simple than the usual of totting up points. I have decided to go with 5 as having no effect on the game other than being a body on the pitch. Anything below 5 is a player who had a negative effect on his team and anything above 5 as a positive effect. So a goal scored would be a positive effect and add to the rating, whereas giving away a penalty with a needless challenge would take away from it.

Written by Tris Burke April 02 2019 05:13:40

 

Discuss rumours and transfers on our Liverpool rumours web page

 

Discuss rumours and transfers on our Tottenham Hotspur rumours web page