Liverpool were back to their best against a sloppy Spurs side in Jurgen Klopp’s penultimate Anfield game.
Tottenham Hotspur’s top four chances were given a glimmer of hope after Joao Pedro helped Brighton to a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in Sunday’s early kick off.
Ange Postecoglou’s men let it all slip again in the opening hour on Merseyside though, shipping four goals to a rampant Reds outfit.
Mohamed Salah was back in the starting eleven with a point a prove; and the Egyptian king instantly won the hearts of the Kop choir with a 16th minute header.
Andy Robertson then found the back of the net in a second consecutive Premier League game for the first time in his career before Cody Gakpo made it three after the break.
Salah set-up a Harvey Elliott rocket in front of the Kop for the fourth, leaving Anfield in ecstasy after a difficult run of matches.
Spurs knew on the hour mark that they had now lost four consecutive league games for the first time in 20 years. But that did not stop the attacking intent in the final phases of play, almost making the unbelievable happen.
Postecoglou’s decision to introduce Richarlison to the fray would pay off as the Brazilian scored one and assisted another to pull things back to 4-2.
It would be too little too late, however, as Liverpool held on to keep their title chances alive, albeit only mathematically.
To win the league would take highly improbable collapses for both Manchester City and Arsenal, who sit four and five points clear of the Reds in the table.
For Spurs to claim fourth spot would require a quick turnaround in form and Villa dropping points in their last three games — the first of which is a home clash with Liverpool a week on Monday.
In the day’s other game, Chelsea thrashed West Ham 5-0 at Stamford Bridge, with Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer once again on the scoresheet for the Blues.
On Monday, Crystal Palace host Manchester United before the run-in to the end of the season continue next weekend.
Pictured above: Harvey Elliott and Mohamed Salah
Image source: @liverpoolfc
