Tottenham’s downward spiral continued as their chances of securing a spot in the Premier League’s top four diminished even further following a convincing defeat by Liverpool at Anfield.
Aston Villa’s loss to Brighton provided an opportunity for Spurs to make a late surge for next season’s Champions League. However, despite a late rally, they suffered a fourth consecutive loss as Liverpool regained their form after a recent slump.
Mohamed Salah, who had a disagreement with manager Jurgen Klopp during the West Ham game, scored the opening goal with a header from Cody Gakpo’s cross. Andy Robertson doubled the lead just before half-time, taking advantage of Vicario’s save from Salah’s shot.
Tensions rose within the Spurs team, with Vicario having to intervene between Romero and Royal as they headed into half-time. Unfortunately for Postecoglou’s side, things did not improve in the second half as Liverpool dominated the game.
Gakpo scored the third goal from Harvey Elliott’s pass five minutes into the second half, while Elliott himself found the back of the net in the 59th minute with a magnificent curling shot from 20 yards that went into the top corner.
Liverpool then surprisingly lost focus, leading to substitute Richarlison and Heung-Min Son scoring for Spurs and giving them a glimmer of hope. However, it was too late for Spurs to make a comeback, as Liverpool still holds a seven-point lead over them and remains in fourth place, with a game in hand.
Liverpool’s performance in the game ended with some anxiety around Anfield, but for the majority of the match, they displayed their dominant and threatening style of play. Despite Tottenham scoring two goals, Liverpool never truly faced the risk of losing the victory.
Salah, who had previously clashed with manager Klopp at London Stadium, showed no signs of discord as he scored the first goal and played a part in Robertson’s second. However, it was Elliott who stole the spotlight with an exceptional performance. In addition to assisting Gakpo’s goal, he also scored a remarkable goal of his own with a powerful shot that soared past Vicario.
In another context, the match against Wolves on the final day of the season could be seen as a preview of Klopp’s last game after his remarkable nine-year tenure. The fans at The Kop showered him with praise, and Klopp reciprocated with his signature fist pumps, creating an emotional atmosphere at Anfield. While Liverpool’s hopes of winning multiple trophies this season have faded, it sets the stage for a heartfelt farewell at Anfield in two weeks’ time.