Matchday: Tottenham 0 – 0 Liverpool
By Ryan Wrenn
Fulltime
The half started pretty timidly, neither side making any significant pushes on goal. Dembélé put on perhaps the best show of the entire Tottenham team and made a significant case for him understudying Dier going forward.
Liverpool increased their pressure with about a third of the game remaining and looked to be on the precipice of goal for a solid five minutes. Tottenham were able to finally find a foot in the game and kept the ball away from the scramble of the penalty box for most of the rest of the match.
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There’s really no selling short how surprisingly good Dembélé was in midfield. His movement and positioning were immaculate, and his out passes when he reclaimed possession were simple but effective. It was everything Tottenham needed in Dier’s absence, though it’s doubtful the Belgium will be starting there again anytime soon.
On the opposite end, Emre Can looked to be the player that has most bought into Klopp’s philosophy. He was a dynamo in midfield, never-ending running combined with well timed challenges.
James Milner continued to thread the line between staying on the pitch and getting sent off for a second yellow. His collision with Danny Rose seemed like a foul at least.
The man of the match should unquestionably go to Mignolet. He saved a small handful of shots that lesser keepers were have let by. Liverpool’s point comes almost entirely from his gloves.
As the game began to die down, Liverpool increasingly seemed to be playing for the draw. They concentrated on containing Tottenham’s outlets in attack and, given how well they managed that in the first half, were unsurprisingly effective. A hard fought game but the result felt deserved in the end.
More analysis and hot takes in the days to come.