Tottenham The Architects Of Own Downfall at Liverpool
By Alan Hill
Tottenham were the architect of their own downfall as two defensive errors allowed Liverpool to score twice in the second half and take the three points in a 3 – 2 win. After Liverpool took a first half lead, Jan Vertonghen had scored twice either side of half-time to put Spurs in control but uncharacteristic defensive mistakes led to the end of their unbeaten League run which had started after a defeat in Liverpool, against Everton, last December.
Liverpool 3 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Scorers: Suarez, Downing, Gerrard (p) Vertonghen (2)
Team: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto (Carroll); Dembele, Parker, Livermore, Sigurdsson; Bale, Defoe Subs: (unused) Friedel, Huddlestone, Naughton, Coulthirst
Two goals from Jan Vertonghen [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]In the 1st minute Liverpool, broke down the right, Suarez burst into the area and Walker confidently swept across him taking the ball way. No Aaron Lennon for Spurs. He picked up a hamstring injury against Inter. No William Gallas who injured a calf in the warm up. We move into the present tense, typing as we watch. The Spurs fans in good voice, singing “When the Spurs go marching in”. Another break down the right from Liverpool, this time Downing feeds Sturridge who blasts over. Immediately after Coutinho and then Sturridge get through on Lloris in turn.
Steady boys….
Over the next 5 minute Spurs started to get a grip and played some neat possession football. Bale gravitating to the right and Dembele winning out in midfield against Gerrard. Reina is out injured and the young reserve goalie Brad Jones manages-just-to palm out Bale’s free kick…
Hugo Lloris playing his now familiar sweeper/keeper role. Liverpool trying to split the high Spurs defensive line. Liverpool probing. Coutinho try’s a high curler after cutting in from the left. Close but over the bar. Coutinho again neat pass to Jose Enrique who anticipates the diagonal run from Suarez who takes it instantly with his left foot to stab it under Loris and into the net. Damn. 1-0 Liverpool. Tottenham’s unbeaten 12 match run is rocking.
Liverpool continue to press, Johnson is robbed as he bursts into the area on the right.
Spurs counter. Another run from Dembele. Nice interchange of passing leads to a corner which is easily caught by Jones. Another two breaks down the right, Downing, and then Suarez. His shot/cross palmed away by Lloris. Kyle Walker gets away with dragging back Coutinho in the area as Lloris makes the save. Having said that the ball was already on the way out.
Now Spurs try down the left. 28mins. An easy cross for Jones again. Prior to the goal possession was pretty even. Since Liverpool scored, they have had 68%. 33mins. A long-ranger from Bale clears the bar to jeers from the Kop. 34 mins a solo run past 3 leads to a shot past the post. Spurs continue to pressure. Great passing move. Back heeled flick by Bale leads to a Sigurdsson daisy-cutter just past the left hand post.
A shot from Assou-Ekotto into Jones’ hands again after another slick passing move. Parker and Suarez starting to have some run-ins. Both get a good talking to from the ref. That is going to end in tears for one of them if they are not careful. They have been warned. 43rd minute. Bale knocked for six in a header challenge by Gerrard. To choruses of “cheat” at Bale, Gerrard gets a talking to and a free kick but no booking. Bale goes off to a chorus of boos. Bale comes back on straight away to more boos. It goes down the right from the free kick. Bale places a pin point cross onto Jan Vertongen’s head and he gets the equaliser!
1-1 45th minute. Ideal time to score. It doesn’t pay to p**ss off Bale when he’s in this form. Come on you Spurs!
2nd Half
Is it me or have Liverpool started a bit nervously? Oops, careful what you say. Liverpool break down the right, our defender stabs a foot at the cross and it rolls out invitingly… thank goodness to a Spurs player. Up the other end Bale in the middle to Defoe cutting in from the right, rasping shot saved. 51st min, Bale gets a whack in the face. Loops in free kick. Ball drops off Liverpool defender. Vertonghen swaps feet and whacks it in with his left. 1-2 to Spurs. 55th minute Vertonghen complains at being booked for blocking a through ball. The free kick comes to nothing, Spurs break down the right; Bale runs half the length of the pitch leaving Gerrard then the other old guy, Carragher, in his wake. His cross finds Sigurdsson who has to wait for it to drop from the bounce. Even though blocked by goalie and defender, he nearly scores as it ricochets off the post. No one running in on the loose ball. Then a great run by Dembele and a shot that knocks Jones off his feet as he parries. Again no one running in…64th min and second half has been all Spurs so far.
Oh no! Sucker punch. For some reason from a throw in Kyle Walker whacks what can only be described as a through ball for Liverpool towards Stuart Downing. Lloris roars off his line but this time it’s just not quite quick enough. Downing wins a fair challenge, keeps his calm and slots it through the defender’s legs on the line. 2-2. Totally against the run of play but that’s going to give Liverpool heart.
82nd min end to end stuff. Liverpool cross just clears far post. Defoe, Bale blocked shot. Cross Bale header wide. Other end Suarez for a change miscontrols. Goal kick. Suarez now on the left – goal kick.
Sturridge does a theatrical 9.5 dying swan dive after contact from Vertongen in the area. Ref gives nothing.
We shoot ourselves in the foot again. Assou-Ekotto brings down Suarez in the area after Defoe of all people knocks it back into our box. Gerrard dispatches the penalty. Liverpool 3 Spurs 2.
Livermore and Holtby come on. Gareth Bale free kick just clears the bar.
85th minute. Gerrard, back in colossus mode breaks down a Spurs attack and sends Downing off down the right. Vertonghen’s heavy challenge on Johnson in the area. No penalty. We keep our shape and keep pressing.
It could/should have been 3 or 4-1 to Spurs in the 55th minute. Keep your chin up lads. You were still 1st class. Anyone can make a mistake occasionally. 9istth min free kick Come on! 3 mins added. 93rd min a run and cross by Bale from the left but it goes wide. It’s all over.
We had 14 attempts at goal to their 9. 6 on target to their 4.
Arsenal will have woken up, like a wolf sniffing blood. Damn. Now Chelsea have equalised against Man U. Not a good day.
Don’t take it out on your Mum. It’s not the end of the world.