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In the end, this will go down as a statement result, continuing Spurs’ unbeaten start under the Australian and earning a second win in seven games over a ‘big six’ rival following the 2-0 victory over Manchester United.
Add in an encouraging 2-2 draw at Arsenal last weekend and Postecoglou’s Spurs are already building a body of results which suggests they are in the conversation to be the ‘best of the rest’ this season – or even a title race after Manchester City showed frailty with a loss at Wolves earlier on Saturday.
To win with a last-gasp goal for the second home game running demonstrated the raging belief and quality of this new-look Spurs side, who led through Heung-min Son’s instinctive finish but were pegged back in first-half stoppage-time by Cody Gakpo’s strike despite already being a man up.
In reality, however, there might easily have been an alternative narrative from this game had Matip not turned Pedro Porro’s cross into the top corner of his own net with practically the final kick.
Until then, Spurs had struggled to fashion any chances against nine-man Liverpool, who played the final 20 minutes plus stoppages two men short, following red cards for Curtis Jones and substitute Diego Jota.
As they camped on the edge of Liverpool’s box, struggling to make inroads towards goal, Spurs looked like a side who are still in the process of being fine-tuned – and short of a dribbling winger and another creative midfielder.
In search of a goal, Postecoglou introduced Manor Solomon, Ben Davies, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp and debutant Alejo Veliz in the second half, illustrating that Spurs still are some way from building a squad to compete with Liverpool or City.
In the end, none of that mattered, as they found a way through but there will be times this season when a developing team is too blunt or just unlucky.
Liverpool were on top before losing Jones but could have few complaints about his dismissal on 26 minutes for a studs-up challenge on Yves Bissouma.
It was not deliberate or malicious, but it was dangerous – and Bissouma was lucky to come through unscathed.
Jota’s dismissal for two bookable offences against Udogie felt harsher, given there was minimal contact for the first foul, but he was brainless to lunge in on the Italian again having already been shown a yellow card.
Spurs eventually capitalised, and the confidence and momentum they will have gained from beating a top side and earning another last-gasp win will only increase belief in Postecoglou’s approach and accelerate his flourishing project.
There were jubilant scenes at full-time as the South Stand danced to ‘Freed from Desire’ and sang Postecoglou’s name.
This is a club with a powerful sense of unity and momentum, and next up for Spurs are games against newly-promoted Luton before derbies with Fulham and Crystal Palace on the other side of the international break. All are winnable.
In the meantime, Spurs will bask in only a second win over Liverpool in 24 meetings, bringing to an end the Reds own 17-game unbeaten run. It might have been more convincing, but as Postecoglou has said supporters should be allowed to dream about what might be possible.
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