Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur: Live matchday blog
Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Tottenham Hotspur following a dramatic end to Sunday's Premier League clash at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah - who had seen his third-minute opener cancelled out by Victor Wanyama - appeared to have snatched all three points for the Reds with a magnificent solo effort in the final minute, shortly after Harry Kane had seen a penalty saved by Loris Karius.
However, at his assistant's instruction, referee Jon Moss awarded Tottenham a second spot-kick deep into stoppage time, allowing Kane to step up again and convert.
Klopp's verdict
Click here to read what Jürgen Klopp had to say about Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in his post-match press conference at Anfield.
Aldo's verdict
Here's what ex-Red John Aldridge made of an incredible game at Anfield - he was on co-commentary duties for us at Anfied today.
"An unbelievable ending and, for me, that is never a penalty, so it's a hard one to take. Overall, Tottenham deserved a point because they were the more dominant side in the second half. Talk about contrasting emotions; it's a sensational solo goal from Mo Salah, but then the disappointment of that penalty to square it up."
Stats all, folks
Relive a crazy game at Anfield with our Opta widget below.
Full Time
Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham
All over at Anfield and its a point apiece.
Tottenham were good value for a share of the spoils but such a shame Salah's second didn't win the game.
Goal
Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham (Kane pen)
This time the Spurs striker sends the keeper the wrong way and the visitors are level.
Penalty
Lamela goes down in the box and linesman awards a penalty to Spurs.
That looked soft, you have to say.
Goal
Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham (Salah)
Wow. Wow. Wow.
Salah weaves through the Spurs defence and dinks the ball over Lloris. That is incredible. What a goal.
KARIUS SAVES!!!!!!!
The German stands firm as Kane goes down the middle and keeps out the spot-kick.
Penalty
Tottenham win a spot-kick as the ball breaks into the box and Kane beats Karius to it before going down.
Goal
Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham (Wanyama)
The visitors level it up through a glorious strike from Victor Wanyama.
The midfielder runs onto a clearance at the edge of the box and thunders the ball back into the top corner.
Substitution
The Reds having to do plenty of defending this half and Klopp reacts by calling for another centre-back.
Joel Matip takes the place of James Milner.
Spurs, meanwhile, bring Victor Wanyama on in place of Mousa Dembele.
Substitution
A change for Tottenham, Davinson Sanchez making way for Erik Lamela.
A centre-half for a forward - that's an attacking sub!
Yellow Card
Dele Alli bursts into the box and goes down... that's a clear dive.
The Englishman goes into the book as a result.
Substitution
A double substitution for Liverpool as Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson make way for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gini Wijnaldum.
Yellow Card
Milner goes in late on Trippier in an attempt to stop a cross and that's a booking.
Son gets in on the left-hand side of the box after a fine touch from Alli.
The Spurs forward is foiled by a great one-on-one save from Karius, though, and the follow-up from Alli flies wide.
Spurs enjoying plenty of possession over the course of the last five minutes but they're struggling to create chances.
Liverpool needing to be alert but every player is working their socks off.
Liverpool win a free-kick not far outside the Spurs box in a central position.
Milner picks out Lovren at the far post and the defender nods the ball back into a dangerous area but nobody is there to make it count.
Kick-Off
Here we go again - Spurs get us restarted.
The players head back out to warm applause and we're close to the restart here.
Still plenty of work to do if the Reds are to secure three points.
Shouting the odds
Liverpool 1/3
Draw 15/4
Tottenham Hotspur 19/2
Half Time
Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham
Mohamed Salah's third-minute strike the difference between the sides at the break at Anfield.
It's been an intense 45 minutes full of quality.
Yellow Card
Alexander-Arnold flies into a challenge on Davies as he tries to cut out a crossfield ball.
The Spurs players want a red card but there was little malice - if a touch too much enthusiasm - in the tackle and the referee brandishes a yellow card.
A brilliant crossfield pass from Henderson finds Lovren in an unfamiliar right-wing position.
But you wouldn't know he was a defender from his chested control and the low, fizzed cross that follows, which Spurs just about get away.
Milner delivers a free-kick from the Liverpool left and Van Dijk rises highest to meet it in the box.
Unfortunately, the Dutchman's header isn't powerful enough to beat Lloris.
Match shot
Mo revels in his opener at the Kop end.
What a ball from Trent.
The young right-back swings in a beauty of a cross to dissect the Spurs defence, but Firmino's flicked header flies just wide.
Alexander-Arnold clips a brilliant ball over the top for Milner, who takes a lovely touch into the box before shooting.
The No.7's shot deflects off Sanchez and looks bound for the net, but swerves away at the last for a corner, which Spurs defend.
Trent Alexander-Arnold slides in to cut out a dangerous through pass but concedes a corner in the process.
The Reds do well to defend the set-piece, however, and almost get Mohamed Salah away again.
Liverpool steal the ball high up the pitch through Mane, but the winger can't pick out Firmino or Salah in the box.
Tottenham did well to get numbers back.
Goal
Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham (Salah)
The Reds go ahead early!
Dier inadvertently plays in Salah with an underhit backpass and, as ever, the Egyptian is cool as you like in picking out the bottom corner.
Get in.
Kick-Off
James Milner gets the game under way, with Liverpool attacking the Kop end first half.
Closing in
Adam Lallana and Ragnar Klavan take their seats at Anfield as we close in on kick-off.
Both men are unable to feature today through injury but they're here to cheer their teammates on.
Warm-up time...
Klopp explains his team selection...
The decision to recall Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool’s starting line-up is due to the boss’ eagerness to use all of his centre-backs.
Van Dijk was named on the bench for last Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town, but the No.4 returns to the Reds’ XI for this afternoon’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
Dejan Lovren retains his place from that win at the John Smith’s Stadium, with Joel Matip named among the substitutes.
Lovren’s last game against Spurs was, of course, ended prematurely when he was brought off during the first half of a chastening 4-1 defeat at Wembley in October.
However, Klopp insisted that experience had no bearing on the Croatian’s inclusion today.
“No, that’s too long ago. I don’t know, when you have an average day I hope you don’t remind yourself of it,” he said.
“It was really long ago. It was not because of Tottenham it was just because we played bad as a team and Dejan was not in a good moment. I can’t even remember it properly so it was not important, it was not the case that I thought about it.
“I think we have four centre-halves and now they work together. We had a whole week when they could work together. Raggy is still injured so we had only three, and Joe Gomez is injured so that means we only have these three. We have to use them now and that’s what we did.”
A peek behind closed doors...
Today's line-ups...
TEAM NEWS
The teamsheets are in here at Anfield, and Jürgen Klopp has made two changes to his starting line-up from Tuesday’s 3-0 win at Huddersfield Town.
Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold come in for Joel Matip and Joe Gomez. Matip is named on the Reds’ bench, but Gomez misses out altogether due to injury.
Liverpool: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Can, Salah, Mane, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Matip, Moreno, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ings, Solanke.
The Reds are in the building...
Man on duty
Emre Can takes care of the pre-match media obligations ahead of kick-off.
Anfield. Glorious.
Fancy a flutter?
Here are the latest match odds from Bet Victor...
Liverpool - 11/10
Draw - 11/4
Tottenham - 5/2
Important information for fans travelling to Anfield today
Supporters should be aware that engineering works will be taking place between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street station.
The planned works will cause significant disruption to rail services throughout the day. Fans should check timetables and plan their journey to ensure they are aware of all the available travel options.
Pre-match stats
Jürgen Klopp could register his 50th league win in charge of the Reds this afternoon, in what will be his 94th top-flight game at the helm.
Only three managers in the club's history have reached that milestone in fewer fixtures: Kenny Dalglish (85 matches), Bill Shankly (90, all in the Second Division) and Rafa Benitez (93).
Read on for more key facts and figures before the game...
- This will be the 150th league meeting between the sides - Liverpool have won 69 of the previous 149, Tottenham 42.
- Liverpool have scored 86 Premier League goals against Tottenham - a tally only bettered by the 89 they have netted against Newcastle.
- The Reds have lost just one of the last 23 Anfield top-flight clashes with Spurs.
- In the last 11 meetings home and away, Liverpool have failed to score only once - in Klopp's first game in charge in October 2015 when the teams drew 0-0 at White Hart Lane.
Speaking of today's matchday programme...
Here's a sneak peek at its front cover:
"These are fantastic games to be involved in because it’s two teams going all out to win.
"Given how good the atmosphere has been inside Anfield recently I know today the feeling inside the ground will be electric."
The words of Jordan Henderson in his own notes for 'This is Anfield'.
So, we've heard from Mauricio Pochettino, but what are Jürgen Klopp's thoughts ahead of the game?
"I see two teams and two squads of players whom anyone who loves football should relish watching compete. I see two clubs in a good way and making progress on and off the field," the boss writes in his column for the matchday programme.
“The win at Huddersfield was important. But in the same way that an occasional defeat should not evoke a crisis, an isolated win is also not ‘the end’. The performance was strong and mature and led to a very positive result.
“Today we have to back it up with another outstanding performance. Anything less will mean the result will not be positive.”
Pick up your copy of ‘This is Anfield’ at the stadium this afternoon, or subscribe online here.
'Liverpool have one of the best squads in Europe'
That's the view of Mauricio Pochettino.
“It’s always tough, always a special atmosphere and for me, Liverpool have one of the best squads in England and Europe,” said the Spurs boss ahead of his side's trip to Anfield.
“They have amazing players, manager and coaching staff and they are so competitive. We need to enjoy it but at the same time we need to be strong and try to replicate the same level of performance.
“It’s a big game like Manchester United, Arsenal…every Premier League game is big. The level of the opponent is massive and it’s important because it’s about the race for the top four - like it was against United - and so important to take the three points.”
Mohamed Salah v Harry Kane
The Premier League's top two goalscorers are set to go head-to-head at Anfield this afternoon.
Here, with the help of Opta, we've crunched the numbers behind their prolific top-flight campaigns so far...
Minutes played
Salah – 1,857
Kane – 2,048
Goals
Salah – 19
Kane – 21
Penalties scored
Salah – 1
Kane – 1
Minutes per goal
Salah – 97.7
Kane – 97.5
Shots on target
Salah – 46
Kane – 57
Shooting accuracy
Salah – 60.5 per cent
Kane – 56.4 per cent
Assists
Salah – 6
Kane – 1
Chances created
Salah – 40
Kane – 27
It's almost a year to the day since Spurs last visited Anfield.
Remind yourself how that went with the highlights below...
Team news, injury updates and more
Catch up with everything Jürgen Klopp had to say during his pre-match press conference below...
Let's hope Bobby keeps up that particular record today!
Below is the picture at the top of the Premier League.
Just two points seperate the Reds and Spurs before this afternoon's match...
Good morning and welcome to Liverpoolfc.com's live matchday blog.
We've got a huge game in store here at Anfield this afternoon, with Tottenham Hotspur visiting. Stay right here for the most comprehensive coverage of all the build-up, action and reaction from L4.
Up the Reds!