It hasn’t been seen too often this season. But when Jurgen Klopp strode purposefully towards the away end, the elated Liverpool supporters knew exactly what was coming.
Sure enough, as he approached far corner of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Reds boss brought out his trademark triple fist-punch which was met with raucous, defiant cheers from the travelling fans.
That his post-match celebration hasn’t been seen much in recent months underlines the difficulties Liverpool have suffered during a Premier League campaign that has lurched from one false dawn to the next.
LFC RATINGS: Mohamed Salah and one other superb in win over Tottenham
AS IT HAPPENED: Spurs vs Liverpool goal updates and analysis
There is, though, a different air about this victory, one that bore all the hallmarks of a team regularly challenging near the top of the table rather than scrambling around on the fringes of the European qualification berths. Klopp’s side had to earn these three points, their first away win in the top-flight this season, in what was a quintessential game of two halves.
Liverpool bossed the opening 45 minutes – Klopp outsmarting Tottenham counterpart Antonio Conte tactically by keeping faith in 4-3-3 with Darwin Nunez on the left – and were well worthy of the lead given to them by Mohamed Salah ’s superbly-taken brace.
But this was a triumph forged on defensive resolve and the kind of sheer bloody-mindedness to hold on to their advantage after Tottenham responded strongly in the second half to ensure a grandstand finish after Harry Kane pulled a goal back.
Few would have been surprised had Liverpool, on the evidence of this season, buckled under the weight of pressure, particularly with the hosts having lately gained a habit for comebacks. However, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate heading relentlessly clear and those in front of them throwing their bodies in the way of Tottenham shots, there was a desire to protect Alisson Becker that hasn’t always been apparent this term.
Look, it was far from a perfect performance. Liverpool at times rode their luck, but such fortune – missing for much of the campaign – was merited here. This was more like the Reds of recent years.
Beating title contenders Manchester City and Tottenham but losing to strugglers Nottingham Forest and Leeds United in the space of the last three weeks neatly surmises the maddening inconsistency that Liverpool will need to eradicate if they are to make significant inroads towards the top four after the World Cup.
If not quite a must-win, the Reds knew this was a game they couldn’t afford to lose. That they earned arguably their most important triumph of the campaign was suffice to light the fire in Klopp once more.
READ NEXT
- Liverpool player ratings as Mohamed Salah and one other superb in win over Tottenham
- Rate the Liverpool players in the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur
- What Tottenham boss Antonio Conte did to Liverpool coach to get yellow card
- Gary Lineker responds to tweet criticising Alexander-Arnold after pen claim
- Liverpool Women player ratings as Jasmine Matthews and two others good against Aston Villa
