Tottenham share spoils with Liverpool after thrilling 2-2 draw

Tottenham share spoils with Liverpool after thrilling 2-2 draw

In a week where six matches were called off due to Covid postponements, Tottenham and Liverpool compensated for all the lost action as they delivered one of the most entertaining games of the season. Antonio Conte’s side held Liverpool to an action packed 2-2 draw in North London that was filled with goals, red cards and controversy.

Harry Kane opened the scoring with only his second goal of the season before Liverpool grew into the contest, equalising through a Diogo Jota header before Andy Robertson fired them into the lead in the second period. However, keeping in tune with the manic nature of the game, Tottenham drew level through Son Heung-Min before Robertson saw red for an overzealous challenge on Emerson.

Playing their first game in over two weeks, Tottenham started the brighter of the two sides and netted the opening goal as Harry Kane found the bottom corner after being sent through on goal by Tanguy Ndombele. Spurs set up in a 5-3-2 formation that was set up to counter-attack and the front two of Kane and Son mixed with the late runs into the box from Dele Alli caused Liverpool plenty of problems throughout the night.

Tottenham should have doubled their advantage in the opening half-hour, but Son Heung-Min and Alli both missed clear-cut chances from close range. Spurs were instantly made to rue these misses as Liverpool equalised after some excellent work from Andy Robertson down the left flank. The Scotsman pickpocketed Ben Davies before delivering a pinpoint cross which was headed home by Diogo Jota.

Alongside the goals, there was plenty of controversy in the first half. Liverpool felt they should have had a penalty when Emerson barged into Diogo Jota in the box, while Jurgen Klopp also demanded a red card for Harry Kane after the England captain caught Andy Robertson with a studs-up slide tackle above the ankle.

The second half was as pulsating as the opening 45 minutes, with Harry Kane fluffing his lines before Liverpool took the lead after another controversial decision from the officials. The referee Paul Tierney brushed aside Tottenham’s penalty claims for a challenge on Dele Alli and the Reds instantly scored at the other end of the pitch after Andy Robertson ghosted into the box to tap in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s volleyed cross.

However, Tottenham hit back just five minutes later after Alisson failed to clear a through ball from Harry Winks, allowing Son Heung-Min to pass the ball into an empty net and bring Tottenham back into the contest. Liverpool briefly threatened to find a winner, but eventually had to settle for the point after Andy Robertson was sent off for an aggressive tackle, becoming only the third player in Premier League history to complete the unusual hattrick of a goal, assist and red card.

After sharing a point apiece, Liverpool lose ground to Manchester City a the top of the table, while Tottenham remain in seventh, six points behind Arsenal with three games in hand.