Liverpool’s quadruple hopes took a major hit as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham at Anfield.
In what was a huge match in both the title race and the battle for Champions League football, Heung-min Son put the visitors in front and on course for a famous victory.
The Reds equalised through Luis Diaz’s deflected strike, but despite their late efforts they could not find an equaliser against a resolute Spurs backline.
It’s an important point for Antonio Conte’s side ahead of the north London derby on Thursday night, with Liverpool left frustrated. They are level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, having played a game more.
Diaz was preferred to Diogo Jota in the front three for Liverpool, while Dejan Kulusevski returned in place of Lucas Moura for the visitors.
Liverpool dominated possession in the early stages but the Tottenham gameplan enjoyed some success. Rodrigo Bentancur had a shot comfortably saved by Alisson after a swift counter, before Jordan Henderson threw himself in the way of a Harry Kane effort.
The Reds increasingly piled the pressure on as the half progressed, with Hugo Lloris at full stretch to prevent a terrible header from Ryan Sessegnon setting up Mohamed Salah for a tap-in. Liverpool very nearly took the lead from a corner as Virgil van Dijk got up well in the box, with the bar coming to Tottenham’s rescue.
Things evened themselves out minutes later when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg tried his luck from 25 yards out and the ball flicked off the outside of the post and behind.
Just over ten minutes into the second-half, Spurs took the lead with a brilliant counter-attack. Kane brought down Emerson Royal’s long pass and the space opened up for him as he drove towards goal. The Tottenham strike played it to Sessegnon on the left-hand side of the box, he squared it perfectly for Son who was completely free for a tap-in.
Liverpool pinned back the visitors as they went in search of an equaliser, Ben Davies and Cristian Romero making a number of brilliant blocks as the defending became more and more last-ditch.
The goal for Liverpool did come, and in fortuitous circumstances. Diaz drifted inside off the left, let fly from just outside the box and it flicked off Bentancur’s outstretched foot to give Hugo Lloris no chance.
With 15 minutes to go, Anfield roared their side on in search of a winner, though it was Spurs who could, and maybe should, have won it in stoppage-time. Hojbjerg was free at the back post and got on the end of Harry Winks’ cross, but rather than going for goal he tried to find Kane and made a mess of things.
It finished level in a result that left both sides relying on results elsewhere to achieve their league ambitions this season.
