BEVERLY HILLS, January 28, (THEWILL) – After critics had slammed them for their ominous slide from the top of the League and rivals have overtaken them in their seeming inability to score goals in the defense of their Premiership title, Liverpool finally ended a 482-minute stretch of goal-drought with an away 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Their Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino broke the barren run to score Liverpool’s first league goal this year to help the champions return to winning ways. Their title credentials appeared to have wilted as Jurgen Klopp’s charges suffered a five-game winless league run.
A bitter loss against Southampton away was nothing compared to the defeat they endured at the hands of 17th-placed Burnley and as much as Klopp immediately absolved his players of all the blame which he claimed responsibility for, questions were already being asked of Liverpool’s ability to rise to the level that won them the League last year.
What they displayed against a resolute Jose Mourinho’s Spurs is that they have begun to find their feet again and something of that winning mentality that was a hallmark of their trophy-winning 2019/2020 season where the men from Anfield were impossible to contain and their trio of strikers too hot to stop.
Against Spurs, Spurs were denied the opener with Heung-Min Son’s goal correctly ruled out by VAR. When star Spurs’ striker Harry Kane was substituted due to injury concerns as play resumed in the second period, it made a comeback for Tottenham more than an uphill battle against a tight Liverpool defense.
The second half provided better entertainment to the neutral fan than the first and, only two minutes after Trent Alexander Arnold rifled in a rebound, Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg reduced the deficit with a 25-yard thunderbolt and Sadio Mane converted an Alexander Arnold cross to deservedly help Liverpool to all three points.
Finally, Liverpool are back scoring and taking wins in the Premiership. It might be early days to know if the goal-drought truly ended or if this win is simply an oasis in the expanse of dryness, but the much-needed victory moves Liverpool up to fourth place, four points off leaders Manchester City, who have the advantage of a game in hand.
For Mourinho’s side, they must put their first loss in nine matches aside and focus on how to climb up from their current sixth place. On paper it looks as if they have an easier upcoming match than Liverpool who next contend against fifth-placed West Ham on Sunday.
However, if they fail to learn a thing or two from the Sheffield United upset of Manchester United’s title rush on Wednesday, they might have a shock waiting for them when they take on Brighton on Sunday.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
