Sadio Mane fired Liverpool to a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur as the Reds secured an important victory over the North London side. Mane was sorely missed during his absence at the African Cup of Nations and showed exactly why at Anfield last night.
Liverpool desperately needed a win after a poor start to 2017 and were coming into this game and had failed to win in 5 straight games across all competitions. The Reds looked back to their best last night, however, and fully deserved the 3 points.
The result means the Reds have now moved into fourth place only 1 point behind second-placed Tottenham, although City have yet to play their fixture against Bournemouth on Monday night. Reds fans were ecstatic about the win as it might go a long way to securing a Champions League position.
“LIVERPOOL! LIVERPOOL!” ?#LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/YXIePrdBDs
— LFC Malaysia (@MalaysiaLFC) February 12, 2017
Liverpool are still undefeated by a top 5 club! #lfc
— Vlastimir Stevanovic (@vlstastevanovic) February 11, 2017
Oh how i missed this winning feeling ??? #LFC pic.twitter.com/HbqfjlS2FX
— Anything Liverpool (@Anything_LFC) February 11, 2017
Who else is smiling like Jürgen Klopp right now? ?#LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/Fp9tZOCE7K
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 11, 2017
16 – Liverpool have won more PL games at Anfield against Tottenham than any other current top-flight side they have faced. Routine.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 11, 2017
Four words Liverpool fans haven’t said in 2017: Match of the Day.
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) February 11, 2017
Sadio Mane was the man of the hour and Twitter was abuzz with praise and stats after the Senegalese winger put in a brilliant performance.
Sadio Mané has now been directly involved in more league goals (15) this season than any other Liverpool player.
Main man Mané. pic.twitter.com/DQM1LnErLe
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 11, 2017
After 21 Premier League Games for Liverpool
Sadio Mané: 11 goals 4 assists
Luis Suarez: 8 goals 3 assists pic.twitter.com/SG7ssJPZCM— – (@GetMatipped) February 11, 2017
Liverpool vs Tottenham Highlights
Sadio Mane ⚽⚽#LIVTOT #LFC @Saleh7Mohsen pic.twitter.com/W4Brwq7J8A— Magician Coutinho (@LFC_Coutinho7) February 11, 2017
Sadio Mane: Liverpool’s best signing since Luis Suarez ? pic.twitter.com/cmKAUTDP1D
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) February 11, 2017
Sadio Mane has been incredible so far, has been badly missed by Liverpool while away at AFCON
— Mootaz (@MHChehade) February 11, 2017
What Sadio Mane is doing to Ben Davies right now is the type of thing you watch in an incognito window with the volume muted
— Zito (@_Zeets) February 11, 2017
Sadio Mane is to Spurs what kryptonite is to Superman.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) February 11, 2017
This isn’t Liverpool vs Spurs.
This is Sadio Mané vs Hugo Lloris.
— Arsenaloholic (@ArsenalohoIic) February 11, 2017
Liverpool without and with Sadio Mane pic.twitter.com/XgczcjsCbW
— Man Like Memz (@AFCMemz) February 11, 2017
Gerginio Wijnaldum also got some well-deserved praise after putting in what was perhaps his best performance for the Reds so far. Wijnaldum’s pass for Mane’s opener was a thing of beauty and many showed their appreciation for the summer signing.
Georginio Wijnaldum’s pass to set Sadio Mané through for Liverpool’s opener against Tottenham was out of this world. #LFC pic.twitter.com/CFp78bNiaf
— Liam Bekker (@LiamBekkerLFC) February 11, 2017
Sadio Mane will get the headlines but Gini Wijnaldum has been incredible. By far and away his best half in a red shirt. #LFC
— Red Mysterio (@redmysterio96) February 11, 2017
Sadio Mané may get the plaudits for the goals so far, but Gini Wijnaldum has been outstanding also. His best performance in a #LFC shirt?
— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) February 11, 2017
Georginio Wijnaldum’s game by numbers vs. Spurs:
89% pass accuracy
3 tackles won
2 aerial duels won
1 chance created
1 assistAll action. pic.twitter.com/gGhM7slUmj
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 11, 2017
✅ Winner vs. City
✅ Equaliser vs. Chelsea
✅ MOTM display & assist vs. SpursPraise. Recognise. Appreciate.
Georginio Wijnaldum. ?? pic.twitter.com/zUn90M2Hrk
— Matt (@FalseFirmino) February 11, 2017
I don’t want to see Emre Can near the starting line up unless wijnaldum dies
— Rags (@Raghav23_) February 11, 2017
Wijnaldum HAS to be an automatic starter in the midfield three. Superb today ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/oWJADDFZNq
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) February 11, 2017
Can we just all appreciate this Wijnaldum flick pic.twitter.com/Yz84rpzU60
— Portgas D. Ace (@F1ashPoint) February 11, 2017
Can you imagine the media if Pogba done that back heeled pass that Wijnaldum done
— Jay?? (@jay_vine26) February 11, 2017
Gini Wijnaldum should be the first name on the team sheet.
— SH (@Sennesation) February 11, 2017
I must confess my love for Wijnaldum. One of the most tactically astute, composed, strong, intelligent midfielders we’ve had in years.
— Rory Greenfield (@RoryGreenfield) February 11, 2017
You can see why we paid the money for Wijnaldum. Think he excelled today without Emre Can in the midfield.
— Anfield Hub (@AnfieldHub) February 11, 2017
Wijnaldum is undroppable, said last week it was an error not starting him and he proved that today
— Simon (@Simonnnnn19) February 11, 2017
Wijnaldum proved why he should play every week, absolute class he was today!! #LFC
— matty (@howardlfcjft) February 11, 2017
Gini Wijnaldum was phenomenal today. First to every challenge and covered every blade of grass on that pitch. The Reds are back on track????
— Raj Chohan (@rajsinghchohan) February 11, 2017
There was also inevitable negativity and laughter surrounding Tottenham’s performance. Spurs looked second best the entire match and never posed a real threat to Liverpool. It was a disappointing result for Pochettino’s side and the trolls were out in force.
Tottenham: Have now lost 16 of their 25 matches at Anfield in the Premier League, they have only lost most more often at Old Trafford (20) pic.twitter.com/7tcrQMyxXF
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) February 11, 2017
8 – Spurs have conceded 8 shots on target; the most in a 1st half for Tottenham since Opta started collecting shot data in 03-04. Stunned.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 11, 2017
When you hear someone describe Tottenham Hotspur as a “title rival”? pic.twitter.com/sVeTQhoj14
— Chelsea News App (@CFCNewsApp) February 11, 2017
We will never truly challenge for the league until we are willing to grind out points away at the top teams.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@1882_Tottenham) February 11, 2017
“Arsenal won’t win the league if we never finish second place.” -Tottenham pic.twitter.com/QeVDnAkk26
— NebraskanGooner (@nebraskangooner) February 11, 2017
Tottenham will forever be in Arsenals shadow. Always and forever. Never forget that.
— Mané is my hero (@AnfieldRd96) February 11, 2017
Oh look Tottenham bottling a title race so they are tying to injury players, where have we seen this before?
— ㅤ (@SimplyCosta) February 11, 2017
Who has struggled more…
Liverpool without Mane
Tottenham without Mike Dean
?#LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/sALvX8nHhR
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) February 11, 2017
Tottenham fans everytime Liverpool Attacks ??#LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/ylwOKIUk4m
— Michael NanaYaw (@yungmo11) February 11, 2017
Tottenham fans looking for their defence… pic.twitter.com/3z6Rv9qlTI
— TheSPORTbible (@TSBible) February 11, 2017
“Lads….it’s Tottenham.”
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) February 11, 2017