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London. — Liverpool and Tottenham served up one of the most electrifying Premier League games in recent years in a 2-2 draw which sees Jurgen Klopp’s side drop three points behind leaders Manchester City.
On a weekend where Covid postponements decimated the Premier League programme, fans were treated to a thriller in north London, described by Gary Neville as “one of the best games I’ve ever seen,” an exhilarating contest that resembled a basketball game as both sides went full throttle.
Harry Kane gave Spurs the lead with a clinical finish from Tanguy Ndombele’s excellent through ball (13), one of many clear-cut openings for the hosts in an end-to-end first hour where both Heung-Min Son and Dele Alli missed big openings.
Liverpool’s defence may have looked suspect, but their attack was as blistering as ever, with Diogo Jota levelling with an outstanding header via Andrew Robertson’s cross (35), and few could have complained if the score had been 4-4 at the break as the visitors too spurned big chances.
As well as goalmouth action there was controversy; Liverpool felt Kane should have been sent off for a studs-up challenge on Robertson, but he only saw yellow, while the visitors also wanted a penalty for Emerson Royal’s nudge on Jota at 1-1. Jurgen Klopp was eventually booked for his protestations.
The drama did not stop in the second half — Kane fluffed two major chances in the first 10 minutes — before Liverpool took a controversial lead through Robertson’s header (70), with Spurs claiming Mohamed Salah handballed in the build-up. Spurs did not cower, however, and levelled instantly though Son, who rolled into an empty net after Alisson had inexplicably let a through ball between his legs (74).
The energy then boiled over as Robertson kicked through Emerson near the touchline, at first seeing a yellow that was then upgraded to a red after VAR asked referee Paul Tierney to consult the pitchside monitor (77).
Due to Covid issues, this was Spurs’ first match in a fortnight, while Liverpool were on a six-game winning streak, and amid a concerning feeling across the Premier League as to how many more games will be postponed, both sides served up a much-needed classic.
Meanwhile Guardiola’s side guaranteed top spot at christmas after easy win
Manchester City will be top of the Premier League at Christmas after they breezed past Newcastle 4-0 with Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling scoring the goals.
Newcastle made City’s task far easier than it should have been by gifting them the opening goal — scored by Dias on five minutes — after a comical mix-up between Ciaran Clark and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Cancelo then netted his first Premier League goal of the season on 27 minutes with a rasping drive from the edge of the box. Newcastle had a strong penalty appeal waved away moments later when Ederson wiped out Ryan Fraser but a comeback never looked likely, especially when Mahrez tucked home City’s third on 63 minutes following a VAR review. Sterling added a fourth late on, scoring City’s 11th goal in their last two fixtures.
City have now won 34 Premier League games in 2021, setting a new top-division record for most wins in a calendar year and will top the tree on Christmas Day.
In another match played, Thomas Tuchel’s depleted Chelsea slip further behind in title race amid Covid-19 complaints
Chelsea were left frustrated by a 0-0 draw at Wolves that saw them slip further behind in the Premier League title race.
Daniel Podence’s first-half finish that was ruled out following a VAR check was as close as the game got to a goal with incidents at a minimum in the Molineux fog.
Chelsea pushed and pro bed for the goal but created very little against a resilient Wolves side and the draw means they are now six points adrift of leaders Manchester City.
The build-up to the game had been overshadowed by Chelsea’s failed attempt to get the match postponed because of seven positive Covid-19 cases in the squad.
“It is very hard for us to understand,” Thomas Tuchel told Sky Sports before the match. “We are very concerned about the health of the players.”
Chelsea were at least able to welcome back N’Golo Kante to the starting line-up but with only four outfield substitutes it was clearly not the ideal preparation for the away side.
Wolves fans were eager to see some action, having been waiting almost a month to see their side score at Molineux, and they thought they had found the breakthrough early on. Podence slotted home but the celebrations were cut short when it was ruled out for offside as a result of Raul Jimenez’s attempt to play the ball from Fernando Marcal’s cross.
Chelsea enjoyed lots of possession in the first half but were unable to penetrate a defence that had conceded just two goals in their previous six Premier League games. — skysports.
Online Reporter