Liverpool Silence Mourinho & Spurs To Move 16 Points Clear
12 January, 2020
Result: Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Liverpool
Date: 11 January 2020
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Liverpool moved 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory over Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur in North London on Saturday night.
Jose Mourinho surprised many by handing a Premier League debut to 20-year-old defender Japhet Tanganga as Jan Vertonghen was dropped to the bench, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced James Milner for the visits.
Spurs' league debutant was called into action inside the opening two minutes to clear Roberto Firmino's goal-bound effort away, before the Reds attacker hit the upright on the rebound.
While Spurs were unable to carve out an opening, the visitors went close to breaking the deadlock on 20 minutes through Virgil van Dijk, who saw his header saved by Paulo Gazzaniga.
Liverpool's pressure eventually paid off in the 37th minute as Mohamed Salah teed up Firmino who skillfully skipped past Tanganga before drilling the ball past Gazzaniga.
The Reds picked up from where they left off in the first half, as Gazzaniga was called upon to produced a superb one-handed save to keep out Sadio Mane's header at the far post.
The hosts should have restored parity with 15 minutes remaining when Heung-min Son was left un-marked at the back post, but the South Korean blazed over the crossbar as frustration began to grow.
Harry Kane's absence was certainly felt as another chance was wasted in the final five minutes as Le Celso somehow fired wide from six-yards out with only Alisson Becker to beat.
In the end, the European champions were able to hold till the final whistle to claim their 20th league of the campaign to move 16 points clear of second-place Leicester City.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za