ONLY Tottenham could come from three goals down after 15 minutes, net an equaliser deep into injury-time, and still lose the game.
Richarlison thought he had sealed a truly phenomenal comeback when heading home his first Premier League goal for Spurs in the 93rd minute to make it 3-3.
Yet seconds later, fellow sub Diogo Jota struck at the other end of the pitch to break Spurs’ hearts.
It was a truly bonkers afternoon that for all the amazing goalmouth entertainment showed how both sides are shadows of the ones that contested the Champions League final four years ago.
Spurs’ players will have been bracing themselves for another whip-round to refund supporters after a quarter of an hour here, when quickfire goals from Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz, plus a Mo Salah penalty, put Liverpool 3-0 up.
It was arguably just as bad, if not numerically so, as Newcastle away last week when they shipped five after 21 minutes and the squad ended up reimbursing their poor travelling fans.
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By the 93rd minute, Tottenham’s team suddenly looked amazing value for money as they struck back through Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Richarlison.
But Jota ensured Ryan Mason’s side, for all their fight after their horrendous start, still had that familiar sinking feeling come full time.
Chairman Daniel Levy watched on as the away fans sang songs once again urging him to quit and for their money back after the shocking first 15.
Some Spurs supporters even walked out of Anfield at that point, no doubt fearing another cricket score after their terrorising on Tyneside.
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What they missed was one of the games of the season – though they will console themselves with the fact they did not have to witness Jota’s dagger to the heart.
Ryan Mason, the interim who replaced the interim after caretaker chief Cristian Stellini was axed for the shellacking at Newcastle, must have felt all kinds of emotions after what his side had gone through.
The stark fact is though they are down to sixth, level on points with Aston Villa, and only two ahead of in-form Brighton who have three games in hand.
There is a distinct possibility Tottenham will not qualify for Europe at all this season.
Whereas Liverpool – where Eurovision will be held in May – have football on the continent very much in their sights after four successive victories.
This win, as unconvincing as it was in totality, lifted them up to fifth in the league, though a top-four spot looks surely out of reach with Newcastle and Manchester United too far ahead.
Ex-Liverpool and Spurs man Graeme Souness on punditry said this game provided an opportunity for players to fight for their club futures.
For Tottenham, he meant pretty much all of them given the way their season has collapsed.
For the hosts, the Scot was talking more specifically about young midfielders Jones and Harvey Elliott, given the centre of the park is where Liverpool so obviously need reinforcement.
But England Under-21 man Jones showed just why he deserves to be part of the future at Anfield with the opener inside three minutes, carefully firing home a controlled volley inside three minutes after ghosting in behind Pedro Porro.
The academy product was teed up by fellow local lad Trent Alexander-Arnold, taking his Premier League assist tally to SIX for April.
That compares to just three before then all season for the ultra-creative full-back, who has been stepping into midfield more this month as Jurgen Klopp looked to follow Manchester City’s lead to reverse his side’s fortunes.
It was a nightmare start for Mason – and it got even worse two minutes later.
Diaz was surprisingly handed his first start since October having finally recovered from a serious knee injury.
The Colombian, who Spurs tried to buy in January 2022 only to be beaten to his signature by Liverpool, brilliantly diverted a volley in at the near post after Cody Gakpo had cut it back.
Cristian Romero got nowhere near Diaz and it was the Argentine World Cup winner who was at fault again for the third as he senselessly felled Gakpo in the area.
Salah had missed his last two spot-kicks but made no mistake this time, clipping it down the middle.
It took the Egyptian king to 184 Liverpool goals on what was his 300th appearance, moving him one clear of Robbie Fowler’s Reds haul.
His strike sparked an exodus from a number of Spurs fans, with Gary Neville on commentary joking that Spurs’ players should set up a direct debit to reimburse them again after their Geordie horrorshow.
At that point you feared another cricket score but then this Liverpool side have their own failings too, with Klopp admitting a rebuild is needed in the summer.
Their frailties showed when Spurs netted one and perhaps could have had two more before the break.
Dejan Kulusevski could have scored, Son should have scored and the reliable Kane finally did score as he buried Ivan Perisic’s excellent cross.
It took the England captain to 25 Premier League goals for the season and 208 overall – level with Wayne Rooney.
And it left the away fans – those that did stay, at least – with a weird sense of optimism going into the second half.
The visitors were a whisker away from reducing the deficit further after it with Son and Romero both hitting the woodwork.
That pair combined with 13 minutes to go though as Romero clipped a ball through to Son who fired past Alisson to make for an intriguing finish.
A nervy Liverpool were lucky not to go down to ten men too when sub Diogo Jota caught Oliver Skipp with a high boot that left the Spurs man bleeding from the head.
The hosts breathed a sigh of relief when Richarlison was denied a penalty when Ibrahima Konate held him back.
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But the Brazilian still had time to head home what he thought was a point-saver as he converted Son’s free-kick before ripping off his shirt and leaping into the crowd in celebration.
Yet there was still to be another sting in the tail, as Jota kept his cool to fire past Fraser Forster, erupt Anfield and leave Spurs devastated once again.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
