Spurs get fourth straight loss against Liverpool 4-2 as Champions League light dims

Two late-game goals from Richarlison and Son Heung-min weren’t enough for Spurs to scrape any points from their clash with Liverpool as even a draw became a far-fetched dream.

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min, second from left, vies with Liverpool's Wataru Endo and Alexis MacAllister during the match at Anfield in Liverpool, England on Sunday. [AP/YONHAP]

Tottenham Hotspur suffered their fourth straight Premier League loss after falling 4-2 to Liverpool at Anfield in Liverpool, England on Sunday, further dimming the lights on their hopes of qualification to the Champions League as they sit seven points behind fourth-place Aston Villa with three games to go.

The top four teams in the Premier League at the end of the season earn spots in the 2024-25 Champions League.

Two late-game goals from Richarlison and Son Heung-min weren’t enough for Spurs to scrape any points from their clash with Liverpool, who are 11 points above Aston Villa as of press time and sit comfortably in the top four, but now out of reach of Arsenal and Manchester City in the race for first place.

Spurs gave themselves a mountain to climb after going into the second half down 2-0 and stretching that deficit to 4-0 by the 59th minute.

Tottenham's Son Heung-min, left, and Liverpool's Harvey Elliott fight for the ball during the match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England on Sunday. [AP/YONHAP]

Mohamed Salah opened the scoring for the home side with a header in the 16th minute, getting the ball from a long shot by Cody Gakpo. Liverpool defender Andy Robertson made it two in the 45th minute, putting the ball into the back left from right in front of the net after Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario dove to stop Salah’s shot.

Liverpool rode that confidence into the second half, Gakpo making it 3-0 with an easy header in the 51st minute after Harvey Elliot sent the ball over from the edge of the box. Elliot then took it to 4-0 with a goal of his own into the top corner, Salah notching the assist.

Spurs saved themselves from a blank at Anfield, Richarlison finally putting one back for the visitors in the 72nd minute, shortly after coming onto the pitch as a sub. And Son narrowed the gap on the board with a second goal in the 77th minute, crossing the ball into the left corner, Richarlison snatching an assist.

Tottenham's Son Heung-min, center, celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Liverpool, England on Sunday. [AP/YONHAP]

But the Lilywhites failed to recover from a disappointing start, handing Liverpool the three points and exiting the pitch with nothing to add to the table.

“It was a very tough afternoon, and to be honest, it is tough place and it is a very strong side,” Son said after the match. “I think we competed very well until we conceded a goal.

“Obviously when you concede one goal and you want to try to catch up, you put some risk on the game. So I think, especially in here, we can’t concede four goals.”

Son’s goal on Sunday, his 17th of the season, came on his 300th appearance in the Premier League — all with Tottenham since joining the club in 2015. He was named captain ahead of the 2023-24 season.

“As a captain, I’m also not good enough, so I want to always push others, as possible. It means something for me, wearing this shirt,” Son said after Sunday’s loss. “When you put [on] the shirts, you gotta give everything... Every single season you’re gonna have a tough time. So now is the time we facing really tough moments. But I think we gotta keep working hard, heads up.

“You take the pain and you take the defeat. And you have to move on because football comes really fast at you and so if you are not ready, we’re gonna have a big, big problem.”

Tottenham's Son Heung-min leaves the pitch at the end of the match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Liverpool, England on Sunday. [AP/YONHAP]

Spurs next take on Burnley on Saturday at home before hosting Manchester City, who are locked in with Arsenal in the fight to win the league, on May 14 and will play their final game of the Premier League season against Sheffield United on May 19 on the road.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]