Independent
Alisson Becker’s howler allowed Tottenham to earn a share of the spoils with 10-man Liverpool in a pulsating game full of VAR drama that ended 2-2 in north London.
Spurs were playing their first game in a fortnight following a coronavirus outbreak, while the Reds were without four of their players, but both sides put on a festive treat.
Liverpool were 2-1 up after Diogo Jota and Andy Robertson goals cancelled out Harry Kane’s early strike – his first in the league since October – and heading for the three points until Alisson failed to connect with a clearance and Son Heung-min rolled home into an empty net.
Robertson was then sent off for a wild kick on Emerson Royal after VAR upgraded his yellow card, but there was controversy in the first half when referee Paul Tierney did not even look again at Kane’s studs-showing tackle on the Scot.
Liverpool also felt they should have had a penalty in the first half after Jota appeared to be bundled over, while Spurs felt Dele Alli was fouled in the box prior to Robertson scoring.
In the end a draw was a fair result but Spurs will be left to rue missed chances at key points in the game.
When the dust settles on this breathless thriller, Liverpool find themselves going into Christmas three points adrift of leaders Manchester City, but with Covid-19 in their camp they will be unsure of what may lie ahead in the festive period.
For Spurs it was a fifth Premier League game without defeat for Antonio Conte who will be confident his side can challenge for the top four in the second half of the season.
Spurs were recovering from nine players testing positive for coronavirus while Liverpool’s preparations for the game suffered more disruption after Thiago Alcantara tested positive – joining Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones – while Jordan Henderson was ill but does not have Covid.
And they found themselves behind early as Spurs came to life and took the lead in the 13th minute, with Kane finally ending his drought.
Harry Winks did well to win the ball back high up the pitch, Tanguy Ndombele slipped in Kane and the England captain rolled the ball into the far corner for his first home league goal of the season.
He was on a high and his enthusiasm spilled over in the 20th minute as he was booked for a challenge on Robertson, which if was reviewed by…
