Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Liverpool - 5 Talking Points

Jurgen Klopp made a stable start to his new reign at Liverpool with a hard fought 0-0 draw against a resilient Spurs side which is unbeaten since opening day. Some fantastic saves from Simon Mignolet and some wayward finishing from the Spurs frontline made the high energy game a drab draw.Neither side could make the difference although there were some decent chances at both ends. Arguably, Spurs had the better chances of the two but couldn’t finish them off. It’s not the best result for Klopp who took charge of Liverpool for the first time in the Premier League but a point is better than none for Liverpool as the other competitors at the top of the league all got 3 points.Here are the five talking points from the game at the Lane.

#1 Spurs\' unbeaten run continues

Spurs have shown sturdy resilience post their opening day defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The unbeaten run which stretches almost two months is commendable especially when it consists of a 4-1 demolition of high-flying Manchester City side.

After a slow start, Spurs failed to kick into the top gear as they failed to punish a sub-standard Liverpool side. But this has been the story for Spurs this season. They are either great or pedestrian. But they are yet to pay massively for their sloppiness as they somehow dig their heels in when it matters.

The unbeaten run is due to the solid defensive organization which has been implemented by Mauricio Pochettino. Solidity among the back 4 is complemented by the hard work of defensive enforcers in midfield, Eric Dier in particular.

Spurs’ defensive form is title winning but the real reason for their mid table placing are their shortcomings in the attacking third. Harry Kane’s slump in form and overdependence on Christian Eriksen are the major points of concern.

If at all Spurs wish to break inside the top 4 at the end of the season, they need to fire on all cylinders up front to complement their sturdy defense. Or else it is going to be the same old story for the Lilywhites come May.

#2 Simon Mignolet saves the day

He is a man of extremes for Liverpool when it comes to performances. Simon Mignolet can either be a villain or a hero on any given day. Todayhe was a hero for the Merseysiders as he saved them the blushes against a spirited Spurs side.

Liverpool’s susceptibility in midfield coupled with a shaky defense in front of him, it promised to be a long afternoon for the Belgian keeper. And it was a long one indeed and if not for the sublime saves that he made, it would’ve been a long afternoon for everyone in the Liverpool’s playing XI.

One thing which stood out in the Belgian’s stunning display was his exceptional positioning. His positioning cut out the angles to bypass him. This was the key to his stunning save off Harry Kane in the first half. His reading of the game especially in build-up play was top class as he snuffed quite a few dangerous passes right in the bud.

Mignolet’s quality has never been in question. Although, there are huge question marks over his consistency. If Klopp can bring that aspect into his game, he has a top keeper at his disposal.

#3 Liverpool\'s vulnerabilities exposed

There might be a strong sense of optimism in the red half of Merseyside due to the Klopp factor. But behind all this merriment lies the stark reality which highlights Liverpool’s chink in the armor which was easily exposed by Spurs today.

The counter-pressing tactic left Liverpool open in central midfield. Lucas Leiva’s ventures in opposition box meant Spurs often outnumbered Liverpool in midfield. The high-intensity pressing also made matters worse for the wingers, Adam Lallana and James Milner, who were most made to play supporting cast to their fullbacks.

James Milner was the one who tucked inside centrally to cover up for the high-pressing midfielders. Spurs almost split the Liverpool defense thanks to such a porous midfield ahead of them. If not for some wasteful finishing and superb Mignolet saves, Jurgen Klopp would’ve joined the illustrious list of Liverpool managers who made a losing debut for the club.

#4 Spurs\' creative players go kaput

Harry Kane is suffering from the second season syndrome and it was evident from his performance against a shaky Liverpool defense. It seems nothing is going his way despite doing the same things which made him the PFA Young Player of the Year.

Or maybe this is what has led to his undoing this season. Kane isn’t the only one who had a precarious game. Erik Lamela was the other Spurs creative player who blew hot and cold throughout the game. Lamela was anonymous for large swathes of game and it was mainly due to the hardwork of the Liverpool wide-men in marking him tightly and pressurizing him whenever in possession.

Christian Eriksen was the only one who looked threatening and capable of producing the moment of magic at any given instant. But sadly he was shunted out of the game by Liverpool and also partly due to the lackadaisical performance by his attacking peers.

#5 Geggenpressen ahoy

Jurgen Klopp promised media and fans that his side will play with more aggression and energy in his first press conference as a Liverpool manager. And after a testing debut at White Hart Lane, it is unmistakable to ignore the German’s zest in this Liverpool side.

He ditched Rodgers’ favoured back three for a more conventional and stable 4-2-3-1 with Can and Lucas playing as a double pivot in the heart of the midfield. Liverpool’s hunger to outpress Spurs was visible from the outset and it almost paid off in the initial stages of the game. Adam Lallana and Emre Can acted as the chief press-masters for the Reds.

The initial impressions of Liverpool in geggenpressen seem promising but to implement it successfully in the long run is a Herculean task especially with the players at disposal. Liverpool players looked jaded as the game wore on due to the rigours of the new system implemented by the new manager. Meanwhile, we can welcome the famed tactic to the birthplace of the beautiful game.