From almost first minute to last, this was an afternoon for real celebration. And that’s without even mentioning what happened to Jurgen Klopp.
After waiting 203 days for a Liverpool start, Luis Diaz had no intention of hanging around for much longer, taking a mere five minutes to mark his return with a goal.
And how he enjoyed it, racing towards the Main Stand as every emotion – all the pain, frustration, angst, disappointment, doubt – of that long, long spell on the sidelines came pouring out, engulfed by his delighted team-mates before taking the salute of an adoring Anfield.
MATCH RECAP: Liverpool vs Tottenham final score, highlights and reaction
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How Diaz has been missed this season, his hard-running, hard-pressing, direct style – allied to bucketloads of natural talent – having made him an instant hit ever since first arriving from Porto back in January 2022.
That was evident in the manner in which he took his goal, sensing the chance as Liverpool built down the right flank and drifting in from the left to meet Cody Gakpo’s cross at the near post with a brilliantly-improvised volley.
Diaz revelled in the occasion, exhausting the Tottenham Hotspur defence and departing shortly after the hour to a huge ovation from the home supporters and a warm embrace from Klopp on the touchline.
Liverpool were 3-1 up and in control at that point. But the issues that have contributed to this essentially being a scrap for fifth place rather than anything greater soon began to materialise, leading to former Everton striker Richarlison, of all people, getting a touch on Son Heung-Min’s teasing free-kick delivery to equalise deep into injury time.
Anfield was deflated apart from the corner housing the Tottenham fans to whom the Brazilian raced towards, ripping off his shirt and revelling in the moment.
He really should have known better. Just 99 seconds later, the same player was snapped devastated after a mistake from another visiting substitute, Lucas Moura, invited Diogo Jota to show great composure and net a 94th-minute winner with his fifth goal in four games.
As pandemonium ensued, Jota plonked himself on the turf and mimed a quick game of FIFA. But not even the best programmers in the world could have conjured up his kind of drama, particularly with Tottenham adamant Jota shouldn't have been on the pitch after a high challenge on Skipp, who had earlier somehow escaped censure for a stamp on Diaz.
It wasn't the perfect victory. However, the return of the trademark triple fist-pump towards the jubilant Kop from a hobbling Klopp highlighted that, for the fourth time in five games, Liverpool simply refused to buckle. Having been absent of such fight for worrying periods of the campaign, that really is something worth celebrating.
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