Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Three talking points from Anfield

By Rob Meech

Harry Kane’s dramatic 95th-minute penalty rescued a point for Tottenham Hotspur in a pulsating Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

The England striker slotted the ball past Loris Karius after the referee’s assistant had flagged for a foul by Virgil van Dijk on Erik Lamela.

It was a contentious call but Kane, who had missed a spot-kick only minutes earlier, took full advantage to reach the 100-goal mark in England’s top-flight.

Liverpool thought they had won the game when Mohamed Salah netted his second goal of the afternoon, a delicious solo effort, in the first minute of injury time.

It restored their lead after Victor Wanyama had restored parity with an unstoppable thunderbolt just moments after coming on as a second-half substitute.

The upshot is Liverpool leapfrog Chelsea into third, but their advantage over fifth-placed Tottenham remains two points.

Here are three talking points…

Spurs are rewarded for an impressive display

Much has been made of Tottenham’s record against fellow top-six clubs since Mauricio Pochettino took charge, particularly away from home.

They were below-par on their travels against Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal earlier in the campaign, losing all three games with barely a whimper.

This was a different story. Spurs made a tardy start and struggled to assert themselves in the first half. However, the interval came at the right time, after which they were transformed.

Pochettino’s side dominated possession and created more opportunities than the hosts.

In a grandstand finish, it seemed as though they would once again leave empty-handed. That was until Kane had the final say from the spot.

Defeat would have been a huge blow to Tottenham’s Champions League aspirations, but this hard-earned and merited point has kept them in the hunt.

Pochettino’s celebrations upon the final whistle indicated just how big a result this was in the context of the season.

Magical Salah has the Midas touch 

Amid the bizarre denouement, another stunning performance from Salah that culminated in a magical second goal must not be overshadowed.

The Egyptian has been accused by some of being overly one-footed, but when he left is so good why should that matter? It certainly hasn’t done Lionel Messi any harm.

Salah’s first goal, which arrived as early as the third minute, was a trademark finish as he brushed the ball past Hugo Lloris.

It took until added time for him to have another defining impact.

Salah appeared to be surrounded, but with a drop of the shoulder and superb close control, he somehow he weaved his way past three Spurs defenders and chipped the ball over the onrushing Lloris.

As it transpired, it was not to be a match-winning goal. However, Salah now has 21 for the season and was briefly level with Kane at the top of the goalscoring charts before the Spurs marksman’s last-gasp intervention.

Landmark afternoon for hotshot Kane

This fixture had been billed as a battle between Kane and Salah, the two leading scorers in the Premier League.

For all but the last minute of the game, it looked as though the Egypt international would win the bragging rights.

But you can never count out Kane, who showed great composure and courage to score a penalty having seen his previous once saved by Karius, which snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat.

It took Kane to 100 Premier League goals. By doing so in just his 141st appearance, he is the second-quickest player to the milestone, after Alan Shearer.

Comparisons with Shearer have been made for some time and if the 24-year-old maintains his current scoring rate, he will surpass the legendary striker’s total of 260.

Modest as always, Kane is not getting carried away with himself and will be happy to have contributed to an enterprising Tottenham performance.