Liverpool dare to dream of top four

Published May 2, 2023
DIOGO Jota (second L) of Liverpool scores past Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Fraser Forster during their Premier League match at Anfield.—Reuters
DIOGO Jota (second L) of Liverpool scores past Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Fraser Forster during their Premier League match at Anfield.—Reuters

LONDON: Liverpool are refusing to give up the chase for a top-four berth in the Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp’s men maintained their unlikely pursuit of a Champions League place by beating Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 in a thriller at Anfield, with Diogo Jota scoring a last-gasp winner in Sunday’s late kick-off to move into fifth place with 56 points.

Third-placed Newcastle United (65) and Man­chester United (63) in fourth with a game in hand are strong favourites to seal Champions League places for next season behind Manchester City and Arsenal.

But neither Newcastle boss Eddie Howe nor United manager Erik ten Hag will be comfortable about seeing Liverpool in their rear-view mirror.

Liverpool have won their past four league games and their run-in does not look unduly taxing while Newcastle and United have some tricky games still to play.

Klopp will seek to infuse his team with the belief that they can rescue a disappointing season.

“We got away with it thank to Diogo Jota — it makes it spectacular and everybody goes home buzzing,” Klopp told Sky.

Goals by Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah put Liverpool 3-0 ahead inside the opening 15 minutes as Tottenham suffered a horrible case of deja-vu having conceded five in the opening 21 minutes of a 6-1 rout at Newcastle a week ago.

But Tottenham hit back before halftime through Harry Kane and hit the woodwork three times before Son Heung-min set up a nerve-jangling finale and Richarlison flicked a downward header past Alisson in the third minute of stoppage time.

There was one final twist though as Jota latched on to a mistake by Lucas Moura and fired low past Fraser Forster to spark pandemonium on the touchline.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Slow start
Updated 15 Jun, 2024

Slow start

Despite high attendance, the NA managed to pass only a single money bill during this period.
Sindh lawlessness
Updated 15 Jun, 2024

Sindh lawlessness

A recently released report describes the law and order situation in Karachi as “worryingly poor”.
Punjab budget
15 Jun, 2024

Punjab budget

PUNJAB’S budget for 2024-25 provides much fodder to those who believe that the increased provincial share from the...
Budget and politics
Updated 14 Jun, 2024

Budget and politics

PML-N, scared of taking bold steps lest it loses whatever little public support it has, has left its traditional support — traders — virtually untouched.
New talks?
14 Jun, 2024

New talks?

WILL this prove another false start, or may we expect a more sincere effort this time? Reference is made to the...
A non-starter
14 Jun, 2024

A non-starter

WHILE the UN Security Council had earlier this week adopted a US-backed resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza...