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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
John Aldridge

Liverpool will know what comes next as they prepare to face wounded Tottenham

It was pleasing to see Liverpool claim another three points on Saturday afternoon, although we were made to work for our win against Nottingham Forest.

Diogo Jota was back among the goals once again and Mohamed Salah is back performing to a high level after getting on the scoresheet for the third league game in a row.

The goals we conceded against Forest could have been avoided, but at least Liverpool showed a great reaction and the desire to go on and get the three points. It was the most dangerous we’ve looked from set-plays in a long time, we really made them work hard and scored all three of our goals from such situations.

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Forest may have struggled to handle our crosses into dangerous areas, but we didn't deal with the long throw-ins they kept launching into the penalty area. I know how devastating that method can be because when I was Tranmere manager we had Dave Challinor, who was the master of that. When it gets in the heads of defenders, panic sets in: they kick the ball anywhere they can and they don’t know what to do. It’s a great weapon to have. The important thing was we got the three points off, building on our win against Leeds United.

Away from the action on the pitch, I was touched by the Hillsborough banner held aloft in the away end by the Forest fans and commend them for the way in which they conducted themselves on Saturday. It was very respectful and is what football should be about. It could so easily have been the Forest fans that day if the ends were changed. A lot of their supporters must have been horrified to see people dying on stretchers, going right past them. It was really nice to see their fans buck the trend of tragedy chanting, given all the songs we’ve heard mocking Hillsborough for years.

Expect a reaction from Spurs on Sunday

We were done no favours on Sunday after Newcastle's 6-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park. We could really have done with Eddie Howe's side dropping points and they will take real confidence from that result heading into their final games of the season.

Tottenham's confidence will have been seriously damaged after this setback, but they will be expected to provide a reaction at Anfield on Sunday afternoon so it won't be an easy day for us.

Before that match, we have to play West Ham on Wednesday evening. They are coming into this on the back of a 4-0 thumping of Bournemouth and will have their tails up. Making the top four looks difficult now, but we have got ourselves into this position so we can’t start blaming anyone else.

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