Tottenham Hotspur’s early season form last year proved the ultimate undoing for their title challenge, and it was a similar story today as they drew 1-1 at home to Liverpool.

It was frustration for a Spurs team who snatched a late win last week, but were outplayed and outpaced by a team much improved from the side which lost at Burnley despite having 81 per cent possession, and the hosts did well to get away with a point.

This was Liverpool’s third away game in a row due to the Anfield revamp, and they looked assured as visitors to a side who have not beaten them since November 2012.

There was just one change to the Spurs team, with keeper-captain Hugo Lloris still out injured, Michel Vorm kept his place. Dele Alli was in for £16m forward Vincent Janssen, but the Dutchman got on after only 26 minutes when Kyle Walker went off injured.

Liverpool had James Milner continuing at left-back, and the former England midfielder scored the opening goal of the game.

On 42 minutes the visitors were given a penalty after a clumsy foul by Erik Lamela on Roberto Firminho as he cut in from the left, in space available after Walker was forced off.

The crowd were unhappy and TV replays indicated the challenge may even have occurred on the edge of the area, but Lamela stayed on the ground for long time, knowing what he had done.

Milner put it to his left, Vorm went the wrong way, 1-0 at half time.

Liverpool continued to make chances after the break, but on 71 minutes Tottenham got an equaliser they hardly deserved.

Lamela made amends with a great left footed cross after a cut back, it was headed up in the air, was well controlled by Danny Rose as he burst into the box, and from 12 yards he slipped it in at the near post past the sprawling Simon Mignolet.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino leaped down the touchline in a manner exuberant even by his standards, knowing even three games in how crucial avoiding defeat to a rival for European places would be.

His team had been under pressure since the fourth minute, when sloppy play in midfield by Jan Vertonghen saw Firminho win the ball and feed Phillippe Coutinho, who seemed certain to score just eight yards out.

The excellent Vorm made a brilliant stretching save low with his right boot, almost having to do the splits.

Liverpool summer signing Sadio Mane was a constant threat with his pace meaning he could chase any long ball – he had the ball in the net after a breakaway, but was called offside – and debutant Joel Matip also flicked the bar with a header from a corner.

There was some added drama in the press room pre-game as a fuse blew, causing the power to go off. Spurs will hope a home draw against a rival won’t cause the lights to go out on their title challenge come the end of the season.