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As it happened: Tottenham v Liverpool, Premier League

Tottenham faced Liverpool, as the Reds aim to maintained their remarkable form.

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

On the face of it, Liverpool are strong favourites for this game.

The Reds have dropped points in just one of their 20 games this season.

Tottenham, by contrast, have had a disappointing season — they currently sit eighth in the table and are danger of missing out on Champions League football.

Spurs have won just one of their last 14 matches against Liverpool and are missing some important players today — most notably, Harry Kane.

Liverpool are bidding to go 38 league games unbeaten, though they have found it difficult against Jose Mourinho-managed teams in the past.

Confirmation of today’s teams below. The big news is there’s a surprise debut for 20-year-old Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga.

We’re underway…

Tottenham somehow survive!

Firmino gets in behind Eriksen, but his subsequent shot is cleared off the line by debutant Tanganga.

The follow-up shot then comes back off the post.

Henderson gets caught in possession by Son.

The South Korea then breaks forward and has options to his right, but decides to go himself, and curls an attempt just wide.

Is been a pretty cautious start to this game by Tottenham, as you would expect from a Jose Mourinho-managed side, with every player behind the ball and Liverpool allowed to dominate possession.

It might actually suit Spurs, given the pace they have on the counter in the form of Son and Moura.

Dele Alli controls a long ball, amid claims of his hand ball, and finds himself through on goal.

It doesn’t matter anyway, as his shot is off target, under pressure from Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool seem sharper and are looking increasingly dangerous.

Sanchez has already had to make a couple of vital interceptions.

Big chance for Liverpool!

Henderson’s hanging cross finds Van Dijk, but his header from close range is straight at Gazzaniga.

Down the other end, Gomez gets booked for cynically hacking down Son as the South Korean attempts to speed away on the counter.

Spurs are giving possession away very cheaply at times.

Long balls are being played up to the forward line, but they’re not much use to footballers like Moura and Son, with Harry Kane conspicuous by his absence.

Tanganga robs the ball off Mane, before the Senegal international takes him down.

The young defender has had a really impressive start to this game.

Liverpool threaten again.

Firmino crosses to Mane, who can’t hit the target with a volley.

The Reds continue to look the more dangerous of the two teams, but haven’t found a breakthrough yet.

TOTTENHAM 0-1 LIVERPOOL (FIRMINO 37)

Henderson beats Alli to the ball.

He sets up Firmino, who takes it past Tanganga, before coolly slotting the ball home.

tottenham-hotspur-v-liverpool-premier-league-tottenham-hotspur-stadium Jose Mourinho reacts on the touchline. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Alli loses it cheaply, enabling Salah to run through on goal, going past Sanchez, before shooting just wide.

It’s one-way traffic at the moment — Tottenham need to re-think their approach in the second half, as Liverpool look comfortable right now.

Moura gets to a Tottenham corner first, but cannot direct his header on target.

Spurs’ attackers have had to feed off scraps in this first half.

HALF-TIME: TOTTENHAM 0-1 LIVERPOOL

So with 45 minutes remaining, it’s hard to see Tottenham getting back in this game.

Their gameplan was essentially to contain Liverpool and hit them on the counter-attack, but now that the Reds are ahead, they look in serious trouble.

They will have to come out more in the second half, but their attack has been so tame and ineffectual that you sense doing so will only play further into Liverpool’s hands.

Firmino’s brilliantly taken goal means they are on course to go 16 points clear, at least until City play tomorrow.

The second half has begun…

Positive start from Spurs.

Moura gets away from Henderson, but he slices his shot off target.

Liverpool break again.

Mane’s cross finds Alexander-Arnold, but the full-back drags his shot well wide from the edge of the box.

tottenham-hotspur-v-liverpool-premier-league-tottenham-hotspur-stadium Liverpool's Joe Gomez (left) and Tottenham Hotspur's Lucas Moura battle for the ball. Adam Davy Adam Davy

It’s so easy for Liverpool at the moment. They’re casually playing the ball around and look in complete control.

Spurs’ attackers have had virtually no influence on this game. Christian Eriksen has been particularly disappointing.

As I type though, Alli finds himself in a promising possession after Gomez concedes possession sloppily. The ball then breaks to Aurier, who forces a save from Allison.

Decent chance. Eriksen finds Son with a cross-field pass, and the South Korean’s shot is deflected wide.

Better from Tottenham.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are making a change — Lallana is on in place of Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Liverpool break.

Mane plays it to Robertson, but Alderweireld is in the right place to intercept the full-back’s low cross.

Liverpool go close again, as Mane’s header forces a save from Gazzaniga.

Spurs are hanging on a bit here.

They make a double change — Rose and Eriksen are off, and Lo Celso and Lamela are on.

Eriksen does not get a positive reception as he departs.

Big chance!

Wijnaldum loses the ball. Moura then plays it to Son, who hits his finish well over the bar, much to the frustration of the majority in attendance.

Liverpool have been a bit sloppy in this second half.

They’ve conceded possession in dangerous areas on more than one occasion, and such losses of concentration seem the only way Spurs can score at the moment.

As I type, Lo Celso finds himself in a promising position on the right-hand side of the box, but he can’t pick out anyone with his cross.

Another big chance!

Aurier curls a cross to Lo Celso.

The goal is wide open, but the youngster can’t direct his sliding finish on target.

Liverpool have made another change.

Mane is replaced by Origi.

It’s a nervy end to this game for Liverpool.

Lamela has just tested Alisson with a curling shot from the edge of the area.

There will be three minutes of stoppage time…

FULL-TIME: TOTTENHAM 0-1 LIVERPOOL

So that was an interesting second half.

Liverpool were deserving winners and dominated much of the game.

However, the longer it stayed 1-0, the visitors’ nervousness became increasingly palpable, and they were slightly fortunate to get away with a clean sheet in the end, as Tottenham wasted one or two excellent chances in that second half.

Right, that’s it from me for now.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

We’ll have more reaction to follow, and you can read our report here.

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Author
Paul Fennessy
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