The Senegal international tortured Spurs in a first-half display that produced two goals and helped his side rekindle their early season stardust
COMMENT
It couldn’t have been more idyllic even in Jurgen Klopp’s dreams. Liverpool, after a first league win in 2017, summoned their swashbuckling football of last year to completely stun and sever Tottenham in the most stunning way.
The Reds boss had spoken about producing “a performance that will make Anfield smile,” and the home fans were already soaked in euphoria by the 18th minute on Saturday evening as they watched Sadio Mane absolutely torment Spurs.
The Senegal international’s display was one of those opponents pick out as their answer to the ‘toughest player you’ve had to deal with?’ question - he was direct, troublingly quick, determined to win back possession and was dripping with confidence.
His first materialised after Philippe Coutinho nicked the ball off Victor Wanyama in midfield, before Gini Wijnaldum sent a wonderful pass in his direction. He paced past Ben Davies at an angle from the right and lifted high into the net to lift Klopp off the ground.
The German had barely finished celebrating that goal before Mane had stolen the ball off a dithering Eric Dier.
He motored into the area and squared for Adam Lallana, whose effort was thwarted by Hugo Lloris. Roberto Firmino’s follow-up from the rebound was also snuffed out by the Frenchman, before Mane twisted and smacked in a second.
Liverpool kept coming and Spurs could not find the solutions to jar their attacking juggernaut. The contest should have been over by half-time, such was the authority of the hosts, and it was largely thanks to his goalkeeper that Mauricio Pochettino could still salvage his team talk at the interval.
Spurs made more of a fist of it in the second 45, but the damage had long been done and the Reds picked up their first league clean sheet since the New Year’s Eve ousting of Manchester City.
Given the question marks over their defence and the debate as to whether Loris Karius should replace Simon Mignolet, Liverpool’s doggedness at the back would’ve been a welcome sight for Klopp.
The Reds’ form since the turn of the year - their only other victory came in an FA Cup replay at Plymouth Argyle - has rightly courted scathing criticism. But the rush to declare their season over and conclude that the same players, labelled the most exciting in England just three months ago, were no longer any good was premature and flawed.
Klopp’s unwavering belief that his team would ‘find their flow’ again was evidenced in his selection for this fixture. The 49-year-old made just one change to the XI that had been dire in a 2-0 defeat to Hull City last weekend, as Wijnaldum was restored in midfield at the expense of Emre Can.
And, with the fatigue and disruption of nine January games out of the system, Coutinho and Mane having a full week of training to get back to full sharpness following ankle ligament damage and Africa Cup of Nations exertions, plus Tottenham not simply barricaded in front of Lloris, the Merseysiders were back to their scintillating best.
When Liverpool remember their capabilities and have the space in which to showcase it, they are frightening.
Klopp’s pre-match verdict had been accurate. “The boys are still really good players,” he reminded. “I am still an absolutely okay manager. That didn’t change because of a few bad results.”
Liverpool must now ensure those off-days are in the past as they push to finish the season as strong as possible, with Champions League football secured.
