Firmino goal seals win over Tottenham to extend Reds lead to 16 at the top

A first half goal from Roberto Firmino was enough to hand Liverpool all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium despite late pressure from the home side.

Spurs began the match brightly, looking to lift a crowd which had been less than enthusiastic in recent weeks.

It was Liverpool, however, who should of taken the lead on two minutes but were denied by heroic Davinson Sanchez defending.

Chances for Lucas Moura, Heung-Min Son and Dele Alli then followed as Tottenham looked to avenge that fateful Champions League night in June.

Unfortunately for Jose Mourinho though, they were not going to keep the World Champions quiet.

Long spells in possession seemed destined to create an opener, with the deadly frontline of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino a constant threat.

Virgil van Dijk’s header from a recycled corner was well saved by Paulo Gazzaniga before Liverpool’s pressure finally paid off.

After a contested tackle between Dele Alli and Jordan Henderson, the ball fell to Salah. The Egyptian found Firmino, who opened out his body with his first touch, before burying the ball in the far corner with his second.

It had been just reward for Liverpool for their first half exploits with Tottenham thankful for the break, Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both firing over before the interval as Spurs escaped further damage.

A Lucas Moura run and shot which whistled past Alisson’s right-hand post started the second half as Tottenham failed once again to finish openings against the league leaders.

Then, once again, a Spurs move ended in a shot but Serge Aurier’s effort didn’t trouble the ever-assured Alisson.

An atmosphere, which has alluded Spurs many times this season, was begin to grow as Son’s deflected strike rolled just wide.

Liverpool were not bereft of chances of their own, Andy Robertson’s cross was hastily cleared within the penalty area and Gazzaniga was forced into a good save from a Mane header.

Mourinho decided to add Argentine duo Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso to the game with 20 minutes remaining, the Portuguese boss hoping their work-rate and flair could create openings for his team.

Then came one of two huge chances for the home side to equalise.

After superb work by Lo Celso, the ball eventually found it’s way to Son, who seemed destined to score within the box, only for the South Korean to put the ball over the bar.

Not long after it was 23-year-old Argentine trying to get on the scoresheet himself. A whipped ball in by Serge Aurier passed several in red and white until Lo Celso arrived, his out-stretch foot somehow failing to divert the ball into the seemingly impenetrable Liverpool net.

Lamela proved key in receiving the ball on the turn and driving at the Reds’ backline although his efforts from the edge of the area always seemed destined for the gloves of Liverpool’s Brazilian shot-stopper.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool had chances of their own through substitute Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum but the points were safe as his men record their 20th victory in 21 Premier League games.

Team Lineups

Tottenham XI: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Tanganga, Alderweireld (C), Sanchez, Rose (Lamela, 69) Winks, Eriksen (Lo Celso, 69), Dele, Lucas, Son

Tottenham unused substitutes: Vorm, Vertonghen, Sessegnon, Dier, Skipp, Lamela, Lo Celso

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Lallana, 60) Mane (Origi, 80), Salah (Shaqiri, 90), Firmino

Liverpool unused substitutes: Adrian, Minamino, Lallana, Shaqiri, Origi, Phillips, Williams