Liverpool 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
By Fran Lever 5/2/24
Above: Tottenham players after their draw away to Liverpool Photo: THFC
In a scrappy game that was hard to call at time, it was draw for the middle of the table teams Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
Before the game, Liverpool sat in fifth place and Tottenham Hotspur sat in sixth place. Both teams have showed so much potential this season. Liverpool won their opening game of the season at the Emirates and won against Manchester United in December. Tottenham have been improving under a new manager and new signings but had huge losses to both sides of Manchester.
The game between the two sides promised to help write the script for the rest of the season and potentially suggest how the middle of the table was going to look by the end of the season.
This is the Women’s Super League in 2024 though. Nothing is clear as it was, the traditional top four might not be safe and the game ended in a draw which will keep fans guessing.
Liverpool’s midfield looked magic at times and Fuka Nagano and Missy Bo Kearns both shone as they tried to create chances for their team.
Tottenham’s new signing Charlotte Grant and their loanee from Juventus Amanda Nildén helped shut down any attempts. Grant saw a yellow for her defensive efforts, with Liverpool fans chanting towards the end she should have seen a second for a risky challenge.
Grant’s yellow was not the only one that was shown to the Lilywhites. A further four were shown to Kit Graham, Martha Thomas, Jessica Naz and Wang Shuang throughout the game.
Grace Clinton again proved how she has transformed Tottenham’s midfield. She was able to create many chances for the team but that is where Tottenham are currently struggling because they are struggling to find their rhythm with two up front.
Martha Thomas was in more of a goal scoring form before Christmas she had whilst covering Bethany England, who has recently returned from the injury that had her sidelined.
England scored 12 in 12 WSL games last season following her move from Chelsea whilst Thomas has scored seven in the WSL this season since her move from Manchester United including the winner of the North London Derby in December.
It was not until Thomas was the only one on the pitch out of the two, she was able to assist Celin Bizet for the goal and break down Liverpool’s defence. The same as when she scored against Arsenal.
Is it coincidence or is something not clicking yet between the two players and does Robert Vilahamn need to go back to the drawing board with the team still being in three competitions?
Liverpool struggled against Tottenham’s defence but they were eventually able to break them down with a late goal from Marie Höbinger. Their biggest chances to create a bigger scoreline though were in the first half with the creative efforts of the midfield but again, like their opponents the chances were unable to be finished. Both sides have two up front and it does not work with both their soild midfields and defence, they do not have the freedom to run.
Gemma Bonner is an unsung hero for Liverpool’s defence and did not help towards Tottenham’s current striker issue. Bonner was frequently to break the attack down. She is a soild part of Matt Beard’s side and defence. Overall, the team would have conceded more without her.
Both teams had the power of super subs. Naz was able to add speed to Tottenham’s side and it was Höbinger who scored the goal to bring Liverpool level. The goal came with an assist from another sub, Melissa Lawley – who made her 100th appearance during the game. Both the Liverpool subs made the difference for the reds which is something Beard may need to go away and think about.
The game was lackluster at times so Liverpool and Tottenham will be happy to leave with at least a point from the effects but will be wishing they were able to do more.
With the game, they both still sit at the same positions in the Women’s Super League table and the middle of the table battle continues.
LIVERPOOL (3-5-2)
Laws; Bonner, Fahey, Fisk; Koivisto, Kearns, Nagano, Holland, Matthews; van de Sanden, Román Haug
Substitutes: Parry, Keirnan, Höbinger, Lawley
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-2)
Votikova; Grant, Turner, Bartrip, Nildén, Bizet, Ahtinen, Summanen, Clinton; England, Thomas
Substitutes: Naz, Petzelberger, Graham, Wang
Scorers: Höbinger 90+1’ , Bizet 71’
Referee: Lauren Impey
Attendance: 1,979
impetusfootball.org 