Defensive disaster for Liverpool at Wembley.
Tottenham enjoyed a comfortable win over Liverpool this evening as Dejan Lovren gifted them the three points inside the first 12 minutes.
The Reds defender was badly at fault for both goals as Spurs raced into a 2-0 lead through Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, though the humiliation did not end there.
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While Mohamed Salah produced a tidy finish to pull one back for the visitors, Dele Alli struck again just before half time to make it 3-1, and Kane added his second and Tottenham’s fourth to kill the game in the second period.
Man of the match
Two goals, one assist – it has to be Harry Kane.
Harry Kane for Tottenham in 2017:
34 games
38 goalsUnstoppable ??? pic.twitter.com/Gam8xSV3xt
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) October 22, 2017
This man’s quite extraordinary year continues, and he produced the goods in a big game today against a side who, despite their current woes, are likely to be challengers to Spurs for a top four spot.
He may have been up against a clueless Liverpool back four, but the finishing was lethal as usual, and he showed he’s an all-rounder with a fine cross for Son’s goal.
Flop of the match
He may have only played 31 minutes, but as that was because he was hauled off in humiliating fashion by his manager, the honour goes to Dejan Lovren.
Quite how Liverpool couldn’t find a centre-back better than the calamitous Croatian all summer is beyond pretty much everyone right now, but today’s ruthless substitution by Klopp could signal the end of his Anfield career.
Two errors in the first 12 minutes leading to two goals – it’s pretty hard to recover from that, though in fairness no one else in that Liverpool defence covered themselves in glory today.
Stat of the match
It has to be this – absolutely grim reading for Liverpool as they continue to make next to no progress under Klopp.
Klopp may have dragged Lovren off today, but the sad truth is there’s little in the way of backup for the German if he wants to try anything else.
January can’t come soon enough for Liverpool…
Liverpool have conceded 15 away goals in the Premier League – more than any other team pic.twitter.com/OLmeDU1bur
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) October 22, 2017
Player ratings
Tottenham: Lloris 8, Alderweireld 7, Sanchez 7, Vertonghen 7, Aurier 7, Trippier 7, Winks 6, Eriksen 7, Alli 8, Son 8, Kane 9 / Subs: Dier 6, Llorente 6, Sissoko 6
Liverpool: Mignolet 5, Lovren 4, Matip 5, Gomez 5, Moreno 6, Can 5, Henderson 6, Milner 6, Coutinho 6, Salah 7, Firmino 6 / Subs: Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Sturridge 6, Grujic 6
Reaction
The knives were out for Dejan Lovren…
Very harsh from Jurgen Klopp to bring Dejan Lovren off when he was so close to a hat-trick of assists.
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) October 22, 2017
Here at Wembley, Jurgen Klopp will need a big speech at half-time. But it will probably go over Dejan Lovren’s head.
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) October 22, 2017
When you see Lovren anywhere near the ball pic.twitter.com/TEUTXti7NH
— cheeky (@ajcollyer_) October 22, 2017
If that game means lovren never plays for us again I’ll take today as a win
— Josh Hinton (@Josh_Hintonn) October 22, 2017
And some United fans were feeling a lot better after yesterday’s defeat…
I think there’s something wrong with your app I can’t find Liverpool on the Premier League table? @OfficialFPL pic.twitter.com/p5KSt3vMZq
— José (@MourinhoMindset) October 22, 2017
And Alan Shearer just couldn’t believe what he was seeing…
Do Liverpool actually work on defending in training?! #TOTLIV
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) October 22, 2017