Spurs and Liverpool play out an entertaining draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
By Haran Naresh

Tottenham Hotspur drew with Liverpool in a thrilling game in the Premier League.

Harry Kane gave the home side the lead early in the first half before Diogo Jota equalised for the visitors. Andy Robertson gave Liverpool the lead in the second half, shortly before Heung-min Son equalised.

Liverpool played the final stages of the game with ten men after Robertson was sent off for a swipe on Emerson Royal.

Liverpool spurned an excellent chance almost straight from kick-off. Trent Alexander-Arnold played a delightful ball into the box towards Andy Robertson but he could only guide his header wide from close range.

James Milner then directed a shot on goal from outside the box which Hugo Lloris saved comfortably.

With ten minutes on the clock, Alexander-Arnold hit a fierce strike which Lloris punched away.

Emerson Royal found space on the right flank and picked out Harry Kane in the area, who took a touch before being thwarted by a last-ditch block from Ibrahima Konate.

Spurs took the lead in the 13th minute. Tanguy Ndombele played an excellent through ball into the path of Kane who steered his low effort into the net.

Tottenham then missed a great chance to double their lead. Liverpool gave the ball away and Spurs countered through Kane who drove forward before squaring to Heung-min Son who sent his shot off target.

Spurs then appeared to have missed another good opportunity. Kane played Son in behind the Liverpool defence and he ran through on goal before trying to go around Alisson but the goalkeeper read his intentions and collected the ball. The linesman’s flag eventually went up for offside.

The game was being played at a frenetic pace. With 23 minutes gone, Sadio Mane had a shot blocked by Eric Dier before Naby Keita’s deflected strike was pushed behind by Lloris.

In the 28th minute Liverpool took a short free-kick through Andy Robertson and his chip to the back post was headed wide by Mane.

The home team then spurned another glorious chance to add their second. Son was played in behind once again and he advanced before squaring to the unmarked Dele Alli, whose shot was tipped wide by Alisson.

Tottenham were giving Liverpool all sorts of problems on the counter-attack.

Liverpool equalised with 35 minutes on the clock. Robertson latched onto a loose ball in the box and drove to the by-line before standing a ball up to Diogo Jota who planted a firm header into the top corner.

Jota then appeared to be pushed over by Royal in the penalty area and Liverpool appealed for a penalty but they were waved away by the referee.

At this stage, Tottenham’s defending started to become frantic as they struggled to deal with Liverpool’s pressure.

In the 43rd minute Alexander-Arnold drilled a powerful shot which Lloris saved with his legs. A minute later Alexander-Arnold sent in a free-kick from which Jota guided his header wide.

Spurs created a good opening on the stroke of half-time where Ryan Sessegnon went on an excellent run and found Kane but the striker hit the ball against himself and the chance was gone.

In the 48th minute Jota headed narrowly wide from Alexander-Arnold’s cross.

Spurs then missed another excellent chance. Alli made a run in behind and squared to Kane but Alisson did brilliantly to get across and block his shot.

Kane then headed over from a corner from point-blank range.

With 66 minutes on the clock Kane evaded a couple of challenges to get to the by-line and attempted to find Son in the box but his cross was cut out.

Liverpool took the lead in the 69th minute. Following a goal-mouth scramble, Alexander-Arnold fired across goal and Robertson stooped down to head in.

Spurs were incensed, as just seconds earlier at the other end Alli went down in the box under a challenge from Alexander-Arnold. The Tottenham players appealed for the referee to check for a penalty with the VAR but their appeals were dismissed.

Spurs equalised in the 74th minute following a terrible mistake by Alisson. A pass was played in behind to Son and Alisson came charging off his line but completely missed the ball, allowing the South Korean to tap into an empty net.

The away side were reduced to ten men in the 77th minute. Robertson took out Royal with a reckless swipe. Initially the referee only gave a yellow card but following a VAR check this was upgraded to a red.

The game became fragmented at this point and this suited the visitors.

Spurs will rue the number of missed chances they had in the game which ultimately cost them the victory. They also failed to capitalise after Liverpool were reduced to 10 men. In spite of this, they can take confidence from their performance, especially considering it was their first game in two weeks following the Covid-19 outbreak in their squad.

They created numerous clear-cut chances against a team who are currently among the world’s best.

Tottenham Hotspur host rivals West Ham United in their Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday.

Spurs manager Antonio Conte, speaking in his post-match press conference, said: “In one end I think we had a good performance. Great commitment, a great desire to take points against a strong team, for me one of the best teams in the world, not only in Europe.

“On other hand, when you create many chances and you have this type of performance, you have to kill the opponent and get three points. For this reason we have to be a bit disappointed.”

On the controversial refereeing decisions in the game: “I haven’t seen Robertson’s situation and Harry Kane’s situation and the possibility for the penalty.

“My staff told me for the second [Liverpool] goal, there is a clear handball from Salah. I think it’s not right to comment on the referee’s decisions after the game.”

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