Liverpool break out of slump with 3-1 win over Spurs
London, Jan 28 (efe-epa).- Liverpool ended a frustrating stretch and long scoring drought in the Premier League on Thursday night, unleashing their full array of weapons in a 3-1 victory here over host Tottenham.
The victory was an important one for the defending champion Reds, who had only won one match across all competitions this year coming into the contest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and had not been victorious in England’s first division since their 7-0 shellacking of Crystal Palace on Dec. 19.
Both sides started this Matchday 20 contest in attack mode, with Senegal international Sadio Mane missing out on a golden scoring opportunity in the second minute after a give-and-go with Mohamed Salah.
The Spurs then countered on the other side of the field a minute later when Son Hueng-min drove into the box and appeared to open the scoring on a left-footed shot past Liverpool goalie Alisson, although a VAR review showed the South Korean forward was offside and the goal was disallowed.
It was Liverpool’s turn again in the 23rd minute, but an outstanding save by keeper Hugo Lloris of a well-placed low shot by Mane kept the game scoreless.
The visitors had not netted a goal in a Premier League match since the first half of their Dec. 27 contest against West Bromwich Albion, a stretch of more than eight hours, but Roberto Firmino finally ended the drought when he scored from point-blank range off a bouncing pass from Mane deep in first-half stoppage time.
After the intermission, the Reds picked up where they left off, nearly scoring in the opening minute on a shot by Salah that sailed over the crossbar and then doubling their lead in minute 47 on a goal by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The English right back scored into the bottom left of the goal after Lloris had stopped a shot by Mane.
Tottenham at that juncture were in desperate need of an offensive spark and that came in the 49th minute on a long-range strike from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg just inside the far post that Alisson was powerless to stop.
The Spurs’ comeback stalled there, however, while Liverpool appeared to push their lead back to two on a goal by Salah that was ruled out for a Firmino hand-ball in the lead-up and then made it 3-1 on a left-footed shot by Mane at close range in the 65th minute.
With the win, fourth-place Liverpool (37 points) moved to within four points of league-leaders Manchester City, although the Citizens have a game in hand.
Tottenham are currently in sixth place with 33 points. EFE-EPA
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