Dominik Szoboszlai crosses the ball after 13 minutes and Virgil Van Dijk connects with a header but the Spurs keeper saves it. Jay Spence makes a good break down the left wing but in the process of passing Connor Bradley he is judged to have fouled him, much to his frustration. Liverpool are stringing some good passes together in the midfield so far and looking quite hungry. The best chance of the game so far falls to Tottenham after 26 minutes. Randal Kolo Muani gets a nice opportunity bang in the centre of the six yard box where he has a free header but it goes straight into a waiting Alisson’s arms. He should have done better for the home side. Spurs’ Xavi Simons makes a right horrible stud-scraping challenge on Van Dijk, taking him down from behind and the VAR has to check for serious foul play so the game is stopped while we wait. Sure enough he gets shown a red card and is off.
Alisson has a bit of a panic and almost makes a mess of things as he rishes to clear it at the edge of the box. On another move, Spurs fizz it in from the right hand side into the box but Spence simply can’t connect. They have had chances, Tottenham, even if Liverpool are the dominant force in the game. Spence is having a good game down the left and he has a shout for a penalty after clashing with two defenders but the ref just waves it away. Bradley is down injured and limps off to th sidelines after treatment. He is Ok though and back on the pitch.
The half-time whistle blows and there is a bit of a sour feeling in the match after the horrific red card incident. The home crowd are issuing boos to LFC when they are on the ball. Spurs have had opportunities and Liverpool, although pssing the ball well, and having had most of the possession, they aren’t knitting it together properly in the final third.
Alexander Isak replaces Connor Bradley for the second half, giving Liverpool a bit more attacking oomph. Alexis Mac Allister has a shot blocked. It’s all handbags at ten paces as the players from both sides square off after Isak is fouled and goes down injured. Not long after he gets revenge as he gets onto a Florian Wirtz pass and slots it straight into the middle of the goal. Liverpool are one nil up. It’s not totally great though as Isak has to head off the pitch as he’s injured and Jeremie Frimpong makes a return from the subs bench to the Liverpool team. Spurs miss a great chance when Randal Kolo Muani hits the bar and Spence follows up with a shot from outside the box straight at Alisson. It’s not over yet. Well, maybe it is now! Hugo Ekitiké has a lovely directed header which he rises to brilliantly after a cross in from Frimpong on the right. 2-0 Liverpool.
Ibrahima Konaté manages to get himself into the referee’s book to balance out the bookings a bit. Richarlison, the former toffee comes on and he always like to make an impact against Liverpool, obviously, being a blue. I must say he is a quite a dangerous player. I’m no fan of his for sure. And sure enough, as I finish typing the last couple of sentences it is Richarlison who bangs it into the back of our net with a gilted opportunity and Spurs are back in the game with roughly ten minutes left, including injury time. Richarlison is playing with passion and he breaks through but unfortunately for him he can’t quite get a decent shot away. Chiesa comes on for Liverpool to close out the game. Cristian Romero wins a foul from Konaté but due to dissent he gets a second yellow card and is the second Spurs player to get sent off so they are down to nine and it is injury time. Come on, Reds, hold on, for crying out loud! Pedro Porro makes Alisson work as they try to equalize and grab a point from the game. A total of nine minutes injury time seemingly dragging on. Mac Allister now also gets a booking. Liverpool make another two final substitutions to break up the game a bit. Eventually and relievingly the final whistle blows and Liverpool are victorious.
Liverpool were quite lucky in the end to escape with victory and three points. The game was quite an angry one really. Both sides, I suppose have been underperforming this season and there is no surprise that pent up frustrations may have built. The Reds march on and we are slowly rising up towards a top four finish at the very least. I suppose that this would be a realistic target after our shady season start.
Well, Merry Christmas, Liverpool fans!
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