Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs ran Premier League leaders Liverpool close at Anfield, only for Jordan Henderson and Heung-Min Son to seal the win.
Tottenham Hotspur might have lost 2-1 on Sunday but former striker Peter Crouch believes there were still plenty of positives to take after they ran Liverpool close at Anfield, singling out Heung-Min Son for praise on Match of the Day (BBC 1, 10.30pm, 27 October).
Spurs have returned from the October international break far hungrier and sharper than before and, despite picking up just one point from their last two Premier League games, a committed display on Merseyside should give supporters plenty of belief that results will soon follow.
Paulo Gazzaniga made 12 saves as Mauricio Pochettino’s side gave the Premier League leaders, who sealed a comeback win thanks to goals from Jordan Henderson and Mo Salah, an almighty scare.
Tottenham were disciplined and organised throughout with jet-heeled forward Son, who inadvertently set up Harry Kane’s opener and hit the bar himself, doubling up as an auxiliary full-back for much of the encounter. And Crouch was pleased to sell his former employers show the kind of team ethic that has been missing of late.
“I thought there was a desire about Tottenham that we haven’t seen enough of this season. They were getting out to people, making tackles. Son, you have to say a word for him. Defensively, it was an unbelievable performance,” said the ex-England international, who played for Spurs from 2009 to 2011.
If it wasn’t for a trademark error from Serge Aurier, Spurs might have had a point to celebrate. It was his typically clumsy tackle on Sadio Mane which gifted Liverpool a penalty for Salah to fire home and Crouch, like everyone connected to Spurs, was critical of another ‘car crash’ moment from the much-maligned Ivorian.
“It’s two or three penalties, he catches him a few times.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
