Spurs 2 Liverpool 2 & UEFA confirm our fate in the Europa Conference.

Match Report: Spurs 2 Liverpool 2 & UEFA confirm our fate in the Europa Conference.

First, let us deal with the latest news concerning our punishment for not playing our Europa Conference league match against Rennes.

UEFA confirm our fate in the Europa Conference League

UEFA have decided that our  Europa Conference League match against Rennes will end in a 3-0 win to the French side; which means we are out of the competition.

As we all know, we couldn't fulfil our final group stage game against Rennes because of a Covid-19 breakout at the club. After the game cancellation, UEFA revealed that the match would not be rescheduled as they could not find a solution that suits both parties, stating the case will now be decided by their Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.

Conte revealed that we offered to play Rennes the week after the postponement last week.

UEFA's statement read: "The Chairman of the UEFA Appeals Body took the following decision: To declare the 2021/22 UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Stade Rennais FC, that was initially scheduled to be played on 9 December 2021, as forfeited by Tottenham Hotspur FC, who is therefore deemed to have lost the match 0-3 in accordance with Annex J.3.1 to the Regulations of the UEFA Europa Conference League (2021/22 Season)."

My thoughts

This isn't football or how football should be done. However, personally, I think the finger should be pointed at the Premier League Jobworths, who should take the blame for not allowing us to play Rennes last week. Even more so, as our game against Leicester ended up being called off anyway.

On the upside: Conte now has one less competition to worry about. He can now focus his energies on finishing in the top four and, maybe, win a few trophies on the way.

Spurs 2 Liverpool 2 (looking good!)

In my match preview article, I said that I can see us winning even though some will expect us to get thrashed. Well, we didn't win, but we should have, and by at least 3 or 4 goals. I also said – before the match and afterwards (to my Whatsapp group) that if we lose, it won't be down to Conte as he had inherited this team, however, if we win or do well, then that would be down to Conte… and full credit to him as we stepped up to the mark. I have no real complaints about the match. Yes, we need a few tweaks here and there (new players in, old ones out, like those that are not up to the mark).

The trip

Travelling up to Spurs on Sunday, I was on my own as Mel couldn't make it, however, I got there nice and early as I met up with Shannyn (one of our Premium ladies… or was, until she got promoted) to wish her a Merry Christmas. After that the obligatory visit to the Spurs shop where I chatted to the manager and bought some items

After that, coffee and then waited in the queue to get in; extra-long waits because of COVID checks and then eventually through. Up the escalators (yes, you know the drill by now) and to our lounge, where I distributed cards and bought a bottle of Malbec (no, not just me!).

Once everybody arrived, we chatted about the game, who, what and why and then we gave our predictions. Terry thought we would lose 3-1, and I thought we would win 2-1. I was confident, and Liverpool hadn't won in the City this season.

There was no Christmas tree or Santa clause in our section, but musicians playing festive songs. No handing out Santa's nuts on this festive day, just the regular food, programme, and merry drinks to either celebrate what we hoped was, or drop our tears in our glass of vino or two.

To our seats.

Music, lights, cheers and merriment and the players were out (I don't mean, as in coming out… of course, that would be up to them… but out from the tunnel).  Positions, knees, back up, applause from the crowd, and then whistle-blowing to state that the battle should commence.

The Scousers were in their typical devil red costumes, while we were in our fighting blue and white (blue and white army) outfits.

Well, the good news, and to cut a very long story short – most will be covered below - Liverpool lost ground in the Premier League title race (hurray! That will knock that smug expression off their faces) in an energetic draw at our Arena of magic mushrooms. The game was packed with incidents and saw Andrew Robertson sent off for the visitors, which also witnessed KlipKlopp given a yellow card for smugness, aggression, or just being KlipKlopp, the smiling giant German gnome (well spotted; can gnomes also be giants?).

Earlier in the day, Manchester City beat Newcastle  4-0, which meant Liverpool could not top the league at Christmas for the first time in four years.

And the figure on the icing cake, yes, it was our Harry Kane; he ended his Premier League goal drought when he found the bottom corner from Tanguy Ndombele's pass, but we did waste several chances to double our lead. Twenty-two minutes later, Diogo Jota made us pay by heading in a cross from Robertson, who had missed a golden opportunity of his own in the opening 70 seconds.

Robertson then headed the Reds in front in the second half, only for Son to level after a mistake by Alisson four minutes later. Then a reckless tackle from Robertson for hacking down Emerson Royal. First, it was a yellow card, then VAR interjected, and it was quickly turned into a red.

This draw extends our unbeaten start to five games. However, we stay seventh with games in hand on those above us.

On a weekend of depleted Premier League action,  both sides served up an electrifying meeting packed with drama. Both teams faced Covid-related interruptions to our own preparations; nevertheless Klopp said beforehand that he had no idea which players would be available until the morning of the game.

Nine of our players tested positive during the past fortnight, as well as staff and under-23s.

Ndombele, making his first league start under Conte, showed his undoubted quality with a superbly weighted pass for Kane to shoot into the far corner for only his second goal in the Premier League this season and first in seven games.

Thoughts

As I said earlier, we should have won. Yes, Liverpool pressured, but we could have been out of sight with Dele Alli, however, he failed to convert a splendid chance from Son's pass, although Alisson got his hand to it. Overall, I see promise under Conte's watchful eye.

So, now we move on to our next game against the bubble-blowing spammers in the League Cup this Wednesday (at the Tottenham stadium). Before that bubble game, our group booked a Restaurant at the ground.  

All the best, Glenn