Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham - Premier League RECAP: Reds return to form as Harvey Elliott nets a screamer... before late Spurs double set up nervy finish

Well, the time has now come. What a wonderful afternoon of football.

Liverpool finally returned to their usual selves with a scintillating display, smashing four past a sorry Spurs at Tottenham.

Mo Salah netted the first, putting last week's sour events behind him. He looked back to his best at Anfield today.

Then there were goals for Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo, before a sensational finish from Harvey Elliott to finish it off.

Or so we thought. Tottenham did have a small revival with two goals in five minutes from Richarlison and Son Heung-Min.

However, even those goals, despite giving Anfield anxiety, couldn't paper over the cracks of another woeful Tottenham display.

It now seems their hopes of securing a Champions League spot are over, while Liverpool have cemented third place in the Premier League, at the very least.

Right, now it's time for me to head off. As always, it's been a pleasure guiding you through another eventful afternoon in England's top division.

Have a lovely evening. Goodbye.

Roy Keane, former Manchester United captain, speaking about Ange Postecoglou on Sky Sports:

Right then, I think it's time for a change of voice.

You all hear a lot of my perspective, but now it's time to hear from another of our reporters.

Mail Sport's Joe Bernstein was in the press box at Anfield to witness Liverpool's destruction of Tottenham.

One thing I'll tell you is that Joe refers to Spurs as shambolic, which encapsulates their performance perfectly.

To read more on Mail+, click below:

Mo Salah is a machine.

Blink for a second, and Mo Salah has already scored 20 or more goals in a season.

He may have his critics, but with the numbers Salah puts up every season, there is no denying he is a Premier League great.

You can never keep a good scorer out.

Roy Keane, former Manchester United captain, speaking about Jurgen Klopp on Sky Sports:

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool boss, speaking to Sky Sports:

Wow, Liverpool had 13 shots on target!

It just proves how dominant the Reds were today, Guglielmo Vicario had to come up with so many saves, especially in the first half.

I am slightly surprised with the possession statistics, but in the end, they don't count for much, do they?

When Liverpool are on it, they rip teams apart. They did that today.

Right, so we have to talk about this.

An incredible thing happened just after the half-time whistle as Emerson Royal and Cristian Romero seemed to collide and exchange some aggressive opinions.

They had to be separated by their own goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario. It would be interesting to know what was said.

I'm assuming Cristian Romero was calling Emerson out for how poorly he played in that first period, he was terrible today.

Does this show just how wrong things are going for Tottenham, right now?

Son Heung-Min, Tottenham captain, speaking to Sky Sports:

What has happened to Tottenham?

At the start of the season, we were all raving about Ange Postecoglou's side as they raced to the top of the Premier League within the first 10 games.

How times have changed. They have lost each of their last four games in the Premier League, and are almost certain to miss out on the top four.

It's their longest losing run since November 2004, a run of six. Not what many of us were expecting.

Their season has unravelled spectacularly.

Liverpool goalscorer Harvey Elliott, speaking to Sky Sports:

I have to cherry-pick this goal to show you, it's a beautiful hit.

It's the kind of hit you tell your mates you have scored in SundayLeague when in actual fact you netted a tap-in.

I'm not sure Harvey Elliott will hit the ball much better during the rest of his career. It's such a sweet strike.

I could watch this over and over again, and so can you. Enjoy.

Cody Gakpo, Liverpool goalscorer, speaking to Sky Sports:

For 70 minutes of that match, Liverpool were at their flowing best.

We haven't seen the Reds play like that in some time, but in Jurgen Klopp's penultimate Anfield match, they had to put on a show.

Now that the final whistle has gone, Klopp can say he never lost to Tottenham at Anfield during his nine-year tenure.

In fact Liverpool have only lost one of their last 30 Premier League games against Spurs at Anfield, winning 20.

They have scored four goals in consecutive home league games against them for the first time - 4-3 last year and 4-3 today.

Spurs don't like a trip to Anfield, that's for sure.

Anfield rises to its feet as Paul Tierney blows the full-time whistle, Liverpool did indeed get the job done.

For the most part, the Reds were at their very best, tearing Tottenham to shreds at will.

They raced into a four-goal lead with Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott seemingly finishing the job after the break.

However, as they always do, Liverpool made it hard for themselves when Spurs grabbed two quick goals to worry the Anfield crowd.

But in the end, the deficit was too large for the visitors. They have now lost four games on the bounce...

Surely, Spurs' Champions League hopes are over now.

That should have been curtains for the Tottenham fightback.

Darwin Nunez gallops through and just needs to send the ball across to Cody Gakpo to score, but his pass is diverted away by Micky van de Ven.

Nunez then gets in the exact same situation, just on the left-hand side, but this time he finds Mo Salah to score.

However, Nunez - as he is a lot - is offside.

What a clearance from Joe Gomez.

That is simply incredible defending from the Liverpool man, he gets his boot as high as he can to prevent Brennan Johnson turning home into an empty net.

Johnson then smashes into the post, which looks extremely painful. He hit it at full throttle.

VAR does check for a penalty for a high boot, but rightfully, the check is cleared.

Harvey Elliott's afternoon has come to an end and he gets a standing ovation by the Anfield crowd.

His goal was simply a stunner, and he is replaced by a man who knows anything or two about them, Dominik Szoboszlai.

Oh my word, Tent Alexander-Arnold almost scores from the halfway line.

Now that he knows Xabi Alonso isn't coming to Liverpool, he decides to turn into him and spots Guglielmo Vicario off his line.

He goes for it and it very nearly pays off, but the ball floats just over the bar.

Liverpool decided to wake up.

I'm not quite sure how Mo Salah didn't score there. There is a mix-up between Guglielmo Vicario and Micky Van de Ven, and the ball comes to Salah in the six-yard box.

However, he can't get enough on the ball to turn it home.

What is going on?

Tottenham have suddenly come to life, and they have another. Richarlison sets up captain Son Heung-Min to halve the deficit.

Liverpool have really switched off, is anybody getting a bit of de ja vu from this fixture last season. Anfield is anxious.

Suddenly we have a game on our hands...

Both sides have decided to make some changes following that goal.

Darwin Nunez and Ryan Gravenberch come on for Liverpool, replacing Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister.

For Spurs, Giovani Lo Celso comes on in place of Pape Sarr.

No clean sheet for Liverpool.

I said the Reds had looked like they had taken their foot off the gas, and there is your proof.

The Reds' backline falls asleep and Brennan Johnson plays the ball across for former Everton man, Richarlison, to fire home from close range.

A consolation goal for Tottenham.

Yves Bissouma is now in the book for Spurs for dissent, he's not had a very good day.

That allows for Jurgen Klopp to make a monumental substitution for a certain youngster.

Stefan Bajcetic steps onto the Anfield turf for the first time in the Premier League this season, following a long time out with injury.

He gets a huge cheer as he replaces Wataru Endo. Joe Gomez is also on for goalscorer Andy Robertson.

Ange Postecoglou has now seen enough, he makes a triple-change.

Richarlison, James Maddison, and Oliver Skipp all enter the fray, and Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, and - you guessed it - Emerson Royal all make way.

His nightmare is over.

WOW! That is a stunner.

You don't hit them much sweeter than that, Elliott receives the ball on the edge of the area from Mo Salah and bends it straight into the top corner.

Emerson Royal is involved in a bad way again, he should have cleared the ball with his head, but instead let it go over his head to Salah. You know the rest.

This could be any number, Liverpool are in dreamland.

I know I have already said it, as has Gary Neville, but Emerson Royal is really having a stinker.

He has just been booked for a pull of the shirt stopping the hosts from going on the counter-attack.

He just can't cope.

A rare chance for Spurs, and it's a very good one.

Brennan Johnson does really well to dive and meet a cross with his head, but his header is straight at Alisson.

If he managed to find a corner, Alisson would not have got there.

Much better from the visitors.

Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports on the third goal:

And that should be that!

I wrote about Emerson Royal at the break for being poor, and he is at fault for the third...

Harvey Elliott pinches the ball of the Spurs full-back and whips in a lovely cross for Cody Gakpo to head home.

It's an impressive leap by Gakpo, he beats Cristian Romero in the air with ease, which is not easy.

Liverpool are running away with it.

Liverpool starting this second half as they finished the first.

The Red arrows race forward on the counter-attack and Mo Salah gets in again.

However, he can't sort his feet out and his effort is far too comfortable for Guglielmo Vicario.

The ball is rolling again at Anfield.

There have been no changes at the break, but Spurs could do with a change in performance levels in this second half.

Can they come back, or will Liverpool continue to have joy?

I think it's fair to say, Emerson Royal has not been at his best today.

Mo Salah, as you say, has had him on toast. The Spurs full-back lost track of Salah for the goal, and that's not the only time.

You feel that if Ange Postecoglou is going to make a change, it will probably be at left-back.

Not to mention, Emerson got into an intense argument with Cristian Romero as they went in for half-time.

Not good.

Andy Robertson is enjoying life in front of goal at the moment.

It's very rare for the Liverpool man to score one goal, but he now has two in two matches.

It's that rare, that it's actually the first time he has managed it in the Premier League.

He looked like a natural goalscorer for that second.

Anfield roars as it looks like Mo Salah is through one-on-one, but Guglielmo Vicario races out of his net to clear.

And there goes the whistle, Liverpool take a two-goal lead into the break, and they probably should have more.

Following a bright opening 10 minutes from Tottenham, it's been a barrage of opportunities coming from the men in red shirts.

Ange Postecoglou has another big team talk on his hands...

Liverpool do have their second!

I can't believe I am writing this, but Andy Robertson has two goals in two games...

The Reds full-back reacts quickest to tap home from close range after Guglielmo Vicario parried MoSalah's strike into his path.

Thoroughly deserved.

Pape Sarr goes into the book.

Paul Tierney seemingly gives him a yellow card for stopping Liverpool trying to take a free-kick.

He just wants some respite...

Liverpool really should have put this match to bed.

Tottenham give the ball away at the back and Liverpool come once again.

The Reds work it across to Trent Alexander-Arnold who fires an effort narrowly over the bar.

Are Liverpool going to rue these missed chances?

Mo Salah is smiling again!

After everything that has happened over the past seven days, that is a huge goal for Salahg and for Liverpool.

Cody Gakpo clips a delightful ball to the back post, Salah leaves his man and heads home.

The first thing that comes to Salah's face is a beaming smile, he has his 18th goal of the Premier League season.

Liverpool have suddenly come to life.

Guglielmo Vicario is called into action and he does very well to get low and deny Mo Salah as he races through.

The ball then falls to Harvey Elliot who looks set to score, but his half-volley is straight at Vicario.

The hosts all of a sudden mean business.

Mo Salah hits the bar, that came out of nowhere!

Liverpool have been on the backfoot early on, but Salah surprises everyone in Anfield and bends one onto the crossbar.

Spurs can't clear, and Cody Gakpo nearly sets up Salah for another bite at the cherry but it doesn't reach him.

better from the hosts.

Here we go then, Tottenham get the ball rolling at Anfield.

Can they end their losing streak on Merseyside, or will Liverpool refind their form?

Let's find out!

Joe Bernstein, Mail Sport, at Anfield:

It's all over at the Amex and Brighton have emerged victorious, potentially doing Spurs a favour in the process.

If today's visitors can now go on and win both of their games in hand over Unai Emery's side the gap will be just one point between the Champions League rivals.

Between today's fixture and a visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from Manchester City next week Spurs have it all to do.

They have the quality, but do they have what it takes to get the results?

Spurs are completing their final warm-ups on the pitch with kick-off now just 20 minutes away.

Chelsea's dominant win earlier today has only increased pressure on Spurs as the race for European football continues to heat up.

For Ange Postecoglou today's mission is simple: put an end to the club's three-game losing streak and restore confidence at a crucial juncture in the campaign.

Chelsea have ran rampant at Stamford Bridge and thrashed David Moyes' side.

Goals from Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher, Noni Madueke and a Nicolas Jackson brace cemented another impressive win for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

The Blues now move to within six points of Tottenham in seventh and Ange Postecoglou will now be looking over his shoulder in the race for European football.

It's all smiles at Anfield but Ange Postecoglou will know just how crucial a result is today for his team.

Spurs currently sit eight points behind Aston Villa in the race for European football as we approach the end of the campaign.

Today's clash marks one of the two games today's visitors have in hand over their European football, and the opportunity to reduce the defecit two just two points with back-to-back wins will no doubt be on the Australian's mind.

Kick-off is now just 45 minutes away...

Ange Postecoglou has made just one change from the team that were defeated by Chelsea in midweek, with Rodrigo Bentacur replacing Richarlison.

Meanwhile James Maddison has again been named on the bench as he looks for an opportunity to recapture the form that saw him so instrumental in Spurs' early season success.

Mo Salah has returned to the starting XI after the being named on the bench for the club's 2-2 draw with West Ham.

After being called on to replace Luis Diaz in the closing stages of that game, Salah engaged in a highly-publicised on-field spat with Jurgen Klopp.

However, despite the fall out, Salah returns to his more familiar place in the team, with Ryan Gravenberch dropping to the bench marking the only change from that game.

Conor Bradley is also back in the match day squad after recovering from injury.

Liverpool Virgil van Dijk urged his team to keep fighting until the end of the season in his programme notes published on the club's website: