Klopp: 'I would be lying if I said I was at my highest emotion but I have another game'
EMOTIONAL: Klopp is feeling emotional as the final games in Anfield are coming near.
MO Salah, who may be following Jurgen Klopp out of Anfield this summer, led the scorers on an afternoon that reminded us all of the what-might-have-beens for both of these Premier League giants.
The inevitable end of season feel to the match illustrated the fact that Liverpool have been out of serious title contention for some weeks while Tottenham, who started the match with realistic hopes of a top-four finish, slumped to their first four-game Premier League losing streak in 20 years.
With the Klopp countdown in full swing, and now the visit of Wolves on the final day the only remaining chance for supporters to say their farewells, Liverpool had the greater excuse to be on “gardening leave.” But, despite a late Spurs fightback, Andy Robertson, Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott joined Salah on the scoresheet although the lack of big stakes, from a Liverpool perspective at least, gave the game a real end of season air, especially with the May sunshine beating down on Anfield.
The rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was belted out with what seemed a little more gusto before the game and the celebrations on the final whistle certainly seemed like a precursor to what is bound to be an emotional goodbye in a fortnight. Even Klopp admitted this felt like a “warm-up” for the real farewell.
"I would be lying if I said I was at my highest emotion but I have another game,” said Klopp. “In two weeks time is another day.
“I have said it before, I love absolutely everything about this club. We will see how this game will be. Maybe it's pouring down and we cannot stay outside for long. There's a good chance it'll be raining, by the way."
Typical good-form from Klopp, ending on a quip, and his mood yesterday was helped by the fact that Salah, a week on from his very public falling out with the manager, was in inspired form as his side turned in a dominant first half showing.
The striker, whose future is very much a topic of debate as Liverpool prepare to welcome Arne Slot as Klopp’s successor, scored one and had a hand in the other as the Reds coasted.
"Mo was outstanding, he played a really good game,” said Klopp. “His side with Harvey was good. I was pleased for him. None of the boys want to play not great, why would they? But Mo showed what he is capable of.” After 16 minutes, Gakpo’s neat chipped cross found Salah at the far post and he headed in a precise finish from a tight angle, no more than six yards out, for his 18th of the Premier League season.
Not bad for a player who was so furious, at being dropped and then brought on as a late sub at West Ham last week that he stormed out of the stadium vowing “There will be fire if I speak.” Eight days on, the only fire was coming from Salah and his fellow attackers and the only surprise was that it took until a minute before the break for them to score again.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s right wing cross reached Robertson whose short pass allowed Salah a shot on goal which was well saved by Guglielmo Vicario.
But the rebound fell directly back to Robertson who had an open net to sweep the ball into and, thereafter, the outcome looked decided.
It certainly was on 49 minutes, when Elliott continued a busy afternoon by crossing from the right for Gakpo to powerfully head in the third.
The Kop practically sucked in that goal and was now in full voice as Liverpool looked determined to put on a clinic against a Spurs side whose early-season promise has long since evaporated and made way for another frustrating campaign.
At least they made Alisson perform a save, diving smartly to keep out Brennan Johnson’s 54th minute header.
Elliott was having an increasingly influential impact on the game and proved it with the goal of the match on the hour after a poor Emerson Royal header fell straight to Salah.
A short pass allowed Elliott to skip past Rodrigo Bentancur’s half-hearted challenge before planting an unstoppable drive into the top corner of the Spurs goal from over 20 yards.
Former Everton striker Richarlison added some much-needed attacking bite for his team and swept in an excellent six-yard finish, from Johnson’s 72nd minute cross, to at least record a consolation.
That goal breathed new belief into the visitors, albeit too little too late, and Richarlison continued his strong cameo by receiving Oliver Skipp’s cross and laying off the ball for Son Heung-Min to slot in a seconds five minutes later.
For Spurs, a faltering end to the season was made all the more painful by a half-time altercation between team-mates Royal and Cristian Romero.
“I didn’t see it but as I have said to others, they care,”: said manager Ange Postecoglu. “They are not going to just be happy with the current situation. Because they care they want to improve. There is nothing wrong with that as long as it stays constructive.”
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