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Liverpool edge past Tottenham but questions linger after late wobble

Liverpool left north London with three precious points, yet the discussion after a two one win over Tottenham centred less on celebration and more on control. Arne Slot’s side did enough to deserve victory, moving level on points with Chelsea in the Premier League table, but the final moments exposed anxieties that refuse to disappear.

From the stands and the sofa alike, there was a sense that a match comfortably managed for much of the evening was allowed to drift into unnecessary turbulence. Few captured that feeling more sharply than former Liverpool striker John Aldridge, whose post match reaction cut through the relief of the result.

“Well folks that’s were we are atm,” Aldridge wrote. “Who had 9 men in the last 10 mins?? it looked like it was us!!”.

Liverpool dominance fades into anxiety

For eighty five minutes, Liverpool looked in command. The structure was clear, the movement coherent and Tottenham struggled to cope, particularly after losing players to dismissal. The opening goal arrived through a move that spoke to Slot’s attacking blueprint, Hugo Ekitike linking with Florian Wirtz before Alexander Isak finished with assurance.

That combination felt significant. It was fluid, decisive and threatening. Isak’s withdrawal through injury halted that momentum, but Liverpool pressed on. Ekitike rose to head home a deserved second, taking his tally to eight non penalty league goals, a return bettered only by Erling Haaland so far this season.

Photo: IMAGO

At that point, the contest appeared settled. Liverpool had weathered pressure, punished errors and built a cushion that should have allowed for a composed conclusion.

John Aldridge highlights game management concerns

Instead, the mood shifted. Richarlison’s introduction injected urgency into Tottenham’s play and Liverpool’s grip loosened. Aldridge’s second intervention reflected growing frustration rather than simple nit picking.

“We’ll take the result all day but that’s not good enough for me,” Aldridge added. “Lots and lots of work to be done to get in the top 4.”.

Those words carried weight because they echoed familiar patterns. Liverpool have now seen opponents reduced by red cards on four occasions in the league this season, more than any other side, yet the ability to shut games down completely remains inconsistent.

The closing stages were chaotic. Tottenham, despite being reduced to nine men, forced Liverpool into hurried clearances and nervous decision making. It was not collapse, but it was discomfort.

Tottenham reaction adds further edge

The post match noise was not limited to Merseyside. Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank was vocal in his frustration, particularly over Ekitike’s goal.

“That’s unbelievable, it’s a huge mistake,” he said, questioning the decision to allow the goal to stand.

Analysis elsewhere pointed to Spurs’ own failings. On Match of the Day, Joe Hart suggested Tottenham “totally lost control”, highlighting a late incident involving Milos Kerkez as symptomatic of their unraveling.

Between those viewpoints lies the truth. Liverpool controlled large portions of the match, deserved the win and showed attacking quality in key moments. Yet they also invited pressure that could have been avoided with calmer game management.

Aldridge’s comments may feel stern, but they speak to standards forged over decades. Winning away at Tottenham matters. Learning how to close such games with authority matters even more. If Liverpool are to turn results like this into something sustainable across the season, the lessons from those final minutes will need to be absorbed quickly.

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