Last-gasp Matip own-goal hands Spurs victory over nine-man Liverpool

GAME, SET, MATCH: Tottenham Hotspur fans celebrate as Liverpool's Joel Matip scores an own goal.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (Son 36, Matip og 90+6) LIVERPOOL 1 (Gakpo 45+5) 

SOMETHING SPECIAL is happening in north London for the second season in succession, but this time it is the team in white from N17 who are pushing Manchester City at the top of the table.

Joel Matip's last-gasp own-goal meant Spurs finally beat Liverpool for the first time in six years to go back above Arsenal into second, a point behind City, after yet another dramatic game with a thrilling finish.

Liverpool had two men sent off and looked to have held on for a hard-fought point until Matip put the ball into his own net in the final minute of stoppage time, and the roof almost came off the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

It had been dramatic throughout, in keeping with a game that rarely disappoints. Liverpool started strongly and Luis Diaz had a shot deflected over the bar before Guglielmo Vicario made a super double save to deny Gakpo from close range and then Andy Robertson's follow-up shot.

Richarlison started in place of the injured Brennan Johnson and had Tottenham's best early chance, only to shoot wastefully high.

The game exploded into life midway through the first half. Jones slid in on Yves Bissouma with his studs up and the Mali midfielder went down clutching his shin. 

Initially Simon Hooper showed Jones a yellow card, but upgraded it to red after VAR suggested he review it on the pitchside monitor. Jones trudged off and Spurs had the advantage of an extra man, and Maddison forced the first exceptional save from Alisson, who dived full length to hold his curled shot.

Moments later, Liverpool thought they had scored when Diaz ran on to shoot into the far corner of goal. He was given offside instantly, and although replays suggested it might not be so clear cut, the effort was ruled out.

Spurs then took the lead in the 36th minute. Maddison sliced open Liverpool's defence with a perfectly weighted pass for Richarlison, who flicked the ball to his right for Heung Min Son to clip home a delicate finish. 

It was looking grim for Liverpool, a man and a goal down, but they fought back to equalise in first-half stoppage time. Dominik Szoboszlai curled a long pass toward the far post, Virgil Van Dijk nodded the ball back and Cody Gakpo turned to shoot past Vicario from close range. 

It was the Dutch forward's last involvement as he went down holding his knee, and was replaced by Diogo Jota for the second half.

Spurs went in search of a second but Alisson stood firm. He denied another curling effort from Maddison soon after the break and then made an even better save to tip over a volley from Son after the Spurs captain had chested down a pass from Maddison.

Liverpool were then reduced to nine men when Jota fouled Destiny Udogie twice inside a minute. Jurgen Klopp made three changes to tighten his defence, including the withdrawal of Mo Salah much to the delight of home supporters.

And just when it looked time was running out for Spurs, deep in stoppage time, Pedro Porro drilled in a cross from the right and Matip diverted it high into the net past the helpless Alisson. Cue bedlam and another loud chorus of “We're loving Big Ange” as Postecoglou took the applause of his adoring fans.

TOTTENHAM - 4-2-3-1: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Van, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Son, Richarlison. 

SUBS: Soloman for Son 68, Davies for Udogie 83, Skipp for Sarr 83, Veliz for Maddison 89, Hojbjerg for Bissouma 89.

LIVERPOOL - 4-4-2: Alisson; Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.  

SUBS: Jota for Gakpo 45, Endo for Diaz 73, Konate for Gomez 73, Alexander Arnold for Salah 74, Gravenberch for Mac Allister 80. 

Referee: Simon Hooper