Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 16 points with a game in hand as they battled to a hard-fought win at Tottenham.
Jurgen Klopp’s men became the first team in Europe’s top-five leagues to win 20 of their first 21 games as they fought off a second-half fightback from Spurs to win courtesy of Roberto Firmino’s first-half goal.
The Brazil forward turned Spurs’ teenage debutant Japhet Tanganga and then beat Paulo Gazzaniga with a sweet strike to give the visitors a deserved lead.
However Liverpool were then grateful to poor finishing from Jose Mourinho’s side – without the injured Harry Kane – to record another victory on their seemingly relentless march to a first title in 30 years.
Son Heung-Min and substitute Giovani lo Celso missed glorious second-half chances to give Spurs some reward for a performance that improved as the game went on.
But Liverpool, their position strengthened further by Leicester City’s shock home loss to Southampton, held on to increase the sense of formality about the destination of this season’s Premier League trophy.
Liverpool march on to glory
Liverpool may not have been at their best – there were even spells in the second half when they looked jaded – but this is a team on an unstoppable run to the Premier League title.
This was their 12th successive league win and it is a truly remarkable feat to have dropped only two league points from their first 21 games – something no other team in Europe’s elite leagues have ever achieved.
It’s true they were let off by Spurs’ missed chances but there is perhaps a sense that Liverpool’s dominance is having such a psychological impact on opponents that when rare opportunities come along there is such a pressure to take them that they are being snatched at.
And even when not in prime form, Liverpool are so potent that there is always a goal in Klopp’s side, as Firmino proved with his neat 37th-minute sidestep and thumping finish.
Spurs will claim, with justification, they should have had a throw-in before the goal but Liverpool are now being propelled with growing momentum to end that long wait to reclaim their old domestic supremacy.
Spurs lack killer instinct
The root of Spurs’ downfall came in two distinct aspects of their performance – albeit one did get better as the game wore on.
In the first half, Spurs were far too passive and negative as they sat back, presumably waiting for an opportunity to strike on the counter attack.
The tactic was undone by Firmino’s goal, leaving Spurs with no option but to be more positive in the second period.
It was then, without the marksmanship of long-term injury victim Kane, that they were so wasteful in front of goal – with both Son and Lo Celso missing when it seemed easier to score.
Lo Celso’s miss, in particular, left Mourinho openly lamenting his side’s absence of a clinical edge as he collapsed dramatically to his knees after the Argentina midfielder failed to hit the target from close range.
Spurs’ wasteful moments against Liverpool may well further convince their manager he has to strengthen his attacking options in this transfer window as the fight for a top-four place intensifies.
