The first of today’s two Super Sunday games saw Liverpool win 3-0 against Spurs at White Hart Lane, making it three consecutive wins against the North London Club.
Liverpool were dominant all round in their display today. Slick passing and quick counter attacking by the men from Merseyside made the difference against Spurs, who weren’t up to the challenge today. A stark contrast to their 4-0 victory against Queens Park Rangers last weekend.
The game saw Balotelli make his return to the Premier League after two years in Italy with AC Milan. The return of the Premier League bad-boy was a good one, a solid performance displaying his strength, pace and power. Ultimately, it wasn’t to be the Balotelli show as Raheem Sterling stole the lime-light with a Man of the Match performance.
Liverpool’s new striker almost opened his account early on with a header from 6 yards out which could only find the hands of Lloris. That didn’t matter as moments later Raheem Sterling slotted the ball into the net on 7 minutes after a sumptuous ball from Jordan Henderson across the face of goal.
There were a few other chances in the first half but another opportunity came to Balotelli. After a powerful run and cute through ball to Sturridge the Tottenham goal keeper Hugo Lloris came to clear but only to make a hash of it and the ball fell to Balotelli 30 yards out, only for him to snatch at the volley hooking it wide
Liverpool’s second came just after half time in the form of a Steven Gerrard penalty. The penalty was given away by Spurs’ summer signing Dier after he tugged at Joe Allen’s shirt as he ran into the box. The penalty was without doubt a soft one but there was definitely contact.
Their third came on the hour mark from an unlikely source, another new summer signing in the form of left back Alberto Moreno. Spurs making changes on the hour mark bringing on Townsend and Dembele only for Townsend to be dispossessed with his first touch by Moreno. Moreno left Townsend for dead running from inside his own half to inside Spurs’ box and slotting the ball into the bottom right hand corner with a sweetly struck left footed shot.
The goal capped a brilliant performance for the £12 million pound man who ran tirelessly throughout the game and put in a solid defensive effort.
Liverpool’s defence complimented their attacking display with a solid performance from Lovren, his central defensive partner Sakho was less than convincing. The French international’s passing game let him down today giving chances to Spurs which they could not convert.
The most uncomfortable moment for Liverpool fans came when Sakho and Lovren went for the same ball, Adebayor got there ahead of them both and nodded down to Chadli who could only force a very good save from Mignolet, pushing the Belgian’s shot high and wide of his goal.
Raheem Sterling was a constant threat throughout the game, turning and running from midfield at the heart of Spurs’ defence. He had a chance to grab his second and Liverpool’s fourth as he picked up the ball on the right hand side of Tottenham’s box he weaved his way around 3 opponents in a Messi like manner only to put a soft shot straight at Lloris.
Sterling picked up the man of the match award for his performance with 3 shots all of which were on target and 1 goal. This display surely backs up the calls for the young man to start for England in their upcoming Internationals.
Sterling and his team mates terrorised Tottenham giving them barley any time on the ball and when they did not much time to do anything with it. The defeat is the first for Pochettino as Tottenham manager and Tottenham’s third successive defeat to the Reds in which Liverpool have scored 12 goals and conceded none.
Today’s victory showed that Liverpool without Suarez can still perform and score, they are with no doubt contenders for the title this season and if they continue with performances similar to today’s then they will be hard to stop.
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