Mo Salah’s return to centre-stage was welcome and the Egyptian King didn’t let anyone down with a goal and two assists in a thrilling penultimate game at Anfield for Jurgen Klopp.
But having led 4-0 against shambolic opposition displaying the worst aspects of Ange-ball, it was Liverpool who then suffered late jitters by conceding twice and anxious about the mother of all comebacks.
The conclusion at full-time is that both sets of entertainers have huge vulnerabilities that need to be fixed.
Nothing is yet mathematically certain but all the evidence was presented why Liverpool will not be this season’s Premier League champions and Tottenham will not be in the Champions League.
Even so, the sight of Salah in full flow, determined to help give Klopp a deserving farewell, was the main takeaway for the thousands who created a fantastic atmosphere on The Kop.
Mohamed Salah put his spat with Jurgen Klopp behind him to score Liverpool’s opening goal
Harvey Elliott scored an absolute screamer to put the Reds four-goals up at Anfield
Despite a late rally, the final result was another setback for Ange Postecoglou and Spurs
There was a sadness in seeing the two Liverpool titans, manager and star player, at each other’s throats a week ago at West Ham.
Neither man deserves their relationship issues to overshadow the closing of a glorious era, and it won’t.
Klopp had the maturity to reinstate Salah to the starting line-up. The player justified the decision from the opening minute, giving Spurs left-back Emerson Royal the most torrid of his 100 Premier League appearances.
It was almost merciful when Ange Postecoglu removed the defender as part of a triple-change after 61 minutes.
Spurs certainly showed character in the final half-hour but that doesn’t gloss over the way in which they had earlier capitulated to a fourth consecutive defeat – their worst run since 2004.
The obsession with playing out from the back, even when their defenders looked uncomfortable and Liverpool pressed like demons, got them into repeated trouble.
Goalkeeper Gugliemo Vicario remonstrated with his defenders after conceding a second goal on the stroke of half-time. Worse was to come when Cristian Romero and Emerson clashed at the interval with the Argentine hard-man grabbing his team-mate before Vicario separated them.
That “clear the air” approach didn’t have any immediate benefits. Spurs allowed Liverpool to quickly score twice more and it was only the later arrival of Richarlison that genuinely altered the match flow.
‘A hugely disappointing outcome. There probably is a lack of confidence,’ conceded Postecoglu who was the original pick of some Liverpool fans to replace Klopp.
On the public friction between his players, Postecoglu added: ‘Because they care, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.’
Klopp acknowledged his side’s inconsistency within the 90 minutes: ‘We were outstanding until we were not good,’ he said.
Spurs had learned in the dressing-room before kick-off of Aston Villa’s defeat at Brighton but any hope it would give them a morale boost in their top-four race proved bogus.
Instead, it was Liverpool inspired by Salah’s presence.
Social media had blamed the player for his spat with Klopp but Anfield was clearly keen to move on and gave Salah’s name an extra-loud cheer when it was read out before kick-off.
Klopp and Salah had clashed during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against West Ham last week
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s (left) cross to Andy Robertson (right) saw the Reds get their second
It is now four defeats in a row for Tottenham, with a superb start to their season fizzling out
Cody Gakpo and Elliott both got second half goals to compound more misery on the visitors
He didn’t take long to have an impact. An impudent cross-shot with the outside of his boot thudded against the crossbar and a run down his favoured right-channel ended with a good save by Vicario with Romero hacking Harvey Elliott’s rebound off the line.
It was no surprise Liverpool struck after 18 minutes. Cody Gakpo crossed to the far post where Salah had lost marker Emerson, allowing him to head home from close range.
On TV, Gary Neville made the point: “That’s Salah’s 18th league goal of the season. It’s a hell of a stat, hitting those numbers when people say he’s not having a good season.”
With their title hopes effectively over, Liverpool played with a freedom which suited the late-afternoon sunshine.
The busy Vicario saved from Harvey Elliott, Gakpo and Luis Diaz, who also went close with an acrobatic volley.
Spurs, with chief creator James Maddison on the bench, couldn’t string two passes together. That was particularly worrying given the amount of times they tried to keep possession in their final third – and couldn’t.
The inevitable second goal arrived on the stroke of half-time.
Vicario once again performed miracles to keep out Salah’s shot from point-blank range but the ball fell kindly to the incoming Robertson who tapped in from close range.
If Postecoglu was hoping a dressing-room chat would help, it didn’t. After 48 minutes, Emerson was so busy concentrating on Salah he allowed Elliott to dispossess him.
Elliott curled a beautiful cross towards the penalty area and Gakpo was able to hang in the air Michael Jordan-style to head in.
When Salah set up Elliott to score the best goal of the game after 59 minutes to make it 4-0 – the youngster hitting the top corner postage stamp from 25 yards – a dismayed Postecoglu made a triple change.
Klopp received huge roars from the crowd at full-time after his penultimate match at Anfield
Elliott’s sublime strike from outside the box went in the top corner of Guglielmo Vicario’s net
Richarlison and Son Heung-min’s late goals halved the deficit, but the damage was done
Remarkably, it altered the party mood at Anfield quite dramatically. Richarlison seemed to enjoy being villainised for being a former Evertonian and put Spurs on the board with a neat sidefoot finish from Brennan Johnson’s cross after 72 minutes.
Five minutes later, the Brazilian stayed onside to tee up Son who clipped his finish over Allison.
Anfield was suddenly anxious. Salah missed a golden chance from three yards to make the game safe and there were audible groans when seven minutes added time was signalled.
Alisson made a couple of saves and Joe Gomez had to be alert to clear after Maddison wriggled into the penalty area on a slalom run.
The over-riding emotion at full-time was relief. Both for the victory and the fact they’ll be able to salute both Klopp and Salah instead of being forced to choose sides. Not that the manager will concede having any favourites. Asked about his enthusiastic reaction to Elliott’s strike, he responded: ‘I smiled at all the scorers!’
