Liverpool went through all the emotions as they came out on top in a seven-goal thriller with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, to take control of the race for Europa League qualification.
The Reds raced into an early 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz, and a Mohamed Salah penalty. However, they allowed Spurs back into the game with Harry Kane scoring before the break, before late goals from Son Heung-min and Richarlison seemed to have earned the North Londoners a previously unlikely draw.
Substitute Diogo Jota would have other ideas, pouncing on a defensive error to clinch a 4-3 win in front of the Kop in stoppage-time to move Liverpool up into fifth place in the Premier League table.
But you already know all that. With so much going on at Anfield, with seven goals, the woodwork being struck multiple times, two possible red cards not issued, and Jurgen Klopp controversially making headlines for his celebrations and post-match comments, you’d be forgiven for not being on top of every twist and turn.
Fear not, that’s where we come in. Here are some of the moments you might have missed…
Thiago absence explained?
Having only just return from a two-month injury lay-off last month, hearts sank when Thiago Alcantara’s name was absent from the Liverpool teamsheet against Spurs. The Spaniard wasn’t pictured in training on Friday, but other than that there had been no suggestion he wouldn’t take part in Sunday’s game.
Jurgen Klopp didn’t mention the midfielder when offering an injury update before the game, and wasn’t quizzed about his absence afterwards either. As a result, we’ll have to wait until Tuesday’s press conference before the Reds’ clash with Fulham to obtain an update on Thiago’s fitness.
However, the 32-year-old was spotted limping as he took his seat in the dugout prior to kick-off at Anfield, and again when walking through the mixed zone after the final whistle.
At least he still had a role against Spurs, however, even if not fit to play. As Darwin Nunez prepared to come on, Thiago was seen translating instructions for the striker prior to his introduction, in front of a bemused Klopp.
The German has publicly taken issue with Nunez’s language skills in recent weeks, with the latest translation only further highlighting such communication issues. If such instructions were regarding set-pieces, it would seem the striker didn’t get the message either after losing Richarlison from the free-kick for Tottenham’s equaliser.
Perhaps Darwin needs to book in for some lessons with Arthur Melo’s English teacher?
Salah steps up
Having seen Mohamed Salah miss his last two penalties, failing to hit the target against both AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal, Klopp admitted he would have a discussion with the Egyptian regarding whether he would retain such duties going forward.
With Liverpool awarded a spot-kick for the first time since that miss against the Gunners last month, we got our answer as the 30-year-old again stepped up. This time, there would be no mistake as he powered his effort down the middle rather than trying to find the corner with the perfect penalty.
Given those recent misses, Anfield showed their support for the forward once seeing he was the man stepping up to take the kick as they burst into a premature chant of Salah’s ‘Egyptian King’ chant. This only got louder once his strike hit the back of the net.
Yet he earned even louder cheers later in the half when stealing the balls off the toes of an unaware Harry Kane on the edge of the Tottenham box. While Erling Haaland’s efforts this year might have ensured these two aren’t competing against each other for the Golden Boot, they still have their own on-field battles.
Diaz’s revenge
While Tottenham caretaker manager has made a lot of noise regarding Diogo Jota’s winner, insisting the Portuguese should have been sent off for an earlier challenge on Oliver Skipp, Klopp’s own response was pointing out the Spurs midfielder was fortunate to avoid a red card himself for a nasty tackle on Luis Diaz in the first half.
A late lunge on the Colombian as Skipp’s high studs went down on his ankle after the ball had gone, Liverpool weren’t even awarded a free-kick as play went on with Diaz rolling around in agony, clutching his foot, on the floor.
Hearts were in mouths, especially given the forward is only just back from a lengthy absence with a serious knee injury, and was making his first start after such a lay-off. Having scored the Reds’ second goal, he had already shown against Spurs how much he had been missed.
Fortunately, Diaz was okay to continue and wasted no time in enacting revenge on Skipp. In a position almost identical to where he had been on the receiving end of such a nasty blow in the first place, the Colombian again cut in from the left and this time nutmegged the midfielder before skipping away from his latest failed attempts to stop the Liverpool man in his tracks.
Oliver Skipp head injury fall-out
Now plenty has been said, and will continue to be said, about Jota’s high challenge on Skipp that forced the Tottenham man to be replaced in the 84th minute.
As the midfielder received treatment, Klopp was in deep discussion with his former Borussia Dortmund player Ivan Perisic on the sidelines. While the pair are sure to have enjoyed a catch-up on at some point on Sunday, one expects this wasn’t the opportune moment.
Receiving stitches, Skipp’s head was heavily bandaged as he left the away dressing room at Anfield after the final whistle. A member of the Tottenham media staff showed him something on his phone as he through the mixed zone.
Whether it was the still image doing the rounds on social media of Jota’s foot in his face, or Klopp’s own comments about the challenge, we couldn’t possibly say. But the loud tut and sigh of frustration from Skipp made it clear he wasn’t impressed.
He wasn’t the only one, of course. As members of the press debated whether Jota should have been sent off or not in the mixed zone, the general consensus was a yellow card was the right decision.
One member of the Spurs backroom staff stopped in disbelief when hearing such a discussion, shook his head as his eyes widened before zipping his lips and walking away when asked what he thought. No comment.
Klopp fumes before Spurs equaliser
Now Klopp was the most animated figure on the sidelines against Spurs, and could well find himself charged by the FA for his celebrations in the face of the fourth official after Diogo Jota’s late winner. It would seem the hamstring injury he suffered during said celebrations is not punishment enough.
Yet the main source of the German’s frustrations, that prompted such a celebration in the first place, was his anger at Mohamed Salah being penalised for a supposed foul on Ben Davies in the corner in front of the Kop. Instead believing his own player to be the one who was fouled, it was from the subsequent set-piece that Spurs carried the ball forward and won the free-kick that set-up their equaliser.
Unable to keep his emotions in check at Salah being penalised, Klopp fell to his knees and hammered the floor with his fists. It would seem he knew the danger that could unfold from such a decision.
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Jota teases Richarlison?
As a former Everton player, who loves winding up Liverpool fans and has scored at Anfield, Richarlison was always guaranteed a heated reception from Kopites, shall we say.
Brought on in place of Skipp, he was greeted by loud whistles and boos, along with a rendition of ‘Blue and white sh**e’. The whistles and boos continued for his every touch, while Ibrahima Konate was loudly cheered for an enthusiastic challenge on the Brazilian on the halfway line, winning both player and ball.
Richarlison though, thought he had the last laugh when he scored his first Premier League goal of the season when heading home a stoppage-time free-kick.
Shirt off as he wheeled away gleefully in front of the Tottenham fans, the wild celebrations were to be expected given such a comeback and his own relationship with the Reds. Then performing his trademark ‘pigeon’ celebration with Son Heung-min, you’d imagine he didn’t care that he had been booked for taking his shirt off.
Alas, Jota made sure his celebrations were short-lived with the look on Richarlison’s face following the Portuguese’s winner a picture. Meanwhile, as Kopites celebrated like crazy, Liverpool’s own forward teasingly gestured for them to calm down before doing his own ‘video game’ celebration. The calmest man inside Anfield, he loved every minute.
A loud rendition of Jota’s chant then bellowed around the stadium as play resumed. Having waited a year to score for the Reds in a campaign wrecked by injured, the Portuguese now has five goals in his last four games and is loving every minute of it.
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