Tottenham Hotspur was unfortunate not to take three points at Anfield, as Spurs and Liverpool drew in a game Antonio Conte got spot-on.
During the pre-match presser this past week, Conte was asked how Tottenham Hotspur would approach Liverpool. Conte smiled, complimented the question, and said he would show us on Saturday. In a match with everything on the line, Conte’s well-drilled team played the Italian’s plan to near perfection, using tactics, patience, and persistence to take one point from the current League leaders.
Tottenham tight defensively
Whereas Spurs’ preference under Conte has been a 3-4-3, it was no surprise to see Tottenham in defensive-minded 5-4-1 when Liverpool was in possession. What was unique about the formation from a Tottenham perspective was how compact the team was.
Rather than parking the bus deep, Spurs held a line above the penalty box for much of the match, leaving Liverpool with little space behind the Tottenham defense. Only about eight yards in front of that five-man defense was the midfield, which supported Kane, who at times was less than 20 yards in front of Eric Dier.
Essentially, Tottenham was willing to let Liverpool pass around midfield while making it hard to find space over the top or between the Tottenham lines. Spurs could have played this approach to a full three points if not for an unlucky bounce. Instead, an unfortunate deflection led to an equalizer, and Spurs left Merseyside with a single point.
Although Spurs conceded the equalizer and drew the Reds, patience and persistence put Liverpool on the ropes and the Lilywhites in the lead.
Persistence and patience in Tottenham’s possession
Tottenham worked hard to attack Liverpool quickly when they won the ball in the open field. However, when it came to goal kicks and most of the goalkeeper Hugo Lloris‘s touches, Spurs were committed to building possession from the back.
Time and again, when Spurs were allowed to try and build from the back, they took it and worked the ball into the Liverpool pressure. Sure there were some anxious moments when some poor touches or bad passes put the team under undue pressure, but on the whole, Tottenham stayed patient in building possession when they could.
Before injury time, Lloris may have only hit now ball long, but it was the right ball at the right time, and Spurs hit Liverpool in the gut. Instead of rolling the ball to Dier or Ben Davies, Lloris launched the ball long to Emerson Royal, who was on the left as Spurs had scampered back following a Liverpool counter.
Royal brought the ball under control, dribbled toward the middle of the pitch, and played a hopeful crossfield ball to Kane. Kane controlled the ball and cut inside to attack the Liverpool defense with a sublime first touch. As he did that, Ryan Sessegnon came running up the left, and Kane unselfishly played the ball into Sessegnon’s path.
At this point, Spurs’ Englishman had options; fortunately, he chose the right one as Sessegnon hit a perfect square ball to an unmarked Heung-Min Son for the 0-1 Tottenham lead. It was as beautiful a movement as Tottenham has produced all season and left the Reds asking questions.
Ultimately, the deflection cost Spurs all three points, but it was not because the team had done anything wrong; it was unlucky.
While the point helps Liverpool climb above Manchester City on goal difference, it leaves Tottenham one point back of Arsenal, with the Gunners set to host Leeds United on Sunday, ahead of Thursday’s North London Derby. The result was not quite what Spurs wanted, but they along with Liverpool are still in their race.