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

Tottenham Hotspur prevented Liverpool from making it two north London wins out of two in the 2016/17 Premier League season, as they came from behind to draw 1-1 at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

James Milner converted from the penalty spot just before half-time to give the Reds a deserved lead, but Danny Rose found an equaliser for Spurs in the second half.

Both sides head into the international break with just one league win out of three games this term.

In a pulsating first half, Liverpool set about frustrating their hosts by pressing high up the pitch and giving them no time on the ball, and the plan worked perfectly.

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Mauricio Pochettino’s men didn’t have their usual cutting edge, with Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela failing to cause the visitors any real problems.

Instead, it was Liverpool who had the best chance to take the lead through Philippe Coutinho after just four minutes.

Roberto Firmino found way too much space inside the Tottenham box before squaring for his compatriot, who was seven yards out. But the resulting effort was brilliantly saved by Michel Vorm in the Tottenham goal.

Coutinho decided to go low and hard, and the former Swansea City stopper stuck out a leg to keep the scores level. Bookmaker Coral was one of many praising the Tottenham goalkeeper via Twitter:

The game rather died down after the frantic start, with Mane running through on goal only to be twice thwarted by sweeper-keeper Vorm the only real highlights of the first 40 minutes.

But Liverpool then got the break their tactical excellence deserved.

Firmino opened up his legs on the left flank and ghosted past Lamela, who just caught him inside the penalty area. Referee Bobby Madley had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Milner took responsibility from 12 yards, and he kept a cool head, sending Vorm the wrong way and giving his side a deserved 1-0 lead.

The Yorkshireman's name on a scoresheet is something of a good omen in the Premier League, too, as Bleacher Report UK revealed none of his sides have ever lost when he’s converted:

Liverpool came out for the second half as they started the first. Spurs weren’t getting an inch and were being forced to defend.

And the Reds came perilously close to getting their reward with 55 minutes on the clock.

Georginio Wijnaldum slipped in Adam Lallana behind the Tottenham back line, and the England man squared for Mane to tap home and double the Reds’ lead.

Everyone in White Hart Lane thought it was 2-0, including the rather animated Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, but Lallana was adjudged to have been offside. It was incredibly tight, though, as demonstrated by beIN Sports:

Spurs were being limited to half-chances as the clock ticked away in the second half, with Toby Alderweireld and Lamela both testing Simon Mignolet's reflexes.

In truth, Tottenham never looked like scoring, but they somehow found a breakthrough with just under 20 minutes to go through an unlikely source.

Rose found space at the back post following an Eric Dier cross, and he managed to keep his composure and slide the ball under the onrushing Mignolet to equalise.

Both sides pressed for winners in the closing stages, but neither could find a breakthrough, meaning the two teams shared the spoils.

Liverpool were dealt a crushing blow last time out in the league, courtesy of a 2-0 loss away at Burnley, but the way they composed themselves at White Hart Lane was admirable indeed.

Spurs are one of the most dangerous sides in the division, yet they looked ordinary from the offset.

Both sides face tricky-looking fixtures when they return from the international break, with Tottenham travelling to Stoke City and Liverpool welcoming champions Leicester City to Anfield.

Reaction

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Following the match, Tottenham goalscorer Rose told Sky Sports that a draw was a fair result (via BBC Sport):

"

A draw was probably the fair result. In the first half Michel Vorm was probably our man of match, he made great saves but I thought we played a lot better in the second half. For the goal I took a gamble but didn’t want to go forward too much because the pace of Mane is frightening. I think I shanked it but it went in and they all count.

"

Klopp, however, didn’t appear particularly content with a point, as he hinted to Match of the Day (via BBC Sport) that he believed Liverpool did enough to earn all three points:

"

When you take a point at Tottenham for 99 per cent of teams it would be a good thing but today we saw the game different. We played a very good away game against a very strong side. It was our first real mistake and it was a goal so that is not really fair. We showed we can be good. We played football and defended really good. It doesn’t feel too brilliant at the moment.

"