Liverpool player ratings gallery: three stars get 8/10 and several 7/10s in Tottenham victory

 

Liverpool picked up their first Premier League away victory of the season as they battled to a hard-fought 2-1 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur.

Mo Salah netted a first-half double as the Reds will finally hope this can be a turning point point for their top-flight campaign.

Liverpool were out of the traps quickly and took the lead after 11 minutes through Salah’s composed finish.

And the Reds had their second five minutes before half-time when Salah profited from Eric Dier’s poor header to calmly finish beyond Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris.

Tottenham unsurprisingly asked Liverpool questions in the second half and reduced the arrears when Harry Kane beat Reds stopper Alisson Becker from an acute angle in the 70th minute.

Spurs piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but Jurgen Klopp’s side were stoic to claim all three points.

Here’s how we rated the Liverpool players.

1. Alisson Becker - 8

Late to a cross in the first half but Perisic’s header came off the keeper. Then made a solid save before playing the ball that led to Salah’s second. Made a good save from a Dier header early in the second half and showed bravery when challenging Matt Docherty for the ball in the 85th minute.

2. Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6

Classy on the ball, with one staggeringly good crossfield ball to Nunez. Did survive a penalty shout in the first half, though, and that wasn’t his only nervous moment defensively. Well out of position in the dying embers and got a rollicking off Henderson.

3. Ibrahima Konate - 7

Got across well in the first half to snuff out danger. Won most of his duels but perhaps didn’t get close enough to Kane for the striker’s first goal. Got tighter a few minutes later to repel Kane on the edge of the box.

4. Virgil van Dijk - 7

Breezed through the first half then played and did well after the break.

5. Andy Robertson - 8

Continually found himself space in the first half to keep picking out Nunez down the flank. One of those passes led to the opening goal. Tigerish defensively throughout to help claim all three points.

6. Fabinho - 6

Looked so much more like himself in the first half, winning the ball and controlling in possession. But then couldn’t be as influential on the back foot when Spurs attacked with purpose after the break and was lucky not to concede a foul just outside Liverpool’s box.

7. Thiago Alcantara - 6

Covered so much ground in the first half and played some sound passes. Cracked a shot not far wide after the break.

8. Harvey Elliott - 6

Part of the build-up for the opening goal and kept things ticking throughout the first half. 

9. Mo Salah - 8

Showed his class in the opening 45 minutes with two finishes of the highest quality. Starved of chances after the break but had already done the damage.

10. Roberto Firmino - 6

Movement caused problems in the first half and spread the ball wide in the build-up for the opener. Not as involved in the second half before being subbed in the 74th minute.

11. Darwin Nunez - 7

Outlined his intentions for the outset by forcing a gine save out of Hugo Lloris before neatly assisting Salah’s opener. Put a shift in after the break befire one shot that struck the bar was ruled offside. Subbed in the 87th minute.