Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham: Late Firmino header puts champions top

Liverpool, December 17: Roberto Firmino's late header put Liverpool top of the Premier League table as Tottenham were beaten 2-1 at Anfield.

Results | Points Table | Fixtures

Son Heung-min's contentious first-half equaliser looked to have kept Spurs at the summit on goal difference after Mohamed Salah's 14th goal of the season put the champions in front.

Firmino rose to head home Andy Robertson's corner in the 90th minute to dramatically win it, though, and put the Reds three points clear of Jose Mourinho's side.

Spurs felt Firmino's goal should have been ruled out for a foul by Jordan Henderson on Eric Dier when Robertson's delivery came in, but Spurs' 11-match unbeaten run in the top flight came to a halt.

Both teams struck the woodwork through Steven Bergwijn and Sadio Mane in the second half before Firmino won it.

GET IN!!

BIG WIN, REDS!! 🔴

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 16, 2020

Liverpool started with great intensity after an emotional minute's applause for late former boss Gerard Houllier and an unmarked Firmino's downward header was saved by Hugo Lloris.

Salah shot straight at Lloris after the ball struck Dier on the arm in the penalty area but no spot-kick was awarded before the Egypt forward opened the scoring with a shot that deflected in off Toby Alderweireld after 26 minutes.

The Reds were dominant but Spurs levelled against the run of play seven minutes later, Son taking Giovani Lo Celso's pass and finishing clinically, then breathing a sigh of relief after the goal was awarded following a VAR check.

Bergwijn missed a great chance to put Spurs in front just after the break, shooting wide of the far post following a lapse from teenage defender Rhys Williams - making his Premier League debut.

Alisson spared his own blushes when he tipped away Harry Kane's attempted lob after the Spurs captain intercepted his sloppy pass in a bright start to the second half from the London club.

Bergwijn's measured shot struck the post after Son nodded on to put the Netherlands international clear and Kane headed over the crossbar when he ought to have scored from close range.

Liverpool almost responded when Mane turned sharply and saw his deflected left-foot strike hit the top of the bar, but Firmino secured all three points with a bullet header and Spurs' protests were waved away as they lost top spot.

What does it mean? Spurs pay the price at fortress Anfield

Liverpool have now won seven out of seven in the Premier League at Anfield, where they are unbeaten in 66 top-flight matches.

Despite being without a host of key players, the Reds are looking ominous and were much more like the team that stormed to the title last season after not being at their best in a draw at Fulham last weekend.

Spurs felt aggrieved by Firmino's winner, but if they had taken at least one of the great chances they created in the second half their long unbeaten run in the Premier League would not have come to an end.

Jones masterful in midfield

Teenage midfielder Curtis Jones was outstanding for the Reds in the middle of the park.

The 19-year-old was intelligent with his movement off the ball, drifting into space and brimming with confidence on the ball, finding his man with all but seven of his 113 passes.

He made a game-high 87 of those passes in the Spurs half, also having three shots and winning 80 per cent of his aerial duals.

What might have been for wasteful Bergwijn

Bergwijn came agonisingly close to putting Tottenham in front when he hit the outside of the post and also missed a glorious opportunity right at the start of the second half

It was not the Netherlands international's night, as he did not provide a single key pass and also and his only cross did not find the intended target.

What's next?

The champions will have a spring in their step when they head to the capital to face Crystal Palace on Saturday (December 19), while Spurs are home to Leicester City the following day.