Match Report: Spurs 2 Liverpool 1 – lucky or just deserts?
We might have been the grateful beneficiaries of a serious error from the officials, but there were further signs of Postecoglou’s relentlessly positive attacking approach. We never gave up and continuously attacked the opposition’s goalmouth until we got what we wanted.
Wild scenes of celebration at the final whistle showed we were unconcerned by the Scousers’ complaints. Instead, we revelled in a result that increased the feelgood factor stimulated by Ange Postecoglou’s arrival as manager and a fine start to the season.
Yes, it took Joel Matip’s own goal seconds from the end to give us a 2-1 win after a thunderous encounter that saw Liverpool exasperated after Luis Diaz’s first-half goal with the scoreline goalless was incorrectly ruled out for offside and also saw them reduced to nine men after Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were sent off… but I say, tough shit… how many times have the Scousers won a game when they shouldn’t have… they complain about the decision, but if it had gone the other way would they have complained on our behalf? No!
Any top challenging team needs a combination of skill, organisation and luck if they hope to achieve anything… the likes of Arsenic, Liverpool, United and City have had it for years now; hopefully, it is our turn. Liverpool won the European Champions League by dubious means against us… so I don’t have any sympathy for the red half of Liverpool’s Scousers. What goes around comes around.
Whatever way you look at it (the controversy), it was us who walked away with three points while the Reds sulked.
With City losing, only us, Arsenic and Old Lace are undefeated in the league. United also got their comeuppance.
We are currently in second place, above Arsenic (on goal difference) and one point behind City. Up the Spurs!
Anyway, to the match…
As I said, Joel Matip’s own goal deep into stoppage time gave us a deserved victory as we continued to pelt their goal mouth with strike after strike over a nine-man Liverpool team in a contentious Premier League encounter.
The Reds got two red cards, the first given to Curtis Jones for a foul on Yves Bissouma after just 26 minutes following a VAR intervention, before half-time substitute Diogo Jota followed him down the tunnel with more than 20 minutes remaining after picking up a quickfire double booking.
First goal…
Captain Son slid us in front from Richarlison’s pass nine minutes before half-time, following good work from James Maddison. Then, the Reds responded with an equaliser in first-half stoppage time when Cody Gakpo scored on the turn from Virgil van Dijk’s header.
We had the better chances in the second half, and Liverpool keeper Alisson kept the Reds in the game with outstanding saves from Maddison and Son. It looked like their resolute rearguard would earn them a battling draw until the drama of the final seconds. It sparked jubilation and relief among the home crowd, inflicting the scousers’ first defeat of the season and maintaining Ange Postecoglou’s unbeaten Premier League record.
Thoughts…
We knew we were under pressure to find a winner against a side who have joined us as one of the early Premier League pacesetters. It is to our credit that there was no sense of panic in our approach even as the seconds ticked away, and Liverpool’s red wall of defensive defiance kept us at bay, helped by keeper Alisson proving such a relentless barrier, nevertheless, we finally got through, thanks to an own goal (but they all count and got us the three points).
Before the final whistle, I quickly made my way around to where Janette was sitting (in Mel’s seat, as he went with a friend in the season ticket section) and just managed to see the own goal go in… once in, it sparked wild scenes around our stadium. Even though I was in a section I am not usually in, people grabbed me, hugged me, and backslapped me. Finally, Janette noticed me and made our way to me, we then went to get our pudding treat from the counter before making our way to the car. I can tell you we had plenty to talk about on the way—much of the talking about Klip Klopp’s crying to the commentator about being robbed. Did we care… not really… as I said, we took all three points, which is what it is all about.
Last word on Maddison…
Maddison was once again pulling the strings, playing a key part in Son’s opener. At the same time, the intensity and determination brought roars of approval from us fans who have suffered under the indigestible styles of previous bosses such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
This may only be a fortunate late victory against nine men, but a three-point swing over this increasingly difficult Liverpool team will send our confidence soaring even higher.
So, we’ve had three tests: United, Arsenic and Old Lace and the Scousers… and we collected 7 points. Next up will be Luton Town (away). Followed by Fulham (H) and Palace (A) before Ange Postecoglou takes on the Jilted Tottenham bride in Pochettino’s nose-diving Chelski team. Of course, it will be a hard game… we shouldn’t underestimate the snivelling shitty blues of Russian-influenced Rasputin.
Until next time…. Up the Spurs!
COYS!
Glenn
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
