Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool. Premier League.
Wembley StadiumAttendance80,188.
Report and highlights as Jurgen Klopp's men clinch fifth successive victory
Saturday 15 September 2018 19:50, UK
Liverpool maintained their perfect start to the season with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham at Wembley.
Georginio Wijnaldum's first Premier League away goal, awarded by goal-line technology, put Liverpool ahead on 36 minutes before Roberto Firmino sealed a fifth-consecutive victory with their second nine minutes after the interval.
Eric Lamela grabbed a goal back in stoppage-time but it proved too little, too late for Mauricio Pochettino's men as Spurs slipped to a second successive defeat.
There was so nearly a sensational start for Liverpool, who had the ball in the back of the net inside a minute when Sadio Mane diverted a cross from the right beyond Michel Vorm.
However Spurs, who looked to be carrying a hangover from their defeat at Watford, were left off the hook when the effort was ruled out, with the offside Firmino adjudged to have interfered in play.
Spurs' lethargic start continued as a misplaced Eric Dier pass was pounced upon by Mohamed Salah on 22 minutes. He streaked clear but was prevented from breaking the deadlock by a fine save by Vorm.
Christian Eriksen registered Tottenham's first attempt on target just before the half hour with a whipped 18-yard free-kick, but Alisson, a bystander until that point, was up to the task.
That kicked Spurs into gear as they finished the stronger of the two sides, but Liverpool continued to pose the greater threat in front of goal, Mane drawing Vorm into action at full stretch after bundling his way into the area.
A minute later, though, Liverpool broke the deadlock through the most unlikely of sources as Wijnaldum's looping header crossed the line before Vorm hooked it away, handing the Dutchman his first goal away from home in the English top flight at the 112th attempt.
Liverpool maintained their momentum in a pulsating start to the second half. Andy Robertson struck the bar with a cross-come shot and a dipping Naby Keita volley drew another decent stop from Vorm, before a flowing counter ended with Mane swivelling and testing the Spurs stopper.
Lucas Moura led the Spurs fightback but he could only strike the base of the post on 50 minutes - four minutes later, Liverpool had doubled their lead.
Mane's low cross deflected onto the post off Toby Alderweireld, the ball rolled across the goal line and through the clutches of Vorm, presenting Firmino with the simplest of tap-ins.
Liverpool should have finished the game off when Firmino released Mane through on goal on 63 minutes, but the Senegalese hesitated before playing Keita in on the overlap, allowing Vorm to save the midfielder's drive.
But in the end the third was not necessary, despite Lamela becoming only the second player to score against Liverpool with his late consolation from a narrow angle.
Mauricio Pochettino: "They were better, we competed, and we were close. Disappointed with the result but we need to keep working and improving. I am relaxed, I'm not worried. My confidence in these players is 200 per cent, not 100 per cent, 200 per cent."
Jurgen Klopp: "It was very good. It was a very intense job and the boys did it. It was a deserved win. Over 85 minutes we were dominant. That was our best game of the season. Football as it should be. If we win at Tottenham it's a big result. I'm really proud of them."
It was another industrious performance from Liverpool's captain, who just edged out Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Firmino to the award. Milner is the wise head in this exhilarating Liverpool side and his game management and awareness throughout proved key, cutting the supply line to the Spurs attack by suffocating Eriksen, Winks and Dembele in midfield.
Both sides kick off their Champions League campaigns before resuming in the Premier League. Tottenham travel to Inter Milan and Liverpool host PSG on Tuesday before Spurs make the trip to Brighton in Saturday's tea-time kick-off and Liverpool welcome Southampton to Anfield on Saturday at 3pm.
