Liverpool Run Rampant in First Half

Once upon a time Spurs went to Anfield and had no expectation of victory - for the period of about 74 years no Tottenham team had won a single game and so it was natural for Spurs fans to write off the result. These days with Spurs in 2nd and Liverpool 6th at the start of play, this was a test of the assertion that Mauricio Pochettino has built a team of champions.

Both teams play the same style and have the same training regiment and while Spurs have done better with the high press, in Europe teams who employed the high press against Spurs (i.e. try to beat them at their own game) had success. Within the opening 10 minutes it was Liverpool's high press which was prominent with wave after wave of attacks - which reinforces the adage that the best form of defence is attack. There is no doubt that Spurs have assembled a more fluid side and their defense has been the single biggest change Spurs fans recognize and Spurs seemed comfortable under this Liverpool onslaught.

The question marks going into this game was the Liverpool backline and not their fearsome three strike-force of Coutinho, Formino and Mane, which just happens to have misfired in a few recent games. Spurs were content to give Liverpool possession, perhaps hoping to hit them on the counter. It took 10 minutes before Spurs made their first advance on the Liverpool goal which ended with a wasteful volley from Erikson, which would have been better to kept on the floor since so many Liverpool defenders could have led to a deflection or own goal.

Pochettino knew that Spurs have had a terrible record against the best five teams in the league with only one win in 14 games. Spurs were beginning to live dangerously as Liverpool went back on their raids, with their manager Jurgen Klopp animated as usual on the touchline. Spurs were solid but were straining to keep their shape against a Liverpool team that was clearly playing back to their near best - and that accords with their own record in the Top Six, which has been very good.

It took 15 minutes before Spurs were beginning to pass the ball around and the hope was that Liverpool had exhausted their early attacks but they did not and Liverpool deservedly scored with their most deadly striker Mane on form. Spurs were showing great discomfort again against a high pressing team and Mane tore the heart out of the Tottenham defense after an error by Eric Dier. Now Spurs would be happy about securing just a point or at least not get absolutely embarrassed.

Spurs continued their patient passing but now they needed to get the next goal or this game was threatening to get away from them. Spurs seemed weak to the atmosphere and the Anfield crowd now in full voice was adding even more energy into the Liverpool legs - and with so many poor performances this was a must win for Liverpool and they played like it.

It was nearly 3-0 when Mane should have scored another and that was followed by a world class save from Mane again. At this point it was clear that Pochettino needed to make some changes but he was pacing in confusion back and forth like a lost soul.

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As the game unfolded it was frustrating to see that Mauricio Pochettino just standing in the coaches area with his arms folded and no change in tightening up the midfield where Spurs were clearly being killed. Another great save from Lloris was now reminding Tottenham fans of Liverpool's 5-0 win that cost AVB his managers job. At 33 minutes Spurs got a free kick and now of all times Spurs needed Christian Erikson to deliver - big time but it was nothing doing, the freekick was harmless.

Liverpool were still playing at their maximum for 30 minutes but now there shots had less threat, and there were reminders about that incredible NFL Superbowl game, where Atlanta had scored three times before New England responded before half-time, now Spurs fans were hoping that Spurs could find their goal with just eight minutes of the half left. By now Pochettino had made a slight adjustment to the Spurs formation and Liverpool had given their all, Spurs fans were hoping that somewhere here, some ray of hope will suddenly appear.

The ghosts of the past were now hovering over this Tottenham team but there were also omens. In the Under 23 game in a recent game between Liverpool U-23 vs Tottenham U-23, Liverpool had come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 - could the senior side of Tottenham emulate what the youngsters of Liverpool had down. Spurs were now simply waiting for the half-time whistle but why should they because Mauricio Pochettino would have nothing good to say. Even Spurs fans were hoping for the half-time whistle - this was a Spurs side shown up and were being given a massive beating.

If ever the test of Spurs having developed a champions character was going to be answered, it was at the beginning of the second half and how this half went would speak to either maintaining or lowering the expectations everyone has had for thisteam. Dier continued his awful showing again in the second half, Spurs continued to be all at sea and Liverpool threatening.Without Danny Rose there was no wing pressure at all on the Liverpool team at all.

If Spurs have a title winning team itconsists of the same 11 fits players not being injured and playing 100% every game - and that is not happening.After 10 minutes of the second half the loyal voices of Spurs fans could be heard. The second half began very flat with 20minutes of lame do-nothing football.

With 66 minutes on the clock Spurs were ready to make a substitution but it was hard tosee how Harry Winks replacing Erikson would make that much effect, a lightweight midfielder for a lightweight midfielder whenSpurs needed to take control of the midfield battle. The good news is that Liverpool were giving a lot more free-kicks away,even if Spurs were joining them in the collection of yellow cards, but now there was no real threat from Liverpool.

The badnews was that there was no real threat from Tottenham either. Even the much criticised Liverpool goalkeeper Mignolet lookedmore than comfortable and not fearing a thing.With 20 minutes remaining Spurs young substitute Harry WInks received his yellow card.

Spurs needed some magic from one of their two remaining creative players and with no sign of that a more subdued Liverpool support began to cheer again for their team, that seemed to inject some energy into the Liverpool players without any corresponding counter-attack threat fromTottenham. Still Spurs fans had hope that if they could get one goal now, it would absolutely test Liverpool's character.

Coutinho who has not got his shooting boots on had a good effort, but he is far off his world class best, otherwise Spurs would have been considerably suffering today. The good news for Spurs was that Liverpool were considering bringing Chan on,and he has been involved in some of Liverpool's poor performances lately. 

Spurs were now beginning to chop down Liverpool players, signs of that loss of maturity that showed up at the end of last year were returning. Sissoko came on for Dembele which was a daft managerial decision because Dembele solidified the midfield, and Sissoko isn't known for trying too hard. There were signs of Spurs players losing their discipline rather than gathering up for a push in the last 10 minutes.

It was amazing that no Red card was in sight as niggling fouls begin to dot the landscape of the game, but so long as theniggling was there, Liverpool could breath easy that they had finally halted their awful string of results.  Pochettino finally gave struggling Vincent Janssen 10 minutes of playing time and took off a considerably under-performing Heung-Min

Son. This should have been done much earlier in the game rather than bringing on a youngster not made for a "man's game".

Spurs woeful game was now a rueful game. At least there was one thing that was decided today. Spurs will not compete for the League Championship today and Chelsea will be marching to the league title. Whether Spurs remain in the Top four is what is now up for question, with Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and now Liverpool showing form.

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