PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 15TH MARCH, 2026
4.30PM
LIVERPOOL 1(1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(0)

Liverpool scorer:-
Szoboszlai, 18

Spurs scorer:-
Richarlison, 90

Attendance:- 60,386

Referee:- Chris Kavanagh
Assistants:- Dan Cook & James Mainwaring
Fourth Official:- Thomas Kirk
VAR:- John Brooks
VAR Assistant:- Dan Robathan

Teams:-
Liverpool (4-2-3-1):- 1. Alisson; 8. Szoboszlai, 2. Gomez, 4. Van Dijk (Capt.), 26. Robertson; 38. Gravenberch, 10. Mac Allister (sub 14. Chiesa, 90+1); 30. Frimpong (sub 11. Salah, 64), 7. Wirtz (sub 17. Jones, 64), 73. Ngumoha (sub 22. Ekitike, 64); 18. Gakpo (sub 42. Nyoni, 83)

Subs not used:- 25. Mamardashvili; 5. Konate, 6. Kerkez, 47. Ramsay

No bookings

Spurs (4-4-2):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro (Capt.), 4. Danso, 3. Dragusin, 24. Spence (sub 52. Olusesi, 76); 38. Souza (sub 7. Xavi, 56), 14. Gray, 29. Sarr, 11. Tel (sub 39. Kolo Muani, 75) ; 9. Richarlison (sub 76. Rowswell, 90+6), 19. Solanke

Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky, 40. Austin; 79. Wilson

No bookings

Battling performance and precious point gives Spurs hope

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture

Interim coach Igor Tudor got a battling performance with severely limited resources and Spurs gained a precious and deserved point with a goal scored by Richarlison in the 90th minute. My headline would have read "Battling performance gives Spurs hope," even if "Richie" had not scored that late goal. The fact is Spurs had more shots on target than did Liverpool who were booed off by some elements in their crowd. Spurs were well supported throughout and heartily cheered and applauded at the end of the game.

Both West Ham and Nottingham Forest had drawn their games before we played. This unexpected, but most welcome result keeps us one point above both teams. Next week's home game against Forest has mighty implications.

Conor Gallagher's illness kept him out of the reckoning. Igor Tudor could only list seven substitutes, two of whom were goalkeepers, plus three youngsters. The coach made four changes after Tuesday's Champions League game with Vicario, Dragusin, Solanke and Souza starting in favour of Kinsky, Van de Ven (suspended), Romero (injured), and Kolo Muani. Yves Bissouma had also joined the long list of enforced absences.

Tudor sprung a surprise with his 4-4-2 formation. Souza played in front of Pedro Porro. Tel played in front of Spence, but both were keen to advance down the left flank.

Thanks to Andy Park for this picture

Liverpool have their own battle for this year's Champions League and a place for next season on their mind. Perhaps that's why Arne Slot started without the likes of Konate, Salah and Ekitike, as they are a goal down on Galatasary who they host on Wednesday when we are playing our second leg against Atletico. Slot played Szoboszlai at right back with Frimpong ahead of him.

Spurs played in their third strip and Liverpool kicked off towards the Kop Stand. Archie Gray hit an early long ball for Spence to chase, but the ball ran to Alisson's arms. I noted we were holding our own for the first six minutes. What was refreshing was that we played less of the short stuff at the back (it still went on) and we were delivering the ball forward more quickly. We were defending stoutly, always seeking to get men behind the ball.

Mathys Tel needed early treatment after a strong challenge by Szoboszlai. There were initial fears that we had another concussion patient, but Tel was able to continue.

After a corner, Wirtz hit a low pass to Gakpo, who hit a wayward shot. Richarlison fed the ball to Solanke who got to the bye-line on the left, before crossing to the near post where Souza's effort which was very close to the post. Souza soon had a rocket shot from outside the box well saved by Alisson. After the corner a Sarr effort was blocked, but referee Chris Kavanagh spotted a foul in the box. The referee (who recently was stood down after errors in an FA Cup match) didn't book anybody today (apart from the Spurs coach) and upset the home fans more than Spurs' followers on the whole.

Mr Kavanagh gave a free kick in favour of the home side after a perceived challenge upon Gravenberch as he approached our area. We were made to pay the maximum penalty when renowned free kick merchant Szoboszlai beat Vicario who was just too far to his left a little slow making his dive. The keeper got a hand to the ball but could not prevent it from hitting the back of the net. The Kop smelled blood!

Gakpo had a chance after Liverpool fielded a long clearing ball, but his shot was well over the target.

There was the customary Anfield applause and respect for Diogo Jota (R.I.P) on 20 minutes. Spurs representatives had laid wreaths in Liverpool's memorial garden prior to the game.

Kevin Danso had a stalwart game today I felt and made a vital block of a shot by Mac Allister. Danso made plenty more vital interventions but was not alone in defence.

Szoboszlai won a good battle against Tel as the Spurs wing-man sought to advance.

17-year-old Rio Ngumoha was making a long awaited first Premier League start and he had a good shot well blocked by Spurs captain Pedro Porro. Gakpo hit Vicario's right post after Mac Allister's pass. Vicario had managed a slight touch on the ball.

Souza fouled Ngumoha outside the box on the left and Szoboszlai's free kick was blocked. Spurs suffered a spell of pressure here before Richarlison fed a long clearance to Tel who crossed from the left before Richarlison's header was well saved at the expense of a corner. "Richie" had another header saved after Tel won and took another corner.

There were no changes for the second half and Spurs kicked off. Ngumoha got the better of Pedro Porro and was upset when the referee gave a goal kick and not a corner after Souza closed him down.

Kevin Danso took a long throw after which Frimpong raced forward down the right wing. He crossed to Ngumoha, whose shot was high and wide of Vicario's left post. Another Ngumoha shot was on target but held by Vicario.

Richarlison was being held back by Van Dijk as he battled for a long Vicario ball. Despite being off balance "Richie" hit a shot on target which was palmed away by Alisson. Before the corner was taken, Xavi Simons replaced Souza and with his first touch nearly scored with a powerfully driven shot from the edge off the area. That was blocked.

Wirtz hit a shot/cross through the area after taking a pass from Ngumoha. At the other end, after taking a pass from Pedro Porro, Tel hit a cross which also passed through the area, after which Liverpool were awarded a free kick.

Slot made a triple substitution with the "big guns" of Ekitike, Salah and Jones replacing Ngumoha, Wirtz and Frimpong.

Richarlison had another shot on goal held after a mis-placed clearance by Van Dijk. Vicario got away with carrying the ball over his line with his back to the distant assistant who was unable to advise the referee. Home fans were livid! Dragusin struggled against Salah who got a shot in, but that passed wide across the goalkeeper, who in the striker's eyes had got a touch.

Xavi passed to Djed Spence whose right-footed shot was on target but held. It was end to end football and refreshingly, a good performance by our team. Tudor took off Tel and Spence for Kolo Muani and Premier League debutant Callum Olusesi.

Salah had a shot pass wide and also passed to Gravenberch whose deflected shot was held by Vicario. At the other end Richarlison just failed to reach a cross by Archie Gray from the left wing.

There was an incident of poor play-out football between Vicario and Dragusin who again struggled versus Salah who won a corner. That man Szoboszlai hit another shot wide.

Xavi had a right foot shot held after another Gray cross before Richarlison scored a dramatic 90th minute equaliser. Kolo Muani fielded Vicario's long ball (see - these things do work!) and fed the ball to "Richie" who placed his shot well to the right of the keeper. It was "Richie"'s fifth Anfield goal and his third for Spurs. He is the first visiting player to score two 90th-minute goals at Anfield in Premier League history. Both were for Spurs.

There were five minutes of added time. At the very end of that time, after Spurs won a corner on the right, Tudor replaced Richarlison with another junior, making his debut - James Rowswell. The corner was cleared and Ekitike broke forward to win a corner, after which he had a shot blocked. The final whistle was blown, and we could celebrate a memorable point.

This was Spurs first draw after five consecutive defeats, and Tudor's first draw after four defeats. We still seek our first league win of 2026. Let's hope that comes next Sunday!

. Declan Mulcahy writes his fourth article in the series "A dozen definitive days"

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