Spurs 2-2 Liverpool: Robertson sees red minutes after scoring as Kane finally strikes in thriller

Two weeks without a game, training with mannequins to make up for lost players appeared to have done Tottenham little harm. They were fast and aggressive, hungrier and more physical than they were before the enforced break.

Liverpool, too, were impressive. Full of energy, purpose and intent despite the relentless schedule and some key absentees. And, on a weekend when the fixtures were devastated by positive Covid tests, both teams can take great credit for producing a thrilling contest.

There were goals, there were wonderful saves, terrible missed chances and the momentum swung one way and then the other.

Tottenham were held 2-2 by 10-man Liverpool on Sunday in a frantic Premier League match amid the Covid-19 outbreak 

Harry Kane scored his first goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season to open the scoring after a strong Spurs start 

Andy Robertson has a superb game but it all unravelled minutes after scoring, as he was punished for fouling Emerson Royal 

There were penalty appeals and controversy, with a red card shown to Andy Robertson in the 77th minute, and one not shown to Harry Kane for a tackle on Robertson in the first half.

Kane looked much improved and opened the scoring before Liverpool fought back with goals by Diogo Jota and Robertson, before Heung-min Son pounced for the equaliser.

Either team might have won. Antonio Conte will reflect on opportunities spurned by Kane, Son and Dele Alli. Jurgen Klopp, who was shown a yellow card during a heated spell in the first half, will feel his team made most of the running and were on the wrong end of the decisions.

Still, a point each is perhaps fair. Spurs are a different proposition under Conte and Klopp’s impressive record against them stands. The German has lost only once in 15 games.

Liverpool opened with intent, creating early chances. Robertson headed wide from a pass by Trent Alexander-Arnold when he really ought to have hit the target.

Hugo Lloris made saves from James Milner and Alexander-Arnold but it soon became clear this would be a game swinging from other end to the other, with little by the way of resistance in midfield, where both sides were weakened by the absence of those who protect the centre-halves.

Liverpool started with teenager Tyler Morton trusted in the deep role, flanked by Naby Keira and Milner. Spurs deployed Harry Winks, with Tanguy Ndombele to his right and Alli to his left.

Kane went close, his effort blocked by Ibrahima Konate, deputising again for Virgil van Dijk, before finding the net in the 13th minute.

Winks snapped into a tackle to win possession as Liverpool tried to break out of defence and Ndombele’s pass released Kane. This time he escaped Konate, finishing cleanly, across goal and inside the far post.

Klopp had both hands up, noisily enquiring about a foul by Winks. There was none and, as Kane celebrated only his second of this Premier League campaign, a ripple of relief washed around the stadium.

Was this it? Was Kane back? It seemed as if he might be. Sharper in the mind, quicker across the ground, although not quick enough to avoid a late studs-up challenge on Robertson.

Kane finally got on the score-sheet at home, and had plenty of supply on Sunday to score more but hasn't quite re-found form

Diogo Jota scored a superb header, setup by Robertson's cross, to equalise in an end-to-end first-half in north London 

Antionio Conte could barely believe his eyes as Spurs missed chance after chance, with Son, Kane and Alli all off-target 

Referee Paul Tierney booked the England captain. The slow motion replays did not reflect well on the tackle. Slow motion replays rarely do. But he tried to win the ball in a contest unfolding at a breathless tempo.

The officials on the pitch were better off making the call than the ones in front of the video screens, and that is the conclusion they reached. Kane stayed on and he was as influential as he has been for Spurs this season.

Soon after his goal, he sped away and crossed for Heung-min Son, who missed the target at full stretch. Son was clear again, seconds later. There was no flag, although replays showed he was offside, and Alisson saved.

Liverpool summoned a response, however, and forced Tottenham to defend. Lloris saved from Keita and Mane headed wide at the back post after a free-kick routine on the left.

Alisson kept the visitors in the game when he foiled Alli, again on the counter-attack. Winks released Son and he rolled the ball square to Alli, arriving in front of goal, 12 yards out, on his right foot.

It was an incredible save and its value enhanced when Jota sprang high to head in the equaliser from a Robertson cross, 10 minutes before half time.

The momentum was Liverpool’s and Jota thought he deserved a penalty when he tumbled under contact from Emerson Royal as he prepared to shoot. It is hard to sympathise when so many players seem to prefer to wait for contact and claim a penalty than try to find the net.

Kane was fortunate not to be sent-off for his studs-up challenge on Robertson in the first-half, only seeing a yellow card 

This was one of those occasions. Still, this infuriated Liverpool. Klopp was shown a yellow card as his frustration boiled over, and he was seen in conversation with the referee at half-time.

Before then, there had been more chances at both ends. Mane and Jota went close and Lloris blocked a sweet half-volley from Alexander-Arnold at his near post.

Ryan Sessegnon, having kept Mo Salah quiet for most of the first half, then popped up at the other end and almost restored Tottenham’s lead before the interval.

Spurs missed another glorious opportunity, early in the second half, when Alli went clear and, rather than go for goal, passed it square to Kane. Perhaps the memory of Alisson’s save in the first half convinced him not to take the shot.

His pass to Kane was under-hit and gave Alisson the time he needed to make another fabulous save.

Kane headed over from a corner, flicked on at the near post, and Alli’s appeal for a penalty, under a challenge from behind by Alexander-Arnold, was waved away.

Liverpool took the lead through Robertson. Lloris scrambled from his line to stop the danger from Salah and Mane but Alexander-Arnold whipped the loose ball back into the goalmouth.

Robertson stooped to head it in. There was a VAR check on a possible handball by Salah but the goal was awarded.

Spurs hit back to level with the help of a misjudgement by Alisson, who dashed out of his box in a bid to beat Son to a long pass by Winks. The ‘keeper seemed to be there first but missed the ball and left Son to tap into an open goal.

Then came Robertson’s red card, for a wild swipe with his left boot that took Royal’s legs away from under him. Tierney initially pulled out a yellow but was advised to check the pitch-side monitor and changed his decision to a red.

It was Liverpool’s first red card in 80 Premier League games and Robertson walked off, asking about the difference between his tackle on Royal and the one made by Kane on him in the first half. He had a point. Either both are out of control and reckless or both are aggressive acts in full-throttle contest.