© Agence France-Presse
In addition to the “mauritus” ad, there was the match at Anfield yesterday. Liverpool by beating Tottenham (2-1) at the top of the 13th day, Wednesday 16 December, made a small gap at the top of the Premier League, also taking advantage of the missteps of Southampton and Leicester, respectively hung by Arsenal (1 -1) and beaten by Everton (0-2).
Firmino frees Liverpool
A late goal from Roberto Firmino allowed Liverpool to regain the lead in the standings after a very intense shock if not really spectacular.
With 28 points, the Reds take 3 points ahead of their victim of the evening and 4 over Southampton and Leicester.
Tottenham will be able to feed regrets, having had the most dangerous opportunities and conceded an opening of the scoring a little gag, with this shot from Mohamed Salah deflected and who fell back into the window of Hugo Lloris, helpless (1-0, 26th).
“The best team lost”, railed José Mourinho after the match at the microphone of Amazon Prime Video.
“A draw would have been a bad result, given our performance, so you can imagine what it feels like with this loss. It is a very unfair result ”, he added, while Klopp felt that “The victory was absolutely deserved” for his team.
The second goal, an authoritative header in the top corner, on a corner, from Firmino (90th), owes nothing to anyone in any case and this success has the scent of the many victories snatched in extremis last year.
The Spurs had quickly equalized with a dazzling counter and a millimeter opening from Giovanni Lo Celso for Son Heung-min full of composure to adjust Alisson (1-1, 33rd).
They could have taken the lead on the hour mark if Steven Bergwijn hadn’t seen his flat foot hit the post or if Harry Kane hadn’t missed his header 5 yards from goal on the corner that followed.
But Liverpool could also have forced the decision earlier, on a powerful strike from Sadio Mané who hit the top of the crossbar (70th).
A psychologically important victory for the title holders, even if their rivals have certainly not said their last word.
Arsenal frustrates Southampton
On a very disturbing slope in recent matches, Arsenal stopped their slide by taking a point against Southampton (1-1).
The Saints are still on the podium (3rd with 24 points), while Arsenal remains at a disappointing 15th place, with 10 units less.
The Gunners came close to conceding a 5th straight loss at home which would have been historic.
Former Arsenal player Theo Walcott took advantage of a poorly placed defense and a perfect opening from Che Adams to go and deceive Bernd Leno with a pricked ball (0-1, 18th).
But Mikel Arteta will no doubt have been comforted by the reaction of his team and by the first goal since November 1 from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (1-1, 52nd).
The Gunners finished the game at ten, as in their loss (1-0) against Burnley on Sunday, because of a silly foul by Gabriel at the center line, which earned him a second yellow card (62nd) , but the Londoners did not disunite and even almost won over a header from Rob Holding who hit the bar (90 + 2).
A meritorious point and which gives grounds for hope.
Leicester relapse
Beaten at home by a team of Everton which confirms the return to form perceived against Chelsea (1-0) last Saturday, Leicester still let some points slip away at home.
The Foxes remain 4th with 24 points but see the Toffees come back on their heels, 5th with 23 units.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men, despite absences in defense, have regained their defensive compactness and their offensive bite.
They were helped to open the scoring by a hand fault by goalkeeper Casper Schmeichel, on a rebounding shot from Richarlison on his left (1-0, 21st).
Schmeichel, decidedly unhappy in this match, made an exceptional double save from a corner in the 72nd, but his second save was taken by an Everton player, Mason Holgate, who scored from close (2-0).
This is the 7th goal conceded from a corner this season by Brendan Rodgers’ men, who are sorely missed by injured central defenders Jonny Evans and Caglar Söyünçü.
But with just two shots on target in 14 attempts, they were hardly inspired offensively either.
© Agence France-Presse
