A strange topsy-turvy week for the Reds, making unnecessarily hard work of seeing off weak opposition standing in their way of a third Champions League final in five years, but eventually getting the job done, coming from two down to beat Villarreal 3-2 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate; then failing to pile pressure on Manchester City – who exited the Champions League the following evening in heartbreaking and exhausting fashion against Real Madrid – by putting in a below par performance against an obtuse Tottenham side, only managing a draw against the North Londoners.
In fact, Liverpool’s performance against Spurs was so nervous and rushed that the Reds were lucky to come away with a point.
Antonio Conte’s team held its own in the first half, soaking up Liverpool pressure without conceding many chances and taking the lead on 58 minutes after some smart play down the Liverpool right between Harry Kane and Ryan Sessegnon ended with Son Heung-Min tapping the ball into the Liverpool net from four yards out.
A fluke, deflected goal from a Luis Diaz shot put Liverpool level on 74 minutes but Tottenham – despite needing three points to challenge Arsenal for the fourth Champions League spot and looking like they had the wherewithal to overcome the Reds – resorted to feigning injury and other time-wasting tactics seemingly satisfied with the one point and thwarting Liverpool’s title challenge.
This self-defeating approach may have allowed Tottenham fans to gloat that they had a decisive impact on the destination of the league title but it will probably result in Spurs playing in the Europa League next season. Arsenal’s defeat of Leeds 2-1 today means the Gunners are now four points ahead of their bitterest rivals and they can go into next Thursday’s North London derby knowing they can afford to lose to Spurs and still be in command of their destiny in the fight for fourth.
As for Liverpool, dropping points to Tottenham would’ve revived Man City spirits as they looked to recover from the shock of being knocked out of the Champions League so dramatically by Real Madrid.
And, indeed, Pep Guardiola’s men took full advantage of Liverpool’s slip up yesterday by hammering Newcastle 5-0 at the Etihad, to go three points and four goals in goal difference ahead of Liverpool.
To win to the title, Jurgen Klopp’s men now require a small miracle, involving Man City dropping at least three points – in games against West Ham, Wolves and Aston Villa – and Liverpool winning the rest of their games, against Aston Villa, Southampton and Wolves. It looks unlikely, if not desperate.
Still, Liverpool have two finals to look forward to in their pursuit of silverware: the FA Cup final against an out-of-form Chelsea next Saturday at Wembley, while on the 28 May in Paris, Liverpool will play Real Madrid and hope to win their seventh European Cup and gain revenge for Los Blancos having humiliated Liverpool at the same stage in 2018.
Antonio Conte’s team held its own in the first half, soaking up Liverpool pressure without conceding many chances and taking the lead on 58 minutes after some smart play down the Liverpool right between Harry Kane and Ryan Sessegnon ended with Son Heung-Min tapping the ball into the Liverpool net from four yards out.
A fluke, deflected goal from a Luis Diaz shot put Liverpool level on 74 minutes but Tottenham – despite needing three points to challenge Arsenal for the fourth Champions League spot and looking like they had the wherewithal to overcome the Reds – resorted to feigning injury and other time-wasting tactics seemingly satisfied with the one point and thwarting Liverpool’s title challenge.
This self-defeating approach may have allowed Tottenham fans to gloat that they had a decisive impact on the destination of the league title but it will probably result in Spurs playing in the Europa League next season. Arsenal’s defeat of Leeds 2-1 today means the Gunners are now four points ahead of their bitterest rivals and they can go into next Thursday’s North London derby knowing they can afford to lose to Spurs and still be in command of their destiny in the fight for fourth.
As for Liverpool, dropping points to Tottenham would’ve revived Man City spirits as they looked to recover from the shock of being knocked out of the Champions League so dramatically by Real Madrid.
And, indeed, Pep Guardiola’s men took full advantage of Liverpool’s slip up yesterday by hammering Newcastle 5-0 at the Etihad, to go three points and four goals in goal difference ahead of Liverpool.
To win to the title, Jurgen Klopp’s men now require a small miracle, involving Man City dropping at least three points – in games against West Ham, Wolves and Aston Villa – and Liverpool winning the rest of their games, against Aston Villa, Southampton and Wolves. It looks unlikely, if not desperate.
Still, Liverpool have two finals to look forward to in their pursuit of silverware: the FA Cup final against an out-of-form Chelsea next Saturday at Wembley, while on the 28 May in Paris, Liverpool will play Real Madrid and hope to win their seventh European Cup and gain revenge for Los Blancos having humiliated Liverpool at the same stage in 2018.
