Tottenham put dent in Liverpool title hopes

Spurs may have cost Liverpool the Premier League title

The Premier League title race for Liverpool took a critical hit as Jurgen Klopp’s side drew 1-1 with Tottenham at Anfield.

Spurs were first on the board thanks to Son Heung-Min who found the net early in the second half before Luis Diaz equalized for the Reds in the 76th minute. But the visitors held firm in the final 16 minutes of the game to earn the draw.

The result meant Liverpool were tied in first place with Manchester City but with Pep Guardiola’s side having a game in hand.

Liverpool were uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal and with some poor decision making in front of goal.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg had an opportunity to win it for Spurs late but instead of directing his header towards goal, he tried heading the ball to Harry Kane, wasting said opportunity.

VIrgil van Dijk was candid post-match on why Liverpool were unable to win.

"“I think on the ball we were just not good enough. We lost the ball in difficult situations and if you lose the ball in those situations you’re not well organised, so they can do what they are good at.“Every break on attacking corners was quite dangerous as well. In the end, it’s frustrating. It is frustrating to drop points, but we have to recover and play the remaining games. We have quite exciting games still coming up and we have to turn disappointment now into focus on Villa.”Source: Liverpool Echo"

Tottenham managed to earn the draw despite only having one-third of the possession. They bunkered down and stifled Liverpool defensively. A tactic that clearly irritated Klopp.

"“I am sorry, I am the wrong person to ask about [Spurs’ defending] because I don’t like this kind of football. But that is my personal problem. I think they are world-class and I think they should do more for the game.“It’s a game against Liverpool, they have 36 percent possession. But that is my problem. I cannot coach it. So that is why I cannot do it. World-class players, [who] block all the balls. It is really difficult. Atletico Madrid is doing it. Fine, whatever, absolutely fine, it’s just I can’t. But yes I respect everything they do. But it’s not me.”Source: Sky Sports"

Klopp may not like the way Tottenham play but it worked out for Antonio Conte’s team. It’s not as if Spurs aren’t playing for anything either. They are within a shout of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League next season. Conte is going to set out his team to get a result regardless if people like how they play or not.

Liverpool came into the game with the quadruple still on the table. Those hopes may have been dashed as well as they now depend on other teams taking points off Manchester City. A City team who only have the league to play for after being ousted from the Champions League by Real Madrid.

As for Liverpool, they can still win a treble. They face Chelsea in the FA Cup final in a week’s time before taking on Real Madrid in the Champions League final. The Premier League may have been lost, but winning a domestic cup and Europe’s biggest competition is a decent consolation prize.