Jurgen Klopp stood with his arms above his head clapping his Liverpool players shortly after the half-time break at Wembley. His team were only a goal up at the time, but there was a sense the manager was already aware they were in the process of laying down a marker.
A fifth successive Premier League victory was duly completed, as Roberto Firmino added a second to Georginio Wijnaldum’s first-half opener, and Liverpool had offered proof that, this season, they can be the real deal.
These are early days, of course, but this was a striking victory in a stadium in which Liverpool were beaten 4-1 last season. That was the worst defeat of their four away from home against their rivals – Spurs, Manchester City, United and Chelsea.
This season’s title race could effectively be decided by which team comes out best of the head-to-head battles between the big six and Klopp’s team are making the early running.
Such was their superiority, Liverpool could and should have won by three or four and
there was a late wobble when substitute Erik Lamela netted in stoppage time. But it will be a source of comfort to Klopp that his players can still become even better, even more clinical.
The visitors may count themselves unfortunate that they were not awarded the lead inside the first minute, as Firmino flicked in James Milner’s cross, but Sadio Mane had been in an offside position and initially celebrated as through he had scored.
Referee Michael Olivier ruled the goal out on the advice of his assistant, but the officials could not save Tottenham, who were too often the makers of their own downfall.
A stray Eric Dier pass let in Mohamed Salah, but Michel Vorm saved the forward’s shot
and the Dutchman prevented Sadio Mane from scoring after a loose ball from Mousa Dembele had gifted Liverpool possession.
But it was Vorm who was at fault, as Liverpool deservedly took the lead six minutes before half-time. Tottenham’s back-up goalkeeper misjudged his punch from Milner’s corner and Dier could only head out as far as Wijnaldum, who managed to loop his header back over Vorm and the ball crossed the line before it was clawed out of the net.
Wijnaldum could have doubled his and Liverpool’s lead moments later, but dragged a low shot badly wide and the only encouragement for Spurs will have been that they were just a single goal behind as they went in at the break.
It was the move that resulted in Andy Robertson’s cross dropping on to the top of the bar two minutes into the second half that had Klopp applauding his team and
Liverpool suffered their biggest let off moments later before effectively wrapping up another three points.
Lucas Moura, who was Tottenham’s most dangerous player, brilliantly took down a Christian Eriksen pass and cut in past Joe Gomez, but the Brazilian’s low shot clipped the outside of the post.
It was the only time Gomez was beaten all afternoon, as he produced another imperious display next to Virgil van Dijk, whose £75 million price tag looks better value for money with each passing week.
Four minutes after Moura’s miss, it was game over for Mauricio Pochettino’s team, as a high ball caught out Kieran Trippier, Mane got away down the left and his cross was turned against his own post by Jan Vertonghen. But Firmino was quickest to react and turned the ball in.
It was at the end of September last year when champions Manchester City proved how serious they were by winning at Chelsea and this felt like a similarly significant moment for the Reds.
It should have got even worse for Spurs when Mane, Naby Keita and Salah found themselves three on three against the home defence. But Mane was indecisive with his pass and eventually played the ball to Keita, who produced a poor shot that was saved.
There were an unnecessarily nervy couple of minutes for Liverpool in stoppage time as Lamela pulled a goal back and fellow substitute Heung-Min Son fired wide. Son appealed that he had been fouled by Mane before missing the target, but, other than the final 90 seconds, Klopp’s players fully deserved his applause.
This was Tottenham’s second successive defeat since beating Manchester United 3-0, ahead of a Champions League trip to Inter Milan, and there remain some worrying signs.
The fact his team yet again conceded a goal from a set play will have angered Pochettino and striker Harry Kane did little to dispel the theory that he is running on empty.
Dele Alli should at least return from injury in time to face Inter, but Tottenham will need to be much sharper, more decisive and better in possession in Italy.
“It’s a collective problem and I won’t point the finger at one player,” said Pochettino. “Look, I told you the challenge is massive this season. Yes we need to give time to the players to get the best and to show our potential as a team. When you win you are happy but you are happy because of the result.
“But I was never so happy. I was thinking to make the team better because we knew this situation would happen because the line is so thin when you win or when you lose. The team need to work more and we need to show more consistency.
“We need to improve a lot, I told you after Newcastle, Fulham, Old Trafford, Watford and today the reality is the reality, we need to improve a lot. This game showed again that we need to improve if we want to be contenders in the end to win some titles.”
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