Frida Fagerlund after Liverpool-Tottenham: Mourinho’s plan hooked

Published: December 16, 2020 at 11:25 p.m.
Updated: December 16, 2020 at 11:43 p.m.

No one can be right and wrong at the same time as José Mourinho.

The Portuguese saw a match plan fail at Anfield and then got hooked due to small but crucial mistakes.

Tonight, Jürgen Klopp’s philosophy paid off more: as long as Tottenham continue to believe in their master, success can still be countered.

Then, finally, she went back to breastfeeding.

No soccer personality is as entertaining as José Mourinho. Especially when you decide, in that well-calculated and malicious way, to press the sensitive spots with your colleagues. Probably the Portuguese felt it was time, Tottenham looked surprisingly comfortable after countering the autumn fever and the crown. Equally good to take the opportunity to enjoy while it lasted.

“Mané is not injured, Salah is not injured, Alexander-Arnold is not injured …”. Mourinho generally said that Jürgen Klopp is only allowed to complain about one of his interruptions: Virgil van Dijk. Of course, it must have been stressful for Rhys Williams, on loan to the Kidderminster Harriers in the National League last season, to make his league debut in a league final. The teenager also had a toe on the first goal when, after a promising start, he found out about Andy Robertson on the left wing. The ball finally landed at the feet of Mohamed Salah, who through Toby Alderweireld achieved a shot with a nasty and unstoppable goal for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Mourinho Masterclass

26 minutes had passed and Liverpool were as big and dominant as they usually are at home at Anfield. The visiting team fell, as expected, low with some tactical changes compared to the games against Man City and Chelsea. Sissoko continued to support Serge Aurier and became an extra right back. On the other hand, Ben Davies’ house was far from perfect. While Harry Kane and Heung Min-Son circled like two predatory fish in front. At the time of Liverpool’s hit, Dier and Alderweireld had barely had a chance to breathe.

Photo: Jon Super / TT NEWS AGENCY

Despite the backhand goal, anyone who knows his Mourinho understood that many other things went according to plan. Not even the image producer had time when Son finally landed a deep pass from Giovani Lo Celso. Rhys Williams also discovered danger too late and didn’t have time to fall or get up fast enough. The mandatory VAR review showed the South Korean sideways with short hair (like Williams’s hair knot length), but that was all Tottenham needed to match.

A scoring opportunity. A single shot on goal. 1-1 on the scoreboard. It was Mourinho’s Masterclass when it is most effective.

Nice or ugly football?

The Portuguese taunted Jürgen Klopp before the game and the Spurs players took advantage of another sore spot for Liverpool, the defense. When Steven Bergwijn hit a ball off the post with about half an hour to go, warning bells rang out across Merseyside. Soon after, Salah also ended up in a new giant position, but the ending was too tame. Mané soon shot the crossbar. It is doubtful that even the best of instincts can predict the outcome of the match here and there.

If we ignore the discussion about what is “nice or ugly” on a football field: is it really sustainable to consistently deliver the initiative, create a little ahead and keep getting results for an entire season? I guess it’s just a glance at Mourinho’s CV to realize that it has worked quite a few times before. His philosophy may not be preferred today, but with players like Kane and Son, it can last as long as long. Not least during a pandemic season like this one. As long as the team buys your ideas.

However, the defense was alert and did not leave room to finish. Klopp had not made a single change when questioned Roberto Firmino found a ball from Robertson with his forehead. Decidedly the top brass, lost to Alderweireld in the penalty area, headed in at 2-1 and 2,000 happy spectators at Anfield exploded. A very strong finish from a very strong team where young Curtis Jones stood out as a player who has certainly grown in his role. At the final signal, a few minutes later, the feeling of euphoria washed over him and Jürgen Klopp rushed to the short side and threw his fist in the air in front of the fans. It is obvious that the pale effort against Fulham the other day was a huge exception.

The Premier League is not even halfway there, but both Liverpool and Tottenham will likely compete for the title even when warmer winds blow in May. Although with different groups, injury lists and philosophies. But with the same will to win.

Of: Frida fagerlund

Published: December 16, 2020 at 11:25 p.m.

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