Liverpool star Andy Robertson is thrilled to have snatched three points off a Tottenham Hotspur side who have ‘improved so much’ in recent months, as he told BBC’s Match of the Day after a nail-biting 2-1 win (16 December, 10.45pm).
While it is far to soon to call it a ‘title-deciding’ goal, there was certainly something significant about Roberto Firmino’s stoppage-time winner at Anfield last night.
Thanks to a bullet header from their previously out-of-sorts number nine, Liverpool are now three points clear at the top of the Premier League table a week before Christmas, overcoming a Spurs side who had taken ten points out of a possible 12 from Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea this term.
On Wednesday’s evidence, however, a Spurs side who finished a lowly sixth in 2019/20 are not going away any time soon.
A team of ‘nice boys’ and nearly-men have blossomed into a formidable ‘counter-attacking monster’ (to use Jurgen Klopp’s expression) under perennial medal-collector Jose Mourinho.
“The Tottenham team have improved so much this season. They’re ruthless, they’re good at what they do,” Robertson said at full-time.
“We knew we were in for a really tough game today. It’s always nice to win and get one over your rivals, and to go top of the league is an added bonus.”
Tottenham mustered just two shots on target at Anfield but the statistics don’t tell the whole story.
While it is fair to say Mourinho was exaggerating a little when he claimed that the best side lost on Merseyside, the London giants were certainly left ruing a couple of a huge misses in the second half, with Steven Bergwijn the main culprit.
Harry Kane, meanwhile, headed a glorious opportunity wide of the target when the score was still 1-1.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
