Tottenham’s Top-Four Hopes Diminish Further in Defeat to Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur’s downward spiral continued as they faced a significant setback in their quest for a top-four finish in the Premier League, suffering a convincing defeat against Liverpool at Anfield.
With Aston Villa’s loss against Brighton presenting an opportunity for Spurs to make a late surge for Champions League qualification, their hopes dwindled further as they succumbed to a fourth consecutive defeat, unable to halt Liverpool’s resurgence following their own recent struggles.
Mohamed Salah, setting aside his recent touchline altercation with manager Jurgen Klopp during the West Ham match, broke the deadlock with a header from Cody Gakpo’s cross in the 16th minute. Andy Robertson doubled Liverpool’s lead just before halftime after Spurs’ keeper Guglielmo Vicario parried Salah’s initial shot.
Gakpo extended Liverpool’s advantage with a header from Harvey Elliott’s delivery early in the second half, while Elliott himself showcased his skill with a superb curling strike from 20 yards, finding the top corner in the 59th minute.
Despite Liverpool’s commanding lead, a lapse in concentration allowed substitute Richarlison and Son Heung-min to score for Spurs, providing a glimmer of hope.
However, their late efforts were in vain as Tottenham remains seven points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa, albeit with a game in hand.