Liverpool vs. Tottenham: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Tottenham Hotspur couldn't take advantage of playing a day before Premier League leaders Leicester City, despite battling back to draw 1-1 with Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

Harry Kane equalised Philippe Coutinho's goal in the second half, but second-place Spurs are four points behind the Foxes having played a game more. Tottenham are also now just the same distance in front of north London rivals Arsenal.

Liverpool were missing injured attacking talisman Roberto Firmino, leaving manager Jurgen Klopp relying on the brittle Daniel Sturridge, per the club's official site:

"

Here’s today’s confirmed #LFC team and subs v @SpursOfficial in full… pic.twitter.com/VBYRVmY9Tb

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 2, 2016"

As for Spurs, Son Heung-min was drafted in to provide support for the prolific Kane, per the club:

It was the visitors who began brighter, with Kane always looking a threat to get in behind Liverpool's rather plodding back four.

Soon, though, the half shifted in pattern and the Reds became the dominant force. That meant Tottenham needed goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to be a hero. The French stopper responded brilliantly.

He saved superbly from a deflected effort before denying Sturridge in a one-on-one situation. The former Lyon ace also dove athletically to reject Lallana's scuffed volley.

Squawka detailed just how active Lloris was before the break:

As well as feeling frustrated by Lloris, Liverpool were also angered after being denied a penalty and seeing Coutinho booked for diving. But replays confirmed the decision was correct.

Meanwhile, James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo was left to rue Sturridge's lack of composure when he was presented with his big chance:

A misfiring attack and an inspired Lloris meant the game was still goalless at the start of the second half.

But Spurs upped the ante after the break and might have scored via some neat work between Kane and precocious attacking midfielder Dele Alli. But the latter's unusual back header wasted Kane's smartly chipped ball into the box.

That miss soon proved costly when Sturridge and Coutinho finally got it right in the final third. A swift and clever one-two into the box allowed the latter to side-foot home a very measured finish past the brilliant Lloris.

The goal marked a career first for the mercurial playmaker, according to Squawka:

That same combination nearly worked in reverse moments later, but a falling Sturridge headed over from Coutinho's devilishly whipped cross.

Spurs were rocking, but Liverpool's lack of quality on the break and erratic finishing always kept the visitors in it. It was just after the hour mark when Kane smashed in the equaliser on the turn, following fine work from Christian Eriksen to keep the ball in play.

As WhoScored.com noted, Kane has made a habit of punishing the Reds:

Liverpool responded well to being pegged back and might have gone in front again had someone reached Coutinho's fizzed low ball across the front of goal. Jordan Henderson then thrashed over after Lloris spilled the ball coming to claim a corner.

At the other end, the cerebral Eriksen nearly put Alli in, but Liverpool goalie Simon Mignolet smothered. The chance went begging, but the pass from Eriksen was delicious, while Alli's intelligent run was expertly timed.

The game stayed frantic into the final 10 minutes, when Coutinho should have won it for Liverpool. His shot wrong-footed Lloris but still squirted inches past the post.

But Spurs rued a near miss of their own when Mignolet turned a Moussa Dembele shot behind.

Post-Match Reaction

Perhaps sensing the missed opportunity, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was already calling for favours from elsewhere, per the league's official site:

It's a thought Kane echoed:

Klopp felt his players were their own worst enemies, according to Andy Kelly of the Liverpool Echo:

The draw didn't do much to boost Spurs' title hopes. Tottenham fans will join Pochettino and Kane in hoping Southampton do them a huge favour by upsetting the leaders on Sunday.