LIVERPOOL: Harry Kane’s 100th Premier League goal from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time snatched a controversial point for Tottenham Hotspur from a dramatic finale in a 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.
Mohamed Salah’s stunning 91st-minute solo run and finish for his second goal of the game looked to have handed Liverpool a vital victory in the battle for a place in the top four.
But Kane, who had already seen a penalty saved by Loris Karius five minutes from time, converted second time round from the spot with virtually the last kick of the game after Liverpool’s £75 million January recruit Virgil van Dijk was adjudged to have brought down Erik Lamela.
Kane’s 21st league goal of the season also edged him one back ahead of Salah in the race to be the Premier League’s top scorer, but Liverpool were left furious at referee Jon Moss and his assistants.
A point leaves third-placed Liverpool still two points ahead of Tottenham, who remain in fifth.
The majority of a 53,000 crowd had barely taken their seats before being brought to their feet inside three minutes when Eric Dier’s misplaced pass freed Salah in behind the Spurs defense to slot confidently past Hugo Lloris.
Van Dijk had enjoyed a fine game until the final act as he produced an excellent block to deny Son Heung-min and it was Mousa Dembele who had Tottenham’s first attempt on target that Karius trapped low to his right five minutes before half-time.
Despite enjoying the bulk of possession, Tottenham struggled to penetrate Liverpool’s three-man midfield and were often caught out on the counter-attack.
However, even when the Liverpool defense was opened up, Karius came to their rescue with a brave block to deny Son before Alli pulled his follow-up effort wide.
In Tottenham’s desperation to get back in the game, Alli was then booked for diving as Dejan Lovren carefully pulled out of a challenge inside the area.
Tottenham have now won just one of 19 visits to Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in Mauricio Pochettino’s four-year reign in charge.
But they did salvage the point their second-half display at least deserved thanks in no small part to a stunning strike from substitute Victor Wanyama with his first touch.
The Kenyan had only been on the pitch a minute when he latched onto a punch from Karius to crash an unstoppable drive into the top corner.
Spurs then thought they had the chance to win the game was Kane was brought down by Karius and Moss pointed to the spot.
After a long discussion with one of his assistants, Moss stood by his original decision despite Kane arguably being in an offside position as he latched onto Alli’s through ball.
However, justice was done for Liverpool when Karius repelled Kane’s poorly hit penalty.
Moments later Anfield was in raptures as Salah escaped from three Spurs challenges before dinking high beyond Lloris to send Jurgen Klopp racing down the touchline in celebration.
That joy was short-lived, though, as Spurs were awarded a second penalty, this time by Moss’s assistant for Van Dijk’s late swipe at Lamela.
Kane kept his composure to send Karius the wrong way for his Premier League century and maintain Tottenham’s Champions League hopes.
Harry Kane’s 100th Premier League goal saves Spurs at Liverpool
Harry Kane’s 100th Premier League goal saves Spurs at Liverpool
Archer dismisses Australian tailenders for a 5-wicket haul to keep England in the Ashes contest
ADELAIDE, Australia: Jofra Archer dismissed Mitchell Starc for a well-made 54 and No. 11 Nathan Lyon to restrict Australia to 371 on Thursday and complete a five-wicket haul to keep England in the Ashes contest.
Archer picked up the first wicket of the third test, two more in the first over after lunch later Wednesday and the last two on Day 2 after Australia resumed at 322 for eight.
Starc made it back-to-back half centuries to continue his run of form that has earned him player-of-the-match honors in Australia’s opening eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane.
He was unbeaten on 33 overnight and quickly raced to his half-century, plundering four boundaries in the first 10 deliveries of the morning: two slashing cuts in the first over from Archer and two more to wayward deliveries from Brydon Carse.
Starc reached 50 with a single, hit the first ball of Archer’s next over to the boundary but then the England paceman bowled him with a delivery that angled in from around the stumps.
The last-wicket pair added 23 runs before Archer trapped Lyon lbw, leaving Scott Boland unbeaten on 14 from 21 deliveries.
Archer returned 5-53 from 20.2 overs for his fourth five-wicket haul in test cricket, and third in the Ashes.
Victory a must by England
England needs a victory in Adelaide to have any chance of reclaiming the Ashes in this five-test series. A good batting performance in hot conditions on Thursday will help the cause, particularly with the Australians in the field and the temperature forecast to get close to 40C on Day 2.
On Wednesday, Alex Carey posted a hometown hundred and Usman Khawaja scored 82 after he was recalled at the last minute to replace Steve Smith on the eve of his 39th birthday.
Carey’s 106 was slightly contentious after he survived a review for caught behind when he was on 72. England reviewed the initial not out decision but Carey survived as decision review technology showed a noise spike before the ball had reached his bat.
The technology’s operators, BBG, later conceded after play ended that an operator error was most likely.
“Given that Alex Carey admitted he had hit the ball in question, the only conclusion that can be drawn from this, is that the Snicko operator at the time must have selected the incorrect stump mic for audio processing,” BBG founder Warren Brennan said in a statement.
Before play on Day 2, the ICC match referee restored one review to England because of the error.
