Mohamed Salah’s swashbuckling spot-kick secured Liverpool’s victory against Tottenham on Sunday, the Reds emerging as 2-1 victors despite going behind less than a minute thanks to Harry Kane’s acute header.
Some enthralling football looked as if it would go unrewarded with Paulo Gazzaniga making a string of fine saves in the Spurs goal, before skipper Jordan Henderson broke the resistance early in the second-half.
Serge Aurier clipped Mane for a penalty with around 15 minutes to go, awarding Salah the chance to send Liverpool six points clear, one that he took with open arms.
Here’s your ratings.
Dejan’s strength not on show
Alisson (7):Â Not sure he can do anything about the Spurs goal, does really well to force Son a little wider as the South-Korean missed a good chance to double the visitors’ lead. Gary Neville made a good point as he clung onto a goalbound chance late on, that his ability to make the average saves appear so easy spreads confidence into the defence.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (7):Â Absolutely majestic. De Bruyne at right-back, they say. They’re right. His defending is getting better and his attacking is absolutely stunning. One or two sloppy moments at the back but he absolutely runs it going forward.
Virgil van Dijk (7):Â On his heels ever so slightly for Kane’s goal, don’t think he’s getting to it anyway. Imperious after that, wins header after header. Unlike…
Dejan Lovren (5):Â Come on mate. Your best attribute is your physicality and you allow yourself to get bullied by Kane. Was harrassed by Son at times too, nearly leading to a second Tottenham goal.
Andy Robertson (6):Â Improved as the game went on but his end product did my head in for 45 minutes.
Fabinho the lighthouse
Fabinho (9):Â He’s one of my favourite ever Liverpool players, I think. Maybe because of what we’ve seen in the position before him, maybe because he’s a massive shithouse, and a million other things. He was absolutely boss today, impeccable defensively whilst showcasing that he’s anything but a ‘stopper’ with a range of beautifully weighted passes over the top.
Jordan Henderson (6):Â He was rightfully disappointed with the role he played in Spurs’ goal, gifting Harry Winks possession to enable the counter-attack. More than made up for it with the breakthrough goal, slicing a left-footed effort perfectly across Gazzaniga for his first Anfield goal since 2015. No, really. 2015! (West Brom, 2-2, you know the one)
Gini Wijnaldum (6):Â Quite good at getting that massive arse of his into annoying positions for the opposition, wasn’t that disappointed seeing him come off.
Mo Salah you little dancer…
Mohamed Salah (7):Â Loves making an impact against Spurs, doesn’t he? Plays fairly well in general today, unlucky not to get a goal off Firmino’s lay-off as the ‘keeper saved nicely. Always feels like he’s going to miss the pen, in my opinion. One day he will miss, and I guess we’ll have to remember all these one’s he’s scored.
Roberto Firmino (7):Â Really nice aforementioned lay-off to Salah, shows some good instincts to get in on the follow-up for that. Few inches away from getting on the end of a Trent cross, moves the ball nicely, drags men around. Typical Bobby.
Sadio Mane (7):Â Not the Man of the Match performance that some have been suggesting (you need to score that header, mate) but equally a very impressive one. Brilliant play to win the penalty, as soon as he gets between the ball and Aurier you know it’s game over.
