Richarlison Rescues Tottenham at the Death against Liverpool
· Yahoo Sports
Former Evertonian Richarlison netted on the 89th-minute to rescue a vital point for Tottenham after Liverpool failed to hold onto the lead created by Dominik Szoboszlai’s 18th-minute free-kick.
As It Happened
Spurs started brighter than expected with Dominic Solanke and Richarlison combining well on 11 minutes to get in behind the Liverpool defence, although nothing came from their good work. Moments later, Souza stung the gloves of Allison with a searing effort from distance.
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But it was the hosts who opened the scoring as the sight of Szobozslai standing over a free-kick was enough to strike fear into Guglielmo Vicario that he allowed the deadball to fly past him, seemingly unable to sort his feet in time to produce a dive effective to stop the effort. Another mistake in a tough season for Spurs’ number one.
Liverpool were firmly in the driving seat after the goal. Florian Wirtz and Rio Ngumoha combined well in short succession but could not produce a shot to trouble Vicario, with Ngumoah running out of space after Wirtz’s chip behind the defense had found him and then having his shot blocked.
The Reds’ hit the post ten minutes before half-time as Cody Gakpo smashed the upright after Richarlison lost possession.
The visitors had two chances to level before the interval as Richarlison met Mathys Tel’s cross but his header landed on the wrong side of the post. They combined again as the Brazilian saw a header saved by Allisson after Tel had found him from a corner.
Ngumoha continued his impressive first Premier League start in the second half, rounding Pedro Porro before going down under a challenge from Souza in the box, although Chris Kavanagh deemed there was not enough contact for a penalty. Soon after, he tested Vicario by latching onto Frimpong’s cross, cutting back, and curling his shot wide of the post. The youngster then tried from range, but his effort was comfortably saved by the Spurs’ goalkeeper.
Richarlison got on the wrong side of Virgil Van Dijk on 54 minutes but was unable to guide his shot past Allison. 13 minutes later, he forced the goalkeeper into action again with a snapshot from outside the box that was saved by his compatriot.
Archie Gray produced a brilliant cross on the 78th minute that Richarlison came close to connecting with, however, it went sailing past the post, begging to have even the slightest touches that could have directed it goalwards.
Richarlison’s resistance paid off in the 89th minute as he swept Randal Kolo Muani’s pass past Allison to silence the Anfield crowd and give Tottenham a crucial point.