Liverpool vs Tottenham result: Player ratings as Roberto Firmino sends Reds clear of beaten opponents

Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham: Salah and Son swapped first-half goals before Firmino’s last-minute winner

Karl Matchett
Wednesday 16 December 2020 22:07 GMT
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Liverpool celebrate
Liverpool celebrate (Getty Images)

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Liverpool left it late but produced a dominant display and ultimately beat Tottenham 2-1 to displace Spurs at the top of the Premier League.

The Reds’ dominant start to the match was rewarded halfway through the first 45 minutes when Curtis Jones’ run ended in a Mohamed Salah shot which looped in off Toby Alderweireld. Spurs had hardly had a touch - but were level on the half-hour mark when Son Heung-min raced onto a pass and finished well at the near post.

Liverpool continued to enjoy far more of the ball after the restart but it was Spurs who had the big chances: Steven Bergwijn sent one shot wide and hit the post with another, while Harry Kane missed a header from close range.

READ MORE: Premier League fixtures and table - all matches by date and kick-off time

Anfield’s 2,000 capacity crowd continued to urge their team on though and Sadio Mane smashed the crossbar with a fierce strike, before Firmino buried a 90th-minute header into the top corner to send the Reds top.

Here are the player ratings from Anfield on Wednesday night.

Liverpool

Alisson Becker - 6. Beaten at his near post for the equaliser and almost caught off his line by Kane after a wayward pass.

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7. Still working back to full fitness but put in a good shift in both halves of the pitch.

Rhys Williams - 7. Followed Kane everywhere, made some big clearances and did well on the ball. Lots of headed clearances.

Fabinho - 8. Imperious as ever, regardless of his starting position.

Andy Robertson - 8. A real and regular threat down the left, aggressive and exciting throughout.

Jordan Henderson - 7. Wayward with his crosses but defended extremely well against the counter.

Gini Wijnaldum - 7. Influential on and off the ball in the centre of the park.

Curtis Jones - 8. Growing in stature with every passing game. Could have scored one, created plenty of openings.

Mohamed Salah - 7. Was in the mood right from kick-off. Worked tremendously hard, scored the opener.

Roberto Firmino - 8. Went close twice with a header and a great low shot. Scored the late winner with another thumping header.

Sadio Mane - 6. Good movement, always battling and looking to run forward, but didn’t quite have the end product in his passing or shooting - though did hit the bar.

Tottenham

Hugo Lloris - 8. Two big saves in the first half from Firmino. Couldn’t do anything about the goals.

Serge Aurier - 6. Struggled against the Robertson-Mane twin threat on his side.

Toby Alderweireld - 7. Unlucky with the deflection for the goal but otherwise extremely good.

Eric Dier - 7. Won the aerial battles when called upon, solid again alongside Alderweireld.

Ben Davies - 6. Picked for defensive solidity perhaps, but didn’t fare too well against Salah.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - 5. Tried to put some authority into Spurs’ midfield game but lost out in the fight with Wijnaldum. Booked after about his fourth foul and failed to keep possession.

Giovani Lo Celso - 5. Overrun in the first 45 minutes. Switched to the right after the break but was booked and quickly subbed off.

Moussa Sissoko - 6. Hard-working and able to carry the ball upfield from the right in the first half, then switched to the middle.

Steven Bergwijn - 6. Missed a huge chance right after the restart then hit the post with another one-on-one around the hour mark.

Son Heung-min - 7. Unerring finish with Spurs’ only chance of the first 45.

Harry Kane - 6. Went deep looking for the ball but had little success in the first half. Headed off-target with a big chance in the second.

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