- GDS helps Liverpool to lead
- Spurs poor, missing Dele
- Firmino, Wiljnaldum score
Liverpool passed its first Top Four test of the year in style with a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino scored the goals for the Reds, who moved to 5-0 on the young season and kicked off a run of tricky fixtures with a loss.
Dele Alli and Hugo Lloris were unavailable for for Spurs, who got a stoppage time goal from Erik Lamela.
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Liverpool had two phenomenal chances in the first 20 minutes of the match, one denied by the officials and the second by Michel Vorm.
Then Eric Dier made a terrible back pass that served as a delightful through ball for Mohamed Salah, but Vorm stayed back in his goal and saved a left-footed effort.
Christian Eriksen’s cutback to Lucas Moura was denied by a sliding Naby Keita in the 27th minute. The Dane then ripped a free kick that Alisson Becker collected with a dip to his right.
Substandard passing often betrayed both teams’ fantastic energy, nerves possibly playing a role in the Top Four clash.
Liverpool went ahead with the help of Goal Decision System, as Vorm’s two-handed slap of Wijnaldum’s header off a 39th minute corner just crossed the line.
[ MORE: Latest Premier League standings ]5 - All five of Tottenham’s goals conceded in the Premier League this season have been headers. Hindrance. #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/kiB3Gcb2i8
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 15, 2018
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Joe Gomez opened the door for lively Lucas Moura early in the second half, but Alisson saved the deflected shot.
Another poor giveaway, this one by Mousa Dembele, forced Vorm into a fine save on Sadio Mane (who might’ve wanted to make one more pass).
Lucas cooked Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold before zipping a shot off the near post in the 50th minute.
Firmino doubled Liverpool’s lead in the 54th minute as Spurs faltered badly down their right side. Jan Vertonghen’s sliding diversion was saved of an own goal by the post, but Firmino scored one of the closest range goals possible.
Vorm saved Spurs from a 3-0 deficit when Liverpool earned a 3v2 break in the 64th minute.
Eriksen’s hard, tight cross could only be flicked wide by Kane three minutes later.
Firmino left the match with an apparent head injury in the 73rd minute.
Lamela brought gave Spurs a breath of life in the third minute of stoppage time when he volleyed home.
Now should Mane have conceded a stoppage time penalty kick? VAR would’ve awarded it to Spurs, that’s almost certain, but the video is not in play for the Premier League this season and Mane’s clip of Heung-min Son’s heel in the box was not noticed by Michael Oliver.