first game in charge of the Reds.
Jurgen Klopp had to settle for a point in his first Premier League
game as Tottenham drew 0-0 with Liverpool at White Hart Lane
on Saturday.
Liverpool's Divock Origi - starting ahead of the injured Daniel
Sturridge - headed a great chance against the crossbar from
close range in the early stages after a strong start from Klopp's
side, and that proved to be the best opportunity of the match.
After surviving that early scare, Spurs had the better chances
with Clinton N'Jie forcing Simon Mignolet into an impressive
diving save and Harry Kane also testing the Belgian goalkeeper
before the break.
Klopp will be encouraged by a spirited display from his new
team, but Liverpool have now only won one of their last
10 away Premier League fixtures and remain one point adrift of
Spurs, who have still not tasted defeat since the opening day of
the season.
Tottenham were without Eric Dier through suspension, but
Danny Rose returned from injury at left-back. Origi made his
first Premier League start of the season for Liverpool, with
Christian Benteke, Danny Ings and Sturridge all ruled out.
Klopp was almost handed a dream start after 10 minutes when
James Milner's corner was flicked on by Emre Can and headed
against the crossbar by Origi from inside the six-yard box in a
golden chance.
Tottenham had struggled going forward in the early stages but
almost took the lead when N'Jie - who had come on for the
injured Nacer Chadli - picked up Kane's pass after Adam
Lallana had given away possession and produced a clever shot
which forced Mignolet into an excellent diving save that had
Klopp applauding.
The hosts were moving into the ascendancy and when Martin
Skrtel was unable to cut out Christian Eriksen's pass, Kane had
a shot parried by Mignolet, before Dele Alli's follow up effort
was blocked by a diving Mamadou Sakho.
N'Jie was looking lively and his dipping shot was just over
shortly before half-time.
Kyle Walker drove a long-range shot into the arms of Mignolet
after the break, but the early stages of the second half did not
produce many opportunities.
Referee Craig Pawson was unmoved when Lallana went down
in the box under pressure from Alli in what was only a half-
hearted penalty appeal from the visitors.
Origi shot straight at Hugo Lloris from a tight angle after
receiving a pass from Philippe Coutinho, but a goal never looked
like coming in a disappointing second half.
Spurs almost grabbed a late winner when Eriksen's weaving run
eventually set up Kane, but Mignolet was again equal to the
England striker's effort, before Can fired just wide at the other
end as Klopp's introduction to English football ended with a
draw.
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