Premier League 2. First Division 2016-17
                 Anfield, Liverpool .
           Sunday 5th February 2017, 1pm.

              LIVERPOOL   v    SPURS
              (All Red)     (White/Blue)
               4-2-3-1         4-1-4-1

                 3(1)           2(2)

           Kamil Grabara  1  Thomas Glover
  Trent Alexander-Arnold  2  Kyle Walker-Peters
          Connor Randall  3  Joseph Muscatt
               Joe Gomez  4  Luke Amos
            Corey Whelan  5  Filip Lesniak(C)
           Kevin Stewart  6  Cameron Carter-Vickers
         Harry Wilson(C)  7  Marcus Edwards
          Matthew Virtue  8  Joshua Onomah
          Rhian Brewster  9  Shilow Tracey
            Ben Woodburn 10  William Miller
               Sheyi Ojo 11  Nathan Oduwa

         Jordan Williams 12  Christian Maghoma
               (8)81Mins
       Caoimhin Kelleher 13  Tom McDermott
             Paulo Alves 14  Cy Goddard
                             (8)89Mins
                Sam Hart 15  Joseph Pritchard
                             (7)58Mins
              Toni Gomes 16  George Marsh
                             (10)57Mins

Scorers:-
    Wilson 27 (pen)   Miller 18
    Ojo 47                   Edwards 26
    Stewart 81

Booked:-
    Stewart 77(Holding)      Marsh 74(Late)

Coaches:-
    M. Garrity               U. Ehiogu

Attendance:- 1467

Referee:– A. Miller
Assistants:- R. Walsh & P. Brown
Fourth Official:– T. Parsons

Spurs travelled to Liverpool on the back of a good 3-1 win over Southampton to face the "Reds" who drew 0-0 wth Sunderland in their last game to keep them in third position in the league. It was an overcast afternoon that saw the sun break through during the second half at Anfield. The game was to be played at Prenton Park before switching to Anfield where the press box was in the main stand that has been updated for this season. (Ed:- and very nice it looks too!) Last season Spurs were beaten 2-0 in a game played at the Deva Stadium, Chester. Both sides had players with first team experience while Carter-Vickers and Onomah were making their first appearance at this level this season.

Spurs lined up with Glover behind Carter-Vickers and Lesniak with Walker-Peters at right back and Muscatt on the left. Amos anchored the midfield behind a diamond midfield which saw Edwards on the right and Oduwa on the left with Miller and Onomah in the middle in support of Tracey up front. Lesniak, Amos and Miller were again able to play from their loan clubs.

Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the Kop in an open game with both sides looking to get forward. Brewster fired over from a headed pass by Wilson. Virtue had an effort blocked from a half-cleared corner before Tracey was played through drawing a save from Grabana. Brewster just failed to meet a ball in from Woodburn before Spurs went up the other end and scored. Walker-Peters got to the line on the right and when his cross was blocked the ball came out to Edwards. The little wideman stepped inside switching the ball to his left foot and fired low into the far corner.

Alexander-Arnold got forward to draw a save from Glover. Spurs got a second goal when Oduwa got down the left and crossed for Tracey. His shot was blocked with the ball coming out to Miller to drill home off Grabana and Gomez on the line.

Liverpool responded quickly with Alexander-Arnold getting down the right and into the area were Muscatt conceded the penalty. Wilson stepped up to send Glover the wrong way and reduce Spurs' lead. Glover saved Woodburn's free kick after Walker-Peters fouled Ojo just outside the area before the end of the half.

There were no changes for the start of the second half with the home side playing towards the Kop. Ojo had switched to the right and when an over-hit cross from the left came his way he cut inside and curled the ball into the far corner just two minutes into the half to level the score. The momentum was now with the home side with Wilson winning a corner when his effort was blocked. They nearly went ahead when a corner was played back to Alexander-Arnold whose ball to the far post was headed back to the foot of the near post before being cleared.

Brewster fired over before Spurs made their first change with Marsh replacing Miller changing to 4-2-3-1. Virtue played in Randall to fire wide. Pritchard then replaced Edwards to add more strength to the midfield. Stewart let fly from distance and was just wide, before Oduwa played in Onomah to fire over for a corner. Marsh was booked for a late challenge on Alexander-Arnold on the side-line and he was followed into the book by Stewart for pulling back Walker-Peters to stop him getting away.

Liverpool went in front for the first time from another corner routine. The ball was played back to Alexander-Arnold and when he put the ball into the box, Stewart scored with a diving header against his former club.

Tracey played in Onomah for a chance that was hit well over. That was Onomah's last contribution as he was replaced by Goddard. Spurs had the last chance of the game when Oduwa headed wide at the far post from a corner.

It was an open end to end game with Spurs looking the stronger early on taking a well deserved two goal lead. Liverpool came back into the game thanks to the penalty straight after Spurs' second goal. Liverpool got that early equaliser in the second half and Spurs went on the defensive trying to hold onto the point handing the advantage to the home side.

Spurs must now regroup for their next game which is on the 20th when Sunderland are the visitors to Stevenage. Spurs got a good 2-2 draw away to Sunderland earlier in the season.

Ray

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