Tottenham were offered a route towards Champions League qualification but ignored the directions. Ange Postecoglou’s team were woeful as they succumbed to a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat that should extinguish their top-four hopes as Liverpool rediscovered their verve in Jürgen Klopp’s penultimate home game. The scoreline flattered the conquered.
Liverpool cruised towards victory for 72 minutes until Spurs’ substitute Richarlison and captain Son Heung-min sparked a mini-crisis of confidence among Klopp’s team. It soon passed. For the second Sunday in succession Spurs came alive only when staring at a comprehensive pounding but, just like the north London derby, their late flurry fooled no one. Liverpool were richly deserving of a win delivered by Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott.
