How the players fared at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League...
Sunday 12 January 2020 07:13, UK
Paulo Gazzaniga - 6
Commanded his area well early on to prevent Liverpool from building up a head of steam and produced a stunning save at point-blank range as Virgil van Dijk's first-half header was clawed away. Had no chance of getting a hand to Roberto Firmino's opener.
Serge Aurier - 5
Cut a disinterested figure that passed up his defensive responsibilities all too often, while his contributions offensively were virtually non-existent by the time fatigue all-but ended his involvement in the game.
Japhet Tanganga - 6
Survived a shaky introduction to Premier League football where he nearly bundled the ball into his own net after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's shot cannoned back off the post. Settled with each passing minute and contained the threat of Sadio Mane but was caught out by Liverpool's multi-layered attack as Roberto Firmino skipped away from him to open the scoring.
Davinson Sanchez - 6
Utilised his pace to bail Spurs out of sticky situations through the duration of the game but struggled to cope with the variation of Mohamed Salah's game on a number of occasions.
Toby Alderweireld - 6
Marshalled an untried Spurs defence from the middle of the back three and can take a small crumb of comfort from the fact Liverpool were restricted to just the one goal.
Danny Rose - 5
Deployed at wing-back with the intention of contributing to attack but found himself constantly pinned back by Liverpool's expansive and industrious attack. Substituted on 69 minutes.
Harry Winks - 5
Overrun in midfield as he tried to keep tabs on Liverpool's front three and tired as the game went on as he become a bystander in both defence and attack.
Christian Eriksen - 5
Sauntered off the field when substituted on 69 minutes, typifying a lethargic performance that never really got going.
Dele Alli - 6
Demanded the ball throughout as he tirelessly tried to keep Spurs ticking over in attack but gradually dropped deeper and deeper where his influence diminished.
Lucas Moura - 6
A willing runner that kept going until the final whistle, which was to be applauded, but never looked capable of giving Alisson or the Liverpool defence anything to worry about.
Heung-min Son - 6
Gave the Liverpool defence the run-around in the opening exchanges but lacked the clinical edge needed to establish a foothold in the game for Spurs as he passed up chance after chance.
Subs
Giovani Lo Celso - 5
Passed up a glorious chance to earn Spurs a point when he somehow fired their best chance wide.
Erik Lamela - 5
Brought on as Jose Mourinho looked to his bench for late inspiration but failed to deliver.
Alisson Becker - 7
Very much untested with both of Tottenham's best chances sent wide of his goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6
Full of energy and desire to join in Liverpool's attacking play without ever neglecting his defensive duties. Squandered a good chance at the start of the second half.
Joe Gomez - 6
Liverpool's most vulnerable cog and far from convincing. Booked for hauling down Moura and let Tottenham in on the hour mark with an inexplicable mistake from Gazzaniga's clearance before receiving a rollicking from his manager following another casual piece of play.
Virgil van Dijk - 7
As always, seemed to be in cruise control and all of Tottenham's best moments came when they bypassed Liverpool's defensive talisman. It has reached a point where you almost wonder whether he wants a more robust challenge. Do you think he missed Harry Kane?
Andrew Robertson - 8
Appetite for the ball and to stretch the game is insatiable. Frequently to the fore as Liverpool exerted their superiority without ever quite managing to find a decisive final ball. A little lucky that the referee missed his silly kick out at Alderweireld.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 6
Back in Liverpool's starting eleven for the first time in almost a month but looked rusty and ultimately didn't take his opportunity to impress. On the fringes even when Liverpool dominated and hauled off after two careless concessions of possession at the start of the second half. Such are the standards that Jurgen Klopp demands from his team.
Jordan Henderson - 8
Performed a vital role in front of Liverpool's defence, combining the function of patrolman and linkman. While there were occasions, particularly late on, when younger legs in the Tottenham team ran away from him, Henderson's value to his team shouldn't be understated.
Georginio Wijnaldum - 8
Did so much of the dirty work on the left-hand side of Liverpool's midfield three as the visitors held sway. His duel with the disappointing Christian Eriksen was a one-sided affair. But almost undermined so much of his and and his team's display when caught on the ball by Winks before Son blasted over.
Roberto Firmino - 8
Architect of his own goal with a sublime first touch, followed by a clinical blast past Gazzaniga. Faded after the interval.
Sadio Mane - 7
For 45 minutes, Mane was excellent. But was largely ineffectual in the second half and failed to make his presence felt. That said, his work-rate and willingness to track back was extraordinary. This is a Liverpool team without ego.
Mohamed Salah - 8
Getting back to his best? Didn't have his shooting boots on, but buzzed around with menace and never gave the Tottenham defence a moment's peace. Ankle injury which hampered his form earlier in the season appears, finally, to be a thing of the past.
Substitutes
Adam Lallana - 7
More influential in his half-hour on the pitch than Oxlade-Chamberlain had been in the previous hour courtesy of his workrate.
Divock Origi - N/A
Only given ten minutes but fashioned two good chances to score during his brief time on the pitch.
Xherdan Shaqiri - N/A
Given a run-out in added-on time.
