Liverpool reclaimed the Premier League’s top spot with a late win over Tottenham.

Roberto Firmino opened the scoring on 15 minutes as he powered a header beyond Spurs stopper Hugo Lloris from Andy Robertson’s inch-perfect delivery.

The visitors struck back midway through the second half when Lucas Moura slotted home from a move started a quickly-taken free kick from Kieran Trippier.

But just as Jurgen Klopp’s side appeared set to fall behind Manchester City in the title race, Toby Alderweireld turned the ball into his own net in the 90th minute.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Reds love leaving it late

 

No team specialises in last-minute goals quite like Liverpool.

In the Premier League era, they lead the way with 33 in total. Even their nearest challengers, Arsenal, are some eight goals behind Anfield’s late, late show.

This season has taken the phenomenon to new levels with Toby Alderweireld’s own goal for Tottenham taking the tally recorded after the 89th minute to seven.

Such quirks are considered a mark of champions and if the title is set to return to Merseyside for a first time in 29 years, fighting until the end will be imperative.

More twists and turns are expected in the duel with Manchester City during the final six games but make no mistake, Liverpool are well-placed to see it through.

Klopp shows his proactive side

 

Jurgen Klopp bristled at suggestions that Liverpool did not take enough risks.

Last month’s draw with Everton saw him hit out at critics of a like-for-like approach as ‘PlayStation’ football. But it appears even Klopp is for turning.

After seeing his side pegged back by Tottenham while being overrun in midfield, the German opted for a slightly more proactive approach than previously.

Rather than sending on two similar players in place of James Milner and Jordan Henderson, Klopp opted for Fabinho and the firepower of Divock Origi.

Deploying the Brazilian restored order in the middle of the park while a fourth on-field attacker allowed Liverpool to turn the screw to eventual victory.

Playing percentages, rather than PlayStation, proved to be the way forward.

Defensive duo slugging it out

 

It’s becoming a genuinely close call between which of Liverpool’s two leading defenders is more deserving of this season’s Player of the Year nominations.

Both Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson did their chances of swaying the vote no harm whatsoever with typically outstanding performances against Spurs.

Van Dijk’s reading of the visitors’ counter-attack when faced with a two-on-one situation with Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-Min will rightly not go unnoticed.

But Robertson’s own case was further strengthened at both ends of the field.

A ninth assist of the campaign to tee up Roberto Firmino saw him only surpassed in the rankings by Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser and Chelsea forward Eden Hazard.

His defensive contribution was equally impressive as he denied Christian Eriksen a chance to pull Spurs level after Alisson parried Harry Kane’s initial shot.

If the Scotland captain keeps up his current vein of form, Van Dijk will not have it all his own way when the accolades are doled out at the end of the season.

Alisson ramps up title nerves

 

With the title firmly in sight, nerves are fraught enough at Anfield right now.

Yet Alisson’s penchant for adventurous goalkeeping has managed to exacerbate them further with another series of jitter-inducing spells during this encounter.

Season-long concerns resurfaced with the Brazilan stopper fluffing attempted clearances and rushing off hls line that created more danger than it averted.

So far, Alisson’s walkabouts have not cost Liverpool in the run-in but more erratic displays like this will do little for the Kop’s collective heart rate.