PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 27TH APRIL, 2025
(4.30pm)
LIVERPOOL 5(3) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1)

Liverpool scorer(s):-
Diaz, 16
Mac Allister, 24
Gakpo, 34
Salah, 63
Udogie (o.g), 69

Spurs scorer(s):-
Solanke, 12

Attendance:- 60,415

Referee:- Tom Bramall
Assistants:- Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan
Fourth official:- Chris Kavanagh
VAR:- Craig Pawson
Assistant VAR:- Darren Cann

Teams:-
Liverpool (4-2-3-1):- 1. Alisson; 66. Alexander-Arnold (sub 3. Endo, 76), 5. Konate, 4. Van Dijk (Capt.), 26. Robertson; 38. Gravenberch, 10. Mac Allister (sub 9. Nunez, 83); 11. Salah, 8. Szoboszlai (sub 17. Jones, 68), 18. Gakpo (sub 20. Jota, 68); 7. Diaz (19. Elliott, 76)

Subs not used:- 62. Kelleher; 21. Tsimikas, 78. Quansah; 14. Chiesa,

Booked:- Gakpo (celebration), Elliott (unsporting conduct)

Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario; 24. Spence, 4. Danso, 33. Davies, 13. Udogie; 15. Bergvall, 14. Gray (sub 29. Sarr, 46), 10. Maddison (Capt.) (sub 21. Kulusevski, 46); 22. Johnson, 19. Solanke (sub 9. Richarlison, 68), 11. Tel (sub 28. Odobert, 68)
(Armband to Vicario)

Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky; 17. Romero, 23. Pedro Porro, 37. Van de Ven; 8. Bissouma

Booked:- Richarlison (unsporting conduct)

Liverpool champs thrash Spurs chumps

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture

My personal prediction of a 3-1 defeat turned out to be all too optimistic. Spurs gave Champions elect Liverpool a nasty shock when former "Reds" player Dominic Solanke scored in the 12th minute. However, Spurs soon succumbed to the inevitable onslaught and Liverpool won their twentieth top flight title in front of a naturally exuberant and ecstatic crowd.

Spurs fell to their 19th Premier League defeat of the season, equalling Ossie Ardiles' 1993-94 record figure. There is plenty of time for Ange "second-season trophy" Postecoglou to beat that figure with four games still to be played. How this inept team can raise themselves for next Thursday's Europa League semi-final, I do not know. After all, they have proved themselves to be natural and persistent losers.

Postecoglou made eight changes to his starting line-up, following Easter Monday's home defeat to Nottingham Forest, who incidentally were beaten today by Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final. Unlike Arne Slot (who became the sixth manager to win the Premier League in his first season), Postecoglou didn't even bother using his five substitutes. Bentancur wasn't in the 18-man squad. Son is still not fit. Three of Postecoglou's first choice back four remained on the bench. Vicario, Spence, and Tel were the three survivors from Monday's starting side.

Of course we were obliged to revere YNWA before kick-off at the Anfield citadel before Liverpool kicked off playing towards the Anfield Road Stand. After an early free kick and an exchange between Salah and Mac Allister, Salah hit a shot over the target.

Spurs attacked down the left wing, with Tel looking lively early on. His cross was touched onward by Solanke for Johnson who was a) blocked and b) offside. Van Dijk found Gakpo with a long ball. His shot was held by Vicario in front of the side netting, but momentum took his arms over the line and Liverpool had a corner. Vicario flapped at the cross which followed and a shot by Szoboszlai passed wide.

Now came The Kop's early shock. Spurs won a corner on the right, swung in by Maddison and headed home by Liverpool old boy Dominic Solanke, who graciously tried to restrain himself even though he was offloaded to Bournemouth 6 years ago.

Liverpool were stung into action. Firstly, Spurs defended well against the twin threat of Mac Allister and Diaz, but they succumbed when Salah passed forward to Szoboszlai, who then crossed low for Diaz to finish at close range. The referee's assistant flagged Szoboszlai offside, but VAR found him not to be offside and the goal stood.

Gakpo soon had the ball in the net from a similar move, but this time there had been an offside. No matter, Liverpool soon had the lead. Spurs had avoided playing out from the back in the first 10 minutes, but now they succumbed, and a poor pass by Tel was played inside to the penalty area where Archie Gray struggled to prevent Mac Allister finding space to hit the net with a left-footed shot.

Spurs did muster another attempt on goal following a Maddison free kick on the left. Solanke's looping header was pushed over his bar by Alisson. Alexander-Arnold (whose future remains uncertain at this time) fired over the bar at the other end from a free kick.

Liverpool's third goal was all too easy. A corner fell to Gakpo, who was given time to turn and pick his spot. The potential scoreline was looking ominous. Bergvall had glanced a header into the danger zone, and Johnson fell over when faced by Gakpo.

Ben Davies blocked another Alexander-Arnold shot. Spurs managed another attack when Bergvall found Johnson who crossed to Solanke, who was blocked. VAR checked regarding a Konate challenge on Tel but found no offence. Tel had a shot blocked after Udogie had cut the ball back.

After the break, Postecoglou replaced Maddison with Kulusevski and Gray with Bergvall. Kulusevski sent Johnson away with an early ball, but our top scorer was caught offside. The away fans saw very little of Spurs at their end after that, and very little of Kulusevski.

Liverpool's first chance followed a ball to Gakpo, who tried to tee up Salah, but he couldn't connect. Salah hadn't scored at Anfield since early March and seemed desperate to score.

Liverpool had successive corners, and Spurs were struggling to clear their lines. A shot by Mac Allister took a slight touch and won another corner. Bergvall blocked Salah's shot, and Alexander-Arnold had another shot blocked. Now Salah (and of course The Kop) were looking for a penalty, but the referee and VAR said "No!"

Danso found himself in the Liverpool half and tried a right-footed shot, but that was wide. Vicario was down to his right to comfortably save Gravenberch's shot. It wasn't long before Liverpool went 4-1 up. One of our rare attacks ended when Kulusevski lost the ball. Liverpool countered in numbers (no messing about at the back for this team). Szoboszlai passed to Salah to his right, who scored a trademark left-footed goal from just inside the area. It was his 28th league goal of the season.

Sarr had a speculative shot held by Alisson before Vicario saved from Szoboszlai and Van Dijk's effort was wide. Liverpool's fifth goal went down as an Udogie own goal with Salah at his side after Alexander-Arnold's short cross from his left.

Spurs somehow managed to survive the remainder of the game without conceding again, but Liverpool have put 15 past us this season. They've now also scored at least four goals in all competitions in their last four home games against Spurs. They probably could not have wished for better opposition to face on the day they hoped to secure their second Premier League title in front of their own fans. Their previous win five years ago had to be celebrated in an empty stadium due to Covid.

There were over 60,000 in the stadium and plenty more surrounding the ground to celebrate the occasion. Spurs can only dream of winning any trophy in front of their own fans.

I have no confidence in this group of players being coached by this particular man gaining the all too vital Europa League Final win. Without such success and a likely 17th place finish, this season and next season will be ruined. These are sad times indeed for a Spurs fan.

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