It’s a win for Liverpool, and even more surprisingly, it’s a clean sheet for Liverpool. While no one expected the 5-0 thrashing from last season, this game threatened to go close.
Worse still, this was not a vintage Liverpool performance, and Brendan Rodgers can have plenty to criticise.
But a win is a win is a win, and it was three goals. The first was early in the game, with Sterling finishing off a sumptuous move set up by Daniel Sturridge.
Joe Allen earned (or dived) for a penalty, which Steven Gerrard converted early in the second half.
The performance was capped off by Alberto Moreno’s first goal for Liverpool, and what a goal it was – a fantastic solo effort.
Meanwhile, a debut performance by Mario Balotelli was both industrious and wasteful. Interesting times ahead for the Italian.
Negatives? The defence still requires meaningful questioning, mainly at Sakho and at times Lovren. However, the clean sheet tells its own story, mainly at Tottenham.
To describe Spurs as poor would do disservice to those lacking wealth. At times they were inconsistent, others indecisive, and mostly terrible.
The mirage of the early wins against West Ham and QPR have been well extinguished by this display, and it will be a period of deep reflection in North London as we head towards the international break.
Spurs will face a trip to Sunderland upon the Premier League’s resumption, while Liverpool return home to host Aston Villa. The first international break provides the first break/hurdle/distraction, which will only be told once games resume in two weeks.
FINAL SCORE:
Tottenham Hotspur 0
Liverpool 3
It’s reunions, retribution and reminiscence at White Hart Lane, as Tottenham Hotspur host Liverpool. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary of this third round EPL clash from 10:10pm (AEST).
If Liverpool fans weren’t made aware of the sheer impact of Luis Suarez, the loss to Manchester City last weekend at the Etihad Stadium hit it home.
If the game was viewed as a chance to reaffirm title credentials after a spirited challenge, then Liverpool fell well short, and the absence of their troubled Uruguayan was well noticed.
Tottenham understand only too well. Gareth Bale is now a memory, and few of the players signed in his stead have made the grade at White Hart Lane. The man responsible for both was Andre Villas Boas, who now calls St Petersburg home.
His final game in charge at White Hart Lane was in this fixture last season, when Liverpool demolished an Spurs 5-0. Matters didn’t improve under Tim Sherwood, as Tottenham fell 4-0 at Anfield months later.
Yet two weeks in, the hosts have begun the better. Successive London derby wins away at West Ham and a drubbing of QPR means Spurs start the more confident.
Central to this has been the club’s new manager Mauricio Pochettino. In addition to restoring calm, the former Southampton boss has begun integrating the players who underpinned Villas Boas’ downfall. Additional arrivals in Eric Dier and Federico Fazio are testament to Pochettino’s approach to not frenetically overhaul the club.
Pochettino will likely retain the same 4-2-3-1 formation, with Emmanuel Adebayor to start. The only possible change is the return of Paulinho, who was red carded in this fixture last season. The Brazilian could possibly return at the expense of Nacer Chadli in midfield.
Pochettino is not the only former Saint to feature on Sunday night. No club did more to purge the St Mary’s ranks than Liverpool, with Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert all now residing in the red half of Merseyside. While Lallana is expected to make his first impact from the bench against Spurs, eyeballs will glance to the frontline to one Mario Balotelli.
Balotelli in for Suarez sounds too simplistic, for they are vastly different players. But both share an appetite for trouble, and Liverpool fans now begin a journey with the Italian that may result in simultaneous grandeur and grandiose mayhem. Antics aside, Balotelli now represents a viable foil and alternative to Daniel Sturridge.
The main issue emanating from the Etihad for Brendan Rodgers was defence, both in terms of performance and personnel. Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel and Alberto Moreno all hobbled off the Etihad turf late, and remain in doubt. Rodgers can call upon Javier Manquillo, Jose Enrique and Mamadou Sakho to fill the breach if required.
The only other likely change is a first start for Lazar Markovic, who impressed late against Manchester City, with Philippe Coutinho likely to make way.
An ascendant Spurs at home is a difficult task for any visiting team, but Liverpool’s record from defeats under Brendan Rodgers has been excellent since his arrival two seasons ago. While unlikely to be anything resembling last season’s maulings, Liverpool should be sufficiently equipped to spoil Spurs’ early season momentum.
Highlights are up
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: It's a win for Liverpool, and even more surprisingly, it's a clean sheet for Liverpool. While no one expected the 5-0 thrashing from last season, this game threatened to go close. Worse still, this was not a vintage Liverpool performance, and Brendan Rodgers can have plenty to criticise. But a win is a win is a win, and it was three goals. The first was early in the game, with Sterling finishing off a sumptuous move set up by Daniel Sturridge. Joe Allen earnt or dived for a penalty, which Steven Gerrard converted early in the second half. The performance was capped off by Alberto Moreno's first goal for Liverpool, and what a goal it was - a fantastic solo effort. Meanwhile, a debut performance by Mario Balotelli was both industrious and wasteful. Interesting times ahead for the Italian. Negatives? The defence still requires meaningful questioning, mainly at Sakho and at times Lovren. However, the clean sheet tells its own story, mainly at Tottenham. To describe Spurs as poor would do disservice to those lacking wealth. At times they were inconsistent, others indecisive, and mostly terrible. The mirage of the early wins against West Ham and QPR have been well extinguished by this display, and it will be a period of deep reflection in North London as we head towards the international break. Spurs will face a trip to Sunderland upon the Premier League's resumption, while Liverpool return home to host Aston Villa. The first international break provides the first break/hurdle/distraction, which will only be told once games resume in two weeks. The final score from White Hart Lane was Tottenham Hotspur 0-3 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+3: We are nearly done here at White Hart Lane, and the post mortems can begin shortly. Mildly positive for Liverpool, all negative for Spurs. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90: Another yellow for Liverpool, as Moreno goes in the book for a shirt tug on Andros Townsend. Liverpool letting Spurs on the ball into their area, and threatening to let go of their clean sheet. It would be their first one since beating Spurs at Anfield 4-0 last season. Now Spurs appeal for a penalty, as Lovren clearly had hold of Adebayor's shirt. But was there any pulling motion on it preventing the striker's progress? I'm not sure, and Dowd wasn't either. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'86: It's been another excellent display from Raheem Sterling, but his afternoon's work is up, as he makes way for the returning Jose Enrique. Interesting to see where he lines up, as his normal left back spot is occupied by Moreno, who looks an astute purchase at 12 million pounds from Sevilla. He's taken up the left midfield position on the wing. New role it seems for the returning Spaniard. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
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Go Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'83: The game is temporarily brightened by some positive interplay between the Liverpool players in the final third, including the new arrivals Markovic, Can and Moreno. In the end, Sturridge's fancy footwork is undone by a hopeful shot at goal, which goes well wide of Lloris. Sturridge may be slightly disappointed at his return today. In truth, it has been a decent afternoon for Brendan Rodger's number one striker. Mario has some work to get to that level. Jose Enrique being readied for his first Premier League appearance in almost 12 months. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'81: Not much is in the mix at the moment. Spurs have the visage of attempting goalbound efforts, but with no final product. Liverpool look content with their afternoon's work. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'74: A yellow card for Raheem Sterling, as he goes for a rather cynical challenge on Younes Kaboul. Likely still miffed at that glorious missed opportunity to make it a second for himself. Moments earlier, Lovren came in with a smart last-ditch challenge on Adebayor. Despite the margin, Liverpool still look vulnerable at the back. Tottenham however have been a mixture of inconsistent and unable to make anything of the handful of chances they've had. It's been a really poor home effort in the team's first major test. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'72: That could have been an early solo goal of the season contender, if only the finish was a bit more convincing. Ben Davies is on for Danny Rose. This will be the 11 that sees it out for Spurs, but it's difficult to think a left back will change the home team's fortunes. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'70: Well, Raheem Sterling, what can you do? He got the ball from Can, and it was swerving and lovely pirouhettes around a listless Spurs defence. The shot in the end, was a casual toepoke gratefully clutched by Hugo Lloris. Ultimate tease that was Raheem. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'67: A good try by Sturridge at a tight angle, hit straight at Lloris, which goes out for a corner. Gerrard to take this. Lovren got the header away, but over the top. It was in the end a free header, and that should have in all truth been four. Under Pochettino, Lovren buried a header like that for Southampton against Liverpool last season. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'64: It looks a happy return to Spurs for Brendan Rodgers. Memories of last season now re-entering the minds of each Tottenham player, who appear clearly downcast at the recent downturn of events. Corner for Liverpool earnt by Manquillo. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'62: Liverpool's ambition now must be to secure a clean sheet. Despite Lovren and Sakho's laughable foibles, that still remains plausible. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'60: Townsend's first involvement, and he lost the ball in midfield to Moreno, who had the freedom of White Hart Lane to run at Lloris and pick his spot. Lloris tried, but it was a fantastic solo effort by the former Sevilla man. If that's his first impression, then how about it! Liverpool are now with changes, with Joe Allen off for Emre Can. The second comes in the form of Mario Balotelli, who can be classed as industrious but without final effect. Lazar Markovic is on. Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'58: Changes being readied by Pochettino, who surely has had enough of this. In fairness, Mamadou Sakho doing everything to get Spurs back into this, with some ridiculous play at the back. First it was the near gifting of possession, and then a strong backpass to Mignolet. The changes are in, and it's Dembele and Townsend on, with Eriksen and Bentaleb done their day's work. ALBERTO MORENO!!! Liverpool 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'55: Mental note Brendan Rodgers: get some further English or Croatian remedial work for Mamadou Sakho. The Frenchman was a colossus at times in the World Cup, but he has been poor in his Liverpool return. The lack of communication with Lovren has been telling. Lovren for his part has not been without guilt, but Sakho is the weak link of that partnership currently. Corner for Spurs, and a bit more urgency shown by the home team. Eriksen's shot though is meat and potatoes for Simon Mignolet. Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'54: While Spurs works to get back into this, the microscope is firmly on Liverpool. Can they see this one out without defensive drama? Lamela's free kick is met by Dier, but the glancing header was still not controlled by the right back, and it's a goalkick. Liverpool are looking frightfully edgy in defence. Little changes there, despite the 2-0 lead. Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'52: Pochettino has a look that can kill. His Spurs team have been awful since coming out, and nearly Sakho gifts them a lovely chance to equalise. It was great work by Manquillo in the end to bunt it clear, but Tottenham now have a corner. Can they make something of this? Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'50: It's a soft penalty, and Allen could have stayed on his feet. But it was the error by Dier that invited the theatrics from the Welshman. Eric Dier now responsible for giving away a goal, in addition to the two he's already scored. Tottenham will hope he can restore his goal difference back to 2. Spurs need leadership to get back into this match. Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur