Liverpool held on to its chance to win the championship by defeating away team Tottenham 4-2 in round 36 of the Premier League.
Four consecutive losses in the Premier League have left Tottenham’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League purely theoretical. Similarly, despite still being in contention for the title, Liverpool’s chances are slim as they are unlikely to surpass Arsenal and Man City, who are respectively five and four points ahead with only two matches remaining. However, Jurgen Klopp’s team managed to alleviate some pressure by ending a two-game winless streak.
Cody Gakpo (No. 18) scored a header to increase the score to 3-0 for Liverpool against Tottenham, at Anfield, round 36 of the Premier League on May 5, 2024.
Tottenham held possession for 55% of the first half but only managed one shot on target. Meanwhile, the hosts had 14 attempts with numerous dangerous opportunities. Forward Cody Gakpo, playing on the left flank, shone by delivering a cross to the far post for Mohamed Salah to head home, opening the scoring in the 16th minute.
Liverpool wasted chances, so it wasn’t until the end of the first half that they added another goal. Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold crossed from the left side of the penalty area for Andy Robertson to provide a pass across goal for Salah to shoot. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario pushed the ball out, and Robertson, in the right place, rushed in to slot home with his right foot.
Tottenham finished more shots in the first half of the second half (5 compared to 4), but conceded two more goals. In the 50th minute, midfielder Harvey Elliott crossed from the right into the penalty area for Gakpo to jump high and head towards the far corner to score. Seven minutes later, it was Elliott’s turn to score a superb goal with a curling shot into the top corner close to the post from a distance of more than 20 meters.
21-year-old midfielder Harvey Elliott celebrates a superb goal against Tottenham.
Liverpool secured the victory, but it was also when they slipped up and allowed Tottenham to pull back two goals. In the 72nd minute, Brennan Johnson broke down the right, crossed for Richarlison to score with a single touch, beating compatriot Alisson. Five minutes later, Richarlison received the ball inside the box from Oliver Skipp’s cross and laid it off for captain Son Heung-min to shoot into the bottom left corner.
Son became the first player to score in four consecutive Premier League matches at Anfield. However, that was all Tottenham could muster. With a four-game losing streak, Ange Postecoglou’s side is currently in the worst form in the league, only ahead of the bottom team and facing relegation like Sheffield United.
Liverpool also missed the chance to secure a more comfortable victory when Salah placed his shot wide from just 1 meter out in the 79th minute, with the goal almost empty. The Egyptian star hasn’t been at his best this season but still managed to tally 28 goals (18 goals and 10 assists) in 30 appearances in the league.