Liverpool 3 Tottenham 2 player ratings: Mario Balotelli scores late winner but who was the star player at Anfield?
Liverpool earned a deserved win at Anfield - who was their star man?
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool came out on top as they battled past Tottenham at Anfield. It was an enthralling encounter from the off, with true end-to-end football being played throughout.
A poor clearance from Jan Vertonghen let Lazar Markovic drive forward and finish past Hugo Lloris for Liverpool’s first, and it wouldn’t be the first time that Liverpool got through on goal thanks to some lax Tottenham defending.
Tottenham’s perpetual man of the match, Harry Kane, tied the game up shortly afterwards after some nice link-up play between Eric Lamella and Christian Eriksen.
Danny Rose, after struggling to deal with Liverpool’s freshest attacking threat, Jordon Ibe, for the majority of the match, clipped the legs of Daniel Sturridge and brought down the fit-again England striker in the area. The linesman was in no doubt as he raised the flag for the penalty, and Steven Gerrard converted the chance with ease.
Spurs poured forward after conceding the second, and as ever, it was Eriksen and Kane who helped provide the equaliser. Eriksen delivered a fine, curling free-kick which was beaten away by Simon Mignolet before the rebound was squared by Kane and nicked in by Mousa Dembele.
Tottenham put in a shift against Arsenal on the weekend with some aggressive pressing football, and as they game went past 70 minutes, the visitor’s began to tire. Liverpool broke with fresher legs every time they went forwards and the pressure ultimately told.
In a move that typified Liverpool’s attack on the day, the goal started with Jordan Ibe working down the wing. He passed to Adam Lallana, and the England midfielder displayed great poise on the ball to control and then hit a precise cross for fellow substitute Mario Balotelli. The Italian ran onto simplest finish he’ll ever get, and in the process, scored his first Premier League goal for the reds.
Tottenham can take some heart away from the performance, but it is Liverpool who walk away from the encounter with three points that has them nipping the heels of Tottenham, now just one point below them in the League.
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