Richarlison scored a 90th-minute equaliser as Tottenham stunned Anfield to draw 1-1 with Liverpool as Igor Tudor finally stopped the rot in dramatic fashion.
When Guglielmo Vicario, the goalkeeper recalled after Antonin Kinsky’s nightmare in Spain, contrived to let in Dominik Szoboszlai’s first-half free-kick, Spurs were facing a seventh straight defeat in all competitions – and a fifth since Tudor took over.
But Arne Slot’s side failed to press home their advantage in the second half, Richarlison having four chances before he finally did level it in the final minute of the 90. The result means Spurs are one point above the drop zone. Liverpool are fifth, below Aston Villa.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Dominik Szoboszlai puts Liverpool ahead as Jamie Carragher has harsh words for Guglielmo Vicario
Tudor’s team show some fight
There was an expectation that Tudor’s time was up when Tottenham capitulated against Atletico Madrid in midweek but this was a spirited showing from a depleted side that few had fancied could possibly come up with anything at Anfield. Spurs showed fight.
Without over a dozen first-team players, Tottenham had seen relegation rivals West Ham, Leeds and Nottingham Forest all pick up draws to leave them outside of the relegation zone only by goal difference at kick-off. The pressure was on but they battled.
The home game against Forest next week remains massive for the prospects of retaining their Premier League status but for the first time in a long time there is a little evidence that Spurs are prepared to scrap to stay in this. Supporters will take that right now.
Tudor: Team spirit was amazing
Tottenham head coach Igor Tudor speaking to Sky Sports:
“We showed the spirit, the team spirit.
“This moment is really strange but I said to the players it is even more challenging to show who we are as players, as a team. At this moment, it is really difficult to work on any kind of structure in attack, so we had to simplify it.
“The team spirit was amazing, they were very honest to give everything they had in this particular moment. This was the demand. And then the quality is there.
“Every point is crucial, every point counts. We go game by game.”
What went wrong for Liverpool?
Szoboszlai’s fourth free-kick goal of the Premier League season, a Liverpool record, had put Slot’s side in position to bury an opponent low on confidence. Rio Ngumoha was certainly in the mood on his first Premier League start, but Liverpool did not finish it.
Richarlison had warned them, scoring with his fifth shot of the game – more than any other player. Randal Kolo Muani outmuscled Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk to set up the chance, another damning reflection of Liverpool’s defending.
They allowed the opposition back in and paid the price, a feature of their title defence. Liverpool had lost their previous game in the competition against bottom club Wolves but this was in front of their own fans, who booed at the full-time whistle.
Awful by Liverpool, says Carragher
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher at Anfield:
“It was an awful performance. No disrespect to Tottenham but they are the worst team in the Premier League now, probably for the last couple of months. They are exactly who you want to play, playing at home, the incentive of your results this weekend and to put in performance like that. But it’s been like that all season.
“And the big question on everybody’s lips – is that down to the manager or the makeup of the squad? Could a new manager completely revitalise these type of players and bring that energy and sort of intensity back into this team? I’m not sure.
“I think a lot of it goes back to what happened in the summer, the profile of the players that came in, and there’s just too many players who just want to play when the ball’s at their feet. They don’t want to dig in and make it difficult. That’s why it’s so easy to play against this Liverpool team.”
