Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool: Player ratings as nine-man Reds beaten in stoppage time
FROM TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM - Liverpool had two players sent off and conceded with essentially the final kick of the Game in a 2-1 loss at Tottenham.
The Reds saw red in either half and played with their backs to the walls for the most part and were incredibly unfortunate not to leave with at least a point.
But Spurs persevered and got their reward in the sixth minute of added time to maintain their unbeaten Premier League start under Ange Postecoglou, ending Liverpool's 19-match undefeated streak in the process.
How the game unfolded
An end-to-end opening saw Liverpool create the first chances of the Game after 12 minutes, with Cody Gakpo finding time to swivel in the box and fire. He was first denied by Guglielmo Vicario, with the Italian quickly rising to his feet to keep out the rebound from Andy Robertson.
The visitors went close again when Dominik Szoboszlai's cross sailed all the way through the box to Curtis Jones, but Pape Matar Sarr managed to retreat and block the midfielder's shot into the side-netting.
Midway through the first half, the Game changed when Jones was shown a red card for a high challenge on Yves Bissouma's ankle, with Simon Hooper dismissing the 22-year-old after a VAR check.
Tottenham's first shot at goal swiftly followed as James Maddison played a neat give-and-go with Pedro Porro, forcing Alisson into a flying save from 20 yards.
Another chance soon followed with Dejan Kulusevski shifting the ball wide left to Richarlison, who fired over from just inside the box.
Liverpool thought they had taken the lead through Diaz on a quick counter but the flag was raised for offside and the goal was chalked off despite some dubious replays suggesting this decision was wrong.
Straight down the other end, Tottenham broke the deadlock. Maddison picked out the run of Richarlison with a pin-point pass between the lines, and he selflessly crossed for Son Heung-min to tap into an empty net.
Richarlison himself struck the post when Tottenham overloaded the left flank, though the offside flag later went up against Destiny Udogie for obstructing Alisson's vision.
Liverpool pulled level in first-half stoppage time. Szoboszlai's deep cross was nodded back down by Virgil van Dijk and taken in stride by Gakpo, who this time turned and finished where before he failed.
The Reds nearly snuck in another goal before the break when Salah's low cross was diverted wide at the back post by Diaz.
After the break, Maddison went close to putting Tottenham back in front with a top-corner bound effort from the edge of the penalty area, only for Alisson to throw up a glove and push it behind.
Alisson was again at his best to thwart Son seconds later, denying the South Korean with a superb instinctive up-reaching save.
Spurs had the ball in the net through the same combination of Maddison, Richarlison and Son again, though this time the Brazilian timed his run too late and it was ruled out for offside.
Liverpool were reduced to nine men after substitute Diogo Jota picked up two quick bookings for cynical challenges on Udogie.
After defending so well for much of the final stages, Liverpool's resistance was broken in the final minute of added time. Pedro Porro got to the byline and fired in a low cross which was turned into the top corner by an unfortunate Matip.
Tottenham's win on Saturday was their first against Liverpool in this part of north London since November 2012.
Tottenham Hotspur player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Guglielmo Vicario - 6/10 - Produced some big saves though was a little too far over towards his near post for Gakpo's equaliser.
RB: Pedro Porro - 8/10 - Useful going forward both down the line and coming inside. Getting better defensively by the week.
CB: Cristian Romero - 6/10 - Defended with aggression and was able to distribute from the back well.
CB: Micky van de Ven - 6/10 - Slowed down Salah and co on the break though gave the forwards too much respect in the box.
LB: Destiny Udogie - 7/10 - Dealt well with Salah having gone toe-to-toe with Bukayo Saka last week.
CM: Yves Bissouma - 6/10 - Caught out on occasion in the first half but stepped up into the midfield fire in the second.
CM: Pape Matar Sarr - 5/10 - Nipped into challenges with pace and scampered away on the break but ended Spurs attacks prematurely with needless pot-shots.
RM: Dejan Kulusevski - 6/10 - Showed his strength to shrug away from Robertson and get crosses away.
AM: James Maddison - 7/10 - Opened up Liverpool with clever passing between the lines, ultimately leading to the opener.
LM: Richarlison - 7/10 - Ironically looked more comfortable out on the left than when shifted central. Provider of the assist for Son.
CF: Son Heung-min - 8/10 - The scorer of 200 goals in his European career, entering a new stage of his playing days as a poacher.
Substitutes
SUB: Manor Solomon (69' for Son) - 5/10
SUB: Ben Davies (83' for Udogie) - 5/10
SUB: Oliver Skipp (83' for Sarr) - 6/10
SUB: Alejo Veliz (90' for Maddison) - N/A
SUB: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (90' for Bissouma) - N/A
Subs not used: Forster (GK), Emerson, Phillips, Donley
Manager
Ange Postecoglou - 6/10 - Spurs lacked a cutting edge for the most part but they got the job done.
Liverpool player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Alisson - 8/10 - Ensured Liverpool remained in the contest with a string of top saves.
RB: Joe Gomez - 6/10 - Struggled against Richarlison in the first half but wasn't a complete liability.
CB: Joel Matip - 6/10 - Defended with maturity and assuredness until that final minute.
CB: Virgil van Dijk - 7/10 - Played Richarlison onside for the opener though was excellent otherwise. Long-range passing was exquisite and grabbed an assist for Gakpo.
LB: Andy Robertson - 6/10 - Sometimes overwhelmed by the tandem of Porro and Kulusevski.
DM: Alexis Mac Allister - 6/10 - Tottenham were relentless at times but the Argentine held his own in midfield.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai - 7/10 - Glided his way into the final third either through his absurd physicality or sensational delivery.
CM: Curtis Jones - 1/10 - A debatable red card but ultimately the challenge was high.
RW: Mohamed Salah - 5/10 - Silenced by Tottenham for the most part, though unfortunate to have been denied an assist for Diaz.
CF: Cody Gakpo - 8/10 - Made himself a nuisance up top in the first half before succumbing to injury.
LW: Luis Diaz - 6/10 - A live-wire during his 73 minutes and on another day would have had a goal.
Substitutes
SUB: Diogo Jota (46' for Gakpo) - 0/10 - Jones' red was reckless, but Jota's was straight up daft.
SUB: Wataru Endo (73' for Diaz) - 7/10
SUB: Ibrahima Konate (73' for Gomez) - 7/10
SUB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (73' for Salah) - 6/10
SUB: Ryan Gravenberch (80' for Mac Allister) - 6/10
Subs not used: Kelleher (GK), Tsimikas, Elliott, Nunez
Manager
Jurgen Klopp - 7/10 - Liverpool were really, really unlucky. They should contend for the Premier League title based on their opening performances.
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