Diogo Jota struck late to send Liverpool above Tottenham up into fifth in the Premier League table.
Curtis Jones opened the scoring within three minutes after getting in front of Pedro Porro to meet Trent Alexander-Arnold’s inviting cross.
The returning Luis Diaz added a quick-fire second two minutes later with a well-timed volley. By the time Mohamed Salah scored a penalty awarded after Cristian Romero felled Cody Gakpo in the box, the Spurs squad must have been fearing another reimbursement of the traveling support.
Liverpool, however, would take their foot off the gas.
Appearing to pity their pitiful opposition, the hosts gradually allowed Spurs back into the game. Heung-min Son saw a shot cleared off the line moments before Harry Kane volleyed in Ivan Perisic’s cross.
Fears that this would be another ‘Newcastle’ for Spurs were slowly starting to dissipate. While hardly the most convincing defensively, the performance began resembling something akin to that of the one that saw them fight back against Manchester United on Thursday.
Son and Cristian Romero both hit the post after the interval. Porro forced an excellent fingertip save from Alisson Becker as Liverpool looked increasingly leggy.
Spurs were given fresh hope when Son drifted behind the hosts’ backline to collect Romero’s long pass to roll the ball under Alisson.
Substitute Richarlison completed what look a valiant comeback in the last minute before Lucas Moura’s mistake was punished by Jota seconds later.
