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Liverpool ended their goal drought in style with a drama-filled 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, kick-starting their Premier League title challenge.
The triumph comes at a vital time and puts them now within four points of top spot, in fourth place, while Spurs sit sixth, with one game still in hand but now a huge worry after Harry Kane went off injured.
It was a thrilling affair in N17 as Jose Mourinho’s men had a goal chalked off after just two minutes when Heung-Min Son was ruled offside in the build-up to his own strike.
Roberto Firmino tapped in the opener for Liverpool, ending a 482-minute goalless streak which took in 93 attempts on goal, as Sadio Mane profited from his probing runs behind the Spurs defence.
But it was the second half when the game truly kicked into gear.
Harry Kane was taken off at half-time and Spurs were forced to change formation with Jurgen Klopp’s side scoring a second goal within a minute of the restart through Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg cracked in a wonderful goal moments later to give Spurs a chance but Liverpool weren’t finished and after Mohamed Salah saw a goal disallowed, Mane got the goal he deserved, ramming the ball home after some suspect defending.
The match was a hit from the off as a stunning ball from Alexander-Arnold and a one-two with Salah saw Mane spurn a glorious opportunity, having got in behind the Spurs defence, with mere seconds on the clock – it would be a theme for the night.
But the hosts nearly made the Reds pay for that miss instantaneously as a slick piece of play involving Tanguy Ndombele, Kane, and Son saw the latter slot home, only for VAR to disallow it for an offside in the build up.
The two sides bristled with nervous energy in north London, both looking strong in attack but shaky in defence.
Ndombele’s skills in midfield dazzled as he took up a deeper role alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, but Liverpool had their own moments as darting movements from Firmino worried Eric Dier.
A clip on Kane’s ankle by Thiago had Spurs supporters’ nerves fraying but their goalscorer extraordinaire was able to resume play after some medical assistance.
Sweeping moves from side-to-side threatened to pull Spurs apart at the seams but the drilled Mourinho backline held firm.
As the 18th minute was reached, so did a big milestone – seven and a half hours in the Premier League without a goal for the Reds.
It was Spurs who had the next clear cut chance, though; Son set through on the left again but this time the South Korean hit his shot straight at Alisson.
Liverpool snapped back, Mane heavily involved and his flick was stunningly saved by Hugo Lloris, although it would likely have been pulled back for offside.
They snapped in the tackle too, Thiago earning a yellow card for a challenge on Hojbjerg.
Another knock to Kane’s ankle threatened to see him withdraw from the game but he soldiered on, and teammate Joe Rodon was on hand to save Spurs with a magnificent tackle to deny Mane moments later.
The Senegalese ace nearly had the opener three minutes before the break but Lloris, again, denied him.
Tottenham’s backline was creaking, and just seconds before the half-time whistle, it was Mane in behind again and he squared cutely for Firmino, bright as a button all half, to tap home.
Drought over.
Both teams had to make changes; Kane was finally removed due to his ankle woes, along with Serge Aurier, while Liverpool replaced Joel Matip with Nat Phillips.
And it set up a wild first 20 minutes of the second period.
Tottenham were immediately under pressure and failed to clear their lines with the ball eventually finding Mane on the left.
He shrugged off Matt Doherty far too easily and his tame curler was foolishly palmed out by Lloris and the marauding Alexander-Arnold slammed home as it fell invitingly into his path.
Spurs weren’t about to go down without a fight though and midfield star Hojbjerg lashed home a stunning strike, slicing through the shot, to halve the deficit two minutes later.
If you needed a breather, you only got 10 minutes but after Salah shot home VAR disallowed the goal for a handball by Firmino earlier on in the move.
Liverpool had their confidence back and it was no surprise when a third did come for Klopp’s side.
A burst of pace on the flank from Alexander-Arnold won him some space and he conjured up a stunning whipped ball into the box.
Rodon looked to have it covered but he appeared deceived by the bounce and there was Mane to thump home.
Gareth Bale entered the fray late on but Spurs just couldn’t get going and mount a comeback.
Liverpool still have improvements to make but the big red machine might just be going back up through the gears. The title bid is back on.
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