For 65 minutes, it was the typical Klopp Liverpool performance away to a big team. Liverpool hassled and harried and flew forward in transition. Saido Mane continued his blistering start to the season and the one goal Liverpool lead by scarcely told the story of their dominance.
It’s interesting to see Liverpool’s comfort when they don’t need to dominate possession in games like these. The likes of Jordan Henderson for example is far happier playing the scuttling midfielder role than he is trying to be Diet Pirlo.
For Tottenham, it was a stuttering performance that asked more questions than it answered. Tottenham do not look anywhere near as powerful a team with two defensive midfielders stationed ahead of their back four and one suspects Mauricio Pochettino will have to jettison one from his starting eleven.
There was also the curious case of Harry Kane. A thrilling direct centre-forward, Pochettino crow-barred him into the number 10 role early on here and Kane never looked comfortable. New signing Vincent Jansen isn’t up to speed yet and Tottenham may be best served by going back to what worked last season.
Tottenham
Micheal Vorm - 8
Good point blank save early from Coutinho and denied Mane twice with two desperate sliding tackles
Kyle Walker - 5
Forced off through injury after 27 minutes
Jan Vertonghen - 6
Struggled early as Liverpool pressed, he found the inter-changing Liverpool front three a tough task in the first half. He coped a little better after the interval
Toby Alderweireld - 6
There were few trademark swept passes from the Belgian as he tried to dose the Liverpool fire. Grew into the game.
Danny Rose - 7
Had his hands full with the all action Mane but stuck to his task and was rewarded with the leveller.
Victor Wanyama - 5
Tried to fight the various fires the Liverpool started in the first half but you wonder why Mauricio Pochettino felt he needed him this summer. A dutiful runner but little else, Moussa Dembele will surely consign him to the bench soon.
Eric Dier - 6
Moved to right back after Walker’s injury, he coped admirably with the change. You can’t help but feel he’d be happier as a single DM.
Erik Lamela - 5
A typical Lamela performance. He was full of running and developed promising situations before he invariably took the wrong option. Unluckily conceded the first half penalty, his running didn’t cease in the second half
Christian Eriksen - 5
Drifted in and out of the game and struggled to find any real end product
Dele Alli - 6
Parachuted into central midfield in the first half as Liverpool dominated, this was a slow burning performance from the England starlet.
Harry Kane - 5
Made his presence felt early on Lovern but shunted into the number 10 role after the introduction of Vincent Jansen. Why Pochettino wants to turn the best centre forward in the league last season into a bumbling playmaker is anyone’s guess (Subbed 82’)
Vincent Janssen (Sub 27) - 4
Looks a physical presence but struggled to cause Liverpool’s centre-half’s any real discomfort.
Josh Onomoah (Sub 82’) – 5
No real impact
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet - 6
Very little to do before Rose’s equaliser.
Nathaniel Clyne - 7
A typically busy performance from Liverpool’s right back.
Joel Matip - 7
He was nervous early but settled into the role. Looks a rangy presence. Grazed the bar with a header early in the second half and made some excellent interventions as Tottenham pressed. A promising debut
Dejen Lovren - 7
The Croat grew into the game and was mostly untroubled. Promising signs of a partnership with Matip
James Milner - 6
Will never be more than a stand in at left back – but a slotted home a penalty and played his part
Adam Lallana - 6
Worked hard throughout but one of Liverpool’s lesser lights. Struggled late on as Spurs searched for a winner
Jordan Henderson - 6
Full of running as always, the defensive midfielder role suits him far better when Liverpool don’t dominate possession
Georginio Wijnaldum - 6
Flashed a shot over early in the second half, he was tidy without ever being eye catching.
Sadio Mane - 8
Full of menace early on as Liverpool dominated. Should have seen red for a second bookable offence on Danny Rose soon after, he was the best player on the pitch in the first half and continued to be a threat in the second
Roberto Firmino - 7
The quietest of Liverpool’s attacking trident in the first half, the Brazilian still managed to win the penalty that gave Liverpool the lead. Is he really a better option than Daniel Sturridge though?
Philippe Coutinho - 7
Missed a big chance early on, but a constant threat throughout. Replaced by Origi with twenty minutes to go
Divock Origi - 5
No real impact
Daniel Sturridge (Sub 88')
N/A
