Tottenham Hotspur will always cherish memories of injury-time drama and Lucas Moura. Just not from the 94th minute at Anfield in 2023. Next Monday will mark the fourth anniversary of arguably Spurs’ greatest moment of the 21st century, the 96th-minute, hat-trick strike against Ajax in Amsterdam that sent Mauricio Pochettino’s team into the Champions League final.
Four years on, it came down to the Brazilian again. This time, Moura was in his own half. This time, he lost his nerve. As Alisson punted the ball forward, an ersatz wing-back tried to cushion a pass to Cristian Romero, instead picked out Diogo Jota and saw a substitute score. Liverpool 4 Tottenham 3 and, in a season when Moura has not scored, he has arguably cost Spurs three points in two April cameos on Merseyside. They were leading 1-0 at Everton before a needless, dangerous challenge saw him sent off and his team draw. His return from suspension came at Anfield. In a different way, it went just as badly. Maybe Moura should never visit Liverpool.
