Liverpool still warming up: Five things learned from Reds’ 2-1 win over Tottenham

In an end-to-end yet one-way contest, Liverpool smashed Spurs 1-2.

This marks Jurgen Klopp’s first-ever away win against Spurs and puts the Reds top of the league. What did we learn?

1. Spurs’ slow starts

Once the whistle blew for full-time at Old Trafford, Spurs had won 0-3 and everyone was rapturous in their praise of Mauricio Pochettino’s men. They had almost entirely forgotten that for the first 45 minutes Spurs were absolutely terrible and, frankly, very lucky to go into half-time a 0-0. And even in the second half when they smashed three goals past Manchester United, they didn’t really play well in as much as United were terrible and Spurs just stopped shooting themselves in the foot.

Then against Watford, it took until 53 minutes to make the breakthrough and they still found themselves getting pulled back. And here at Wembley, Spurs were wide open on the break in the first half and Liverpool were ripping them apart. Somehow the Reds only went into half-time 0-1 ahead, and that goal came from a set-piece rather than one of the many half-chances they had from open play.

Against United they got away with it, but Watford and Liverpool made them pay. Spurs will need to sort out this slow start issue if they hope to lift themselves into the sort of form that will see them play to the level we expect of them.

2. Death From Above

Spurs came into this game having conceded four goals in the Premier League; all of them headers. Despite getting battered by Liverpool on the break, with the ball moving fluidly on the floor, one would have expected that streak to be ended. But no, when Liverpool finally managed to score it came from a header.

Michel Vorm fumbled a cross and Gini Wijnaldum headed the ball high into the net. The ball sailed over Kieran Trippier on the line, and the defender’s presence hampered Michel Vorm from clawing it away. So Spurs have conceded five from five in the air, and even though the streak was broken in the second half when Roberto Firmino stabbed home; there is another clear problem for Spurs to work on.

Their inability to defend headers really doesn’t bode well as Spurs look to challenge on multiple fronts against sides who are proficient in the air. This marks the first time they have lost back-to-back Premier League games since the very end of the 2015/16 season.

3. Liverpool still warming up

Liverpool have now won all five of their Premier League games. They have scored 11 goals and conceded just two. They are top of the league as they look to restart their European adventure. And yet, they haven’t really played well this season. Oh sure, they’ve deserved most of their wins (sorry Palace and Leicester) but they’ve not been the terrifying force of nature they were.

But doesn’t that make them even scarier? They’ve won five of five games, including their first win at Spurs in forever, and have only conceded two goals (both dead-rubbers) along the way. And they haven’t really gotten started. Their display at Spurs was their best yet as they sliced and diced their way through a limp Spurs defence, only to waste their litany of chances and half-chances.

Liverpool look like they’re nearing top speed, which is huge because their next six games includes two bouts against Chelsea, one against PSG in the Champions League and a possible Premier League showdown against Manchester City. They will have to actually play well if they want to contend against such heavyweights.

4. Absolutely Vormless

Spurs were bad against Liverpool all across the board. There’s no doubt about that. They didn’t get to grips with the Liverpool counter-attack and they couldn’t impose themselves when they had the ball either. But they could have still come away with something. Liverpool were so profligate that Spurs could easily have walked away with a 0-0 draw but for Michel Vorm.

The Dutch goalkeeper, playing for the injured Hugo Lloris, was absolutely shambolic at Wembley. He looked nervous, unable to command his area and skittish whenever the ball came his way. He made a couple of routine saves, but both goals were 100% his fault. He flapped at the initial corner that led directly to Gini Wijnaldum’s goal, and he absolutely failed to control the bouncing ball from Jan Vertonghen’s interception, allowing it to bounce to an unmarked Roberto Firmino.

Lloris is scheduled to miss another few weeks of action. This could get ugly.

5. What the hell, Harry?

Alright, seriously, this is beyond a joke now. What the hell is wrong with Harry Kane? The England and Spurs striker is coming off a productive if not impressive World Cup, and he’s even managed to score a Premier League goal in August. So why is he playing so poorly?

Is he carrying an injury? Is he simply fatigued from having played 224 games for club and country in the last four years? That would make sense as it is quite some workload for one man to bear, especially as it comes with the psychological pressure of being a hero for both Spurs and England. But whatever the cause, whatever the reason, something is most assuredly wrong with Harry Kane.

He’s not moving quickly, he’s not reacting to loose balls as he should, and he’s not even close to being a genuine goal threat. He looks like a man in need of a genuine vacation; but will he get one? The answer could go on to define Spurs’ season.

The post Liverpool still warming up: Five things learned from Reds’ 2-1 win over Tottenham appeared first on Squawka News.

From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2D0BMm4