Liverpool 2 Sturridge 9’, 64’ Tottenham 1 Janssen 76’ (pen)
- Pre-Match Thoughts: It’s nice to finally get a London team up to Merseyside this season. Liverpool and Tottenham both have 11 changes to the starting line-up from their last times out so this should be interesting. Really excited to see some of the yutes out there, and hopefully Sturridge can get back into scoring form. Also, captain Lucas Leiva is always a welcome sight.
- Tottenham win a corner in the first minute of play. They play it short and fail to get a cross into the box. I don’t know if you’ve heard, Spurs, but set piece defending isn’t really our thing. So, um, thanks for that.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold just got a Fellani in the face, but no call. Play on, lads.
- GOAL! A defensive error allows Marko Grujic to pick up the ball near the edge of the box, drive forward and get off the shot. The shot is deflected, but Sturridge followed the shot in, and just managed to beat a diving Vorm to poke it home. 1-0 to Liverpool!
- Sturridge has his tail up, and really tested Vorm moments after his goal with a curling left-footed effort from the edge of the box.
- Hmm. Satellite difficulties, apparently. Thanks Obama. If something important happened here, I couldn’t tell you.
- [Technical difficulties, please stand by]
- Annnnnd we’re back in. I assume nothing exciting or important happened in the last 20 minutes. The score is still 1-0, so I’m just going to pretend that’s the case.
- Halftime Thoughts: From what I saw—which admittedly was limited—it was a pretty good half from Liverpool. Great to see Sturridge back on the score sheet, and Grujic has also shown some flashes of brilliance. On the other hand, I’m told Divock Origi is playing, but I have yet to see any evidence of that so far. I’d really like to see Liverpool come out and put this one to bed, and not just because I want to avoid extra time (even if that is 100% the reason).
- Well, Origi nearly just responded with a perfectly timed run down the right side, and put the cross on a plate for Sturridge to tap home. However, the English international fluffed the sitter, and the chance is left wanting.
- Fifteen minutes into the half and the home side has come alive, with the pressing and interplay between Sturridge, Origi, Grujic, and Wijnaldum starting to pay dividends, creating several great chances in the last few mintues. A combination of poor final touches and last-ditch defending has kept the Reds from extending their lead.
- GOAL! Liverpool final get their just reward for an excellent start to the second half. Wijnaldum plays Sturridge in on goal with a perfectly timed pass and run right through the heart of Tottenham’s, for lack of a better word, ”defense.” Did Danny nutmeg the ‘keeper when he got 1-on-1? Of course he did. 2-0 to the Scousers.
- Danny Ings and Nathaniel Clyne on for Origi and Alexander-Arnold, respectively. Come on, Ingsy, go out and score yourself a goal, you deserve it.
- Newsflash: Apparently Wijnaldum can take free kicks. The Dutch international’s direct free kick from about 25 yards gets up and over the wall
- Penalty: Lamela goes down after some very soft contact from Lucas in the box, and a penalty is awarded. It’s the kind of challenge that goes unpunished probably 95% of the time, but I guess it is probably the correct call.
- Goal: Janssen steps up to the spot and sends Mignolet the wrong way. 2-1 and Spurs have a lifeline.
- Moments later Moreno impedes Lamela in the box, but the ref waves play on. Probably more of a pen than the one that was given, if we’re honest.
- Ingsy has his big chance, but sends his 1-on-1 straight at Vorm, who parries it out for a corner.
- Final Whistle Thoughts: That second half was much closer than it should have been on account of Liverpool’s philosophical opposition to keeping a clean sheet. Still, some good run outs for some fringe players in need of game time.
We'll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today's game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven't already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we'll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.