Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Liverpool - Reviewed

Article by Chris Duncan @coach_chris83

Date: 27th August 2016

Venue: White Hart Lane

Attendance: 31,211

Goals: Danny Rose (72) - James Milner (43, pen)

Following our 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace last time out, we headed in to the game against Liverpool full of optimism. Having drawn both games last season and been on the end of a couple of spankings a few seasons back, I for one was hoping that we would turn the tables on our visitors from Merseyside, and give them a long overdue beating at the lane.

Five minutes in and the pre-match optimism was fading fast. Roberto Firmino broke into our box and found an unmarked Coutinho, who from ten yards out should have given Liverpool the lead. However, a brilliant reaction save with his legs from Michel Vorm - once again deputising for the injured Hugo Lloris - denied the Brazilian.

Vorm denied Coutinho again after twenty-six minutes with another reaction save. Two minutes later we were forced in to a change with Kyle Walker, who had been suffering from illness, being replaced by Vincent Janssen. This meant a tactical reshuffle with Eric Dier moving to right back, Dele Alli moving to the base of our midfield, and Harry Kane taking up a deeper attacking role.

Four minutes after Janssen's introduction we should have been awarded a penalty when our Dutch striker was clearly fouled by Liverpool debutant Joël Matip. Referee Bobby Madley did not point to the spot on that occasion, but did so two minutes before halftime to the benefit of Liverpool, after Érik Lamela was deemed to have fouled Roberto Firmino. Recently retired England international James Milner stepped up and converted the penalty, sending Michel Vorm the wrong way.

Liverpool could have doubled their advantage shortly after half time when Joël Matip headed against the bar from a James Milner corner. Indeed, Liverpool briefly thought they had doubled their advantage a short while later when Saido Mané finished off an incisive counter attack, but the goal was ruled out as Adam Lallana was found to be marginally offside during the build up.

We finally started to get in to the game after the hour mark. Christian Eriksen blazed an effort over the bar, having been found by Dier, who was impressing at right back. Érik Lamela was the next to have a go from a free-kick, which was tipped over by Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal. From the resulting corner, Toby Alderweireld forced another save from Mignolet. Our increased pressure was rewarded after seventy-two minutes, when Danny Rose drew us level. Eric Dier crossed from the right, and although Liverpool's Adam Lallana tried heading clear, the ball fell kindly to Danny, who controlled well before volleying past the oncoming Mignolet.

Toby Alderweireld was involved at both ends at the end of the game. First our Belgian international defender headed over the bar, before making a last-ditch tackle to deny Lallana a winning goal at the other end.

My View

Prior to kickoff I expected us to win. I knew from watching Liverpool against both Arsenal and Burton Albion that going forward they posed a threat, but they looked so suspect at the back that I convinced myself they would concede a few goals against us.

As per usual my pre-match prediction was way off the mark. Liverpool went into the break ahead, courtesy of what I thought was a soft penalty, especially considering the penalty we had not been awarded. In truth though, Liverpool deserved to be leading at the break, and could easily have been two or three ahead - once again we had Michel Vorm to thank for keeping us in the game - and none of us could have argued.

Despite a slow start to the second half, I was impressed with our performance after the break, and we throughly deserved our goal when it came. Putting a positive spin on what was a disappointing performance, our never-say-die attitude was evident again, and on another day we could have won gone on to win the game. Admittedly, on another day we could also have lost.

Share on Google Plus