Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham: Roberto Firmino's late winner sends Reds clear of Spurs at top


Roberto Firmino's last-minute header broke Tottenham's stubborn resistance at Anfield and sent Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table.
An entertaining encounter looked set to end in stalemate before - with the game entering stoppage time - Firmino soared to flash a header high past Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris from Andrew Robertson's corner.
Liverpool flew at Spurs in the opening exchanges and went ahead when Mohamed Salah's shot took a big deflection off Eric Dier and looped over Lloris.
Spurs had barely left their own half but struck with a counter punch seven minutes later when Son Heung-min raced clear to slip a composed finish past Alisson.
Spurs actually had the better chances in the second half, with Steven Bergwijn firing wide then hitting a post when clean through and Harry Kane heading over from point-blank range.
Manager Jose Mourinho was left to regret those missed opportunities as a late Liverpool surge ended with Firmino's winner to send the defending champions three points clear at the top of the table.
Poignant Anfield night ends in triumphThis was the night Anfield paid tribute to former manager Gerard Houllier who died aged 73 this week.
There were poignant moments with a minute's applause before kick-off and those fans gathered on The Kop sang the songs they used to sing to celebrate the Frenchman's success.
Liverpool's players paid their own tribute with a display that started in blistering fashion as a succession of chances were created, then showed grit and resilience to fashion the three points as Spurs threatened after the break.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was animated, even by his standards, raging at the officials on numerous occasions before celebrating wildly with his players and The Kop at the final whistle.
After a lacklustre performance at Fulham, this was the perfect response as they returned to familiar territory at the top of the table.
Spurs denied at the end
Spurs were left bitterly disappointed and deflated as they were sunk by a late goal at Anfield once again - their frustration made even more acute by the golden chances they missed to secure a statement victory and end a Liverpool unbeaten home sequence in the league that now stretches to 66 games.
Bergwijn squandered two opportunities to score with only Alisson to beat then Kane somehow directed a header down and over the top at The Kop end, holding his head in disbelief.
When the dust settles, Mourinho will feel Spurs showed why they are currently one of the top two sides in the country as they survived that Liverpool assault to open up the opportunities to actually win.
The last time Mourinho managed a side at Anfield, a 3-1 defeat when he was in charge of Manchester United in December 2018 saw him sacked 24 hours later. Here at Spurs, he is in charge of a developing side that will certainly contest places at the top end of the table this season.
'He said that the best team lost' - what they saidLiverpool boss Klopp: "It was just a really good game against a counter-attacking monster, the possession we had we did incredibly well. The best way to defend Tottenham is to keep the ball all the time.
"Yes, they have scored a goal and had two chances. Apart from that, we controlled the game and it is a massively deserved three points. I am happy. For me, it [the Spurs goal] is offside. They watch it 20 times, but when I saw it, it is offside.
"I am so happy we scored that goal because it felt like 70% of the ball against a top side. Bobby [Firmino], what a header. I am over the moon for him. What a game he played, those movements, he opens up all the other gaps."
On exchange with Mourinho after the final whistle: "He said 'the best team lost'. I thought he was joking, but he wasn't."
Spurs boss Mourinho: "We were playing to win, we were not playing to get a point. A point would have been quite a fair result but we played to win and had the biggest chances to win it. The moment of the occasions and the reaction they had, they were in trouble.
"I feel it was a very undeserved result, but that's football. At half-time we move the pieces a little bit, but overall the game was always under control and I am very pleased with the performance.
"The changes were to find counter-attack situations which we did immediately, but with Gio's [Lo Celso] yellow card and the incredible pressure these guys on the touchline put on the officials, I was afraid of the yellow card and I had to take him off. I am not the one to speak to my colleagues about their behaviour on the touchline."
What's next?Liverpool visit Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday (12:30 GMT) while Tottenham host Leicester City on Sunday (14:15).

Player of the match
Roberto FirminoRoberto Firmino
Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino
Average rating8.06
Squad number26Player nameRobertson
Average rating7.90
Squad number3Player nameFabinho
Average rating7.87
Squad number17Player nameJones
Average rating7.84
Squad number5Player nameWijnaldum
Average rating7.75
Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah
Average rating7.68
Squad number14Player nameHenderson
Average rating7.66
Squad number10Player nameMané
Average rating7.55
Squad number46Player nameR Williams
Average rating7.44
Squad number1Player nameAlisson
Average rating7.18
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold
Average rating7.17
Squad number7Player nameSon Heung-Min
Average rating6.09
Squad number1Player nameLloris
Average rating5.82
Squad number24Player nameAurier
Average rating5.69
Squad number4Player nameAlderweireld
Average rating5.28
Squad number5Player nameHøjbjerg
Average rating5.24
Squad number17Player nameSissoko
Average rating5.12
Squad number15Player nameDier
Average rating5.05
Squad number18Player nameLo Celso
Average rating4.92
Squad number33Player nameDavies
Average rating4.92
Squad number23Player nameBergwijn
Average rating4.80
Squad number10Player nameKane
Average rating4.69
Squad number3Player nameReguilón
Average rating4.54
Squad number27Player nameLucas Moura
Average rating4.32
Squad number20Player nameAlli
Average rating4.31
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 46R Williams
- 3Fabinho
- 26Robertson
- 17Jones
- 14Henderson
- 5Wijnaldum
- 11Salah
- 9Firmino
- 10Mané
- 8Keita
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 18Minamino
- 27Origi
- 47Phillips
- 62Kelleher
- 76N Williams
- 1Lloris
- 24Aurier
- 4Alderweireld
- 15Dier
- 33Davies
- 17Sissoko
- 5HøjbjergBooked at 54mins
- 18Lo CelsoBooked at 48minsSubstituted forLucas Mouraat 58'minutes
- 23BergwijnSubstituted forReguilónat 76'minutes
- 10Kane
- 7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forAlliat 87'minutes
- 3Reguilón
- 8Winks
- 12Hart
- 14Rodon
- 20Alli
- 27Lucas Moura
- 28Ndombele
Match ends, Liverpool 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1.