Premier League 2, First Divison 2017-18
                Anfield, Liverpool
          Friday 22nd September 2017, 7pm.

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

               4(3)            2(1)

     Caoimhin Kelleher  1   Brandon Austin
          Matty Virtue  2   Timothy Eyoma
        Corey Whelan(C) 3   Jaden Brown
    Nathaniel Phillips  4   Luke Amos
           Lloyd Jones  5   Christian Maghoma
          Marko Grujic  6   Japhet Tanganga
          Harry Wilson  7   Marcus Edwards
          Ben Woodburn  8   Dylan Duncan
        Rhian Brewster  9   Kazaiah Sterling
           Ovie Ejaria 10   Joseph Pritchard(C)
        Lazar Markovic 11   Keanan Bennetts

       Conor Masterson 12   George Marsh
                            (8)26Mins
          Dan Atherton 13   Alfie Whiteman
            Yan Dhanda 14   Samuel Shashoua
             (8)78Mins      (10)73Mins
       George Johnston 15   Ryan Loft
     Cameron Brannagan 16   Shilow Tracey
            (11)62Mins      (11)60Mins

Scorers:-
       Wilson 1, 14, 42     Edwards 17 (pen)
       Brewster 50          Maghoma 34 

Booked:-
       Brewster 33(UGC)     Tanganga 33(Foul)
       Phillips 55(Foul)    Amos 51(Foul)
       Wilson 76(foul)

Coaches:-
         Neil Critchley     Wayne Burnett 

Attendance:– 2,454

Referee:– Daniel Middleton
Assistants:– Lee Freeman & Joe Simpson
Fourth Official:– David Croft

Spurs travelled to Anfield on a chilly evening which turned to rain. Liverpool have a 100% record this season winning all five of their games and sit top of the table. Their last game was a 2-0 victory at West Ham. Spurs have only won one of their opening five games, drawing their last at home to Swansea 2-2. Last season Spurs lost 3-2 here, having taken a 2-0 lead thanks to Miller and Edwards but the Reds hit back with a penalty from Wilson before going on to win with two second half goals.

Spurs lined up with Brandon Austin in goal behind Maghoma and Tanganga with Eyoma at right back and Brown on the left. Amos anchored the midfield with Duncan and Pritchard ahead of him flanked by Edwards on the right and Bennetts on the left in support of Sterling up front. Liverpool included Welsh international Woodburn and other players with first team experience including Ejaria and Markovic who featured in the last League Cup match between the two sides.

It took me five hours to get to this game and I just missed the kick-off. Only just though, as Liverpool went in front just as I headed for the press box. That goal was less than 30 seconds from kicking off. The scorer was Wilson who headed in from a poor Maghoma header.

It was an open game with Liverpool pushing on from that early goal to pressure the Spurs defence. Kelleher had to save a free kick from Pritchard before Brewster was played in for a chance that was saved by Austin and then putting the rebound wide. It was soon 2-0 when Markovic laid off the ball for Wilson to drive in his second of the night.

Spurs responded with Sterling driving into the area before Jones conceded a penalty as he challenged him. Sterling was going to take the kick but orders from the bench saw Edwards step up and curl the ball into the top left corner of the net. Brewster played in Wilson for a chance that was deflected over for a corner before which Duncan had to be replaced by Marsh having not recovered from an earlier challenge. When the corner was taken Grujic headed wide.

Grujic won a corner with a long range effort from which Austin had to save from Brewster when the ball reached him at the far post. A heavy tackle by Tanganga caused a confrontation between players as Woodburn faced up to the defender. The ref booked Tanganga and also Brewster for his involvement in the incident. Sterling had won a corner from the tackle and when it was taken the ball was not cleared by the Reds' defence allowing Bennetts to drive in from the left. When a block was made the ball spun up and Maghoma, still up from the corner, scored with a half volley to level the scores. Sterling drew a save and Woodburn drove wide as both sides looked for the next goal. That goal came when Wilson played a one-two with Woodburn to drive in his third of the night. He also fired over in added time at the end of the half.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw an early effort from Woodburn saved by Austin. When a Spurs attack broke down, a long ball over the top found Brewster with only the advancing Austin to beat which he did with a neat chip to open up a two goal lead again.

Amos was booked stopping another Liverpool break before Woodburn fired over. Phillips was next to be shown the yellow card for a bad foul from behind on Bennetts. Edwards played in Sterling who fired wide of the near post and Woodburn drove wide from Ejaria's cross from the left. Spurs made their second change with Tracey replacing Bennetts, who had not recovered from the earlier foul. After a good run down the right by Edwards the ball was pulled back for Marsh to draw a save from the keeper.

Pritchard fired over when Brown found him on the edge of the area. Pritchard gave way to Shashoua in Spurs' last change. Austin came out of his area to head clear another long ball which fell to Wilson but the wideman could not find the net putting it over the bar. Edwards played in Sterling only for the striker to shot straight at the keeper. Liverpool were looking to see out the game and Wilson picked up a booking for pulling Brown back as the full back made another run down the left. Tracey drew a save as Spurs pushed for another goal which gave the home side chances to counter. Dhanda forced a save from Austin from a free kick and Brewster fired the last chance over.

This was a tough game for Spurs as Liverpool were brimming with confidence. Having been forced back, Spurs began to get their passing game going and matched the home side in midfield. The Reds were quick and strong in attack which made the difference. Spurs actually had more possession but Liverpool had more than double the number of shots than the visitors. Before this game Liverpool had only conceded one goal in five matches so Spurs can look on their two goals as something to take away from the game.

Spurs next League game will be against Leicester City on Friday 13th October. The Development squad do have a Checkatrade Cup game at AFC Wimbledon in the week before which is for U-21 players.

Ray

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