Harry Kane scored his first home goal of the season.
Andrew Robertson was sent off for the visitors in a fiery draw at Spurs that left the Reds in a poor position in the title race.
It was not until Manchester City's victory at Newcastle that the Reds were able to top the league at Christmas for the first time in four years.
Spurs wasted a number of chances to double their lead after Harry Kane ended his goal barren run.
Robertson missed a golden chance of his own in the opening 70 seconds, but Diogo Jota made the hosts pay by heading in a cross on 35 minutes.
Robertson headed the Reds in front in the second half but Son Heung-min equalized after a mistake by Alisson four minutes later.
The full-back was sent off for a reckless hack on Royal after the game had finished.
Antonio Conte's side stays seventh in the league with games in hand on those above them, despite the draw.
There was high drama after a troubled week.
The game at the Spurs Stadium was packed with drama and was served up on the weekend.
The managers had no idea which players would be available until the morning of the game, as both faced Covid-related interruptions to their own preparations.
The Spurs had to close their training facility for three days last week and had three games in five days postponed, something that Conte said had affected his squad's spirits.
Nine Spurs tested positive during the past fortnight, as well as staff and under-23's, meaning that Conte was unable to implement his usual meticulous tactical plans and had to resort to mannequins as opposition, but it wasLiverpool's defence looking static as the hosts opened them up in north
The England captain swept into the far corner for his second goal of the season after a superbly weighted pass from Ndombele, who was making his first league start under Conte.
Kane almost set up a second goal moments later, but Son could not convert his cross into the net.
The South Korean overran another Kane pass to allow Alisson to smother before Kane dived in on Robertson and was perhaps fortunate to only receive a yellow card - a decision brought further into focus by Robertson's own sending-off.
Dele Alli, who was awarded a chance by Conte, failed to convert a glorious chance from Son's pass, but Alisson made a crucial save.
Diogo Jota has scored 10 goals this season.
Jordan Henderson had a cold and was replaced by Tyler Morton, who was 10 days old when his partner James was born.
Jota scored his 10th goal of the season after Robertson nodded wide from Trent Alexander-Arnold's smart ball in the second minute.
The Reds boss was angry that Jota wasn't given a penalty after a clumsy challenge by Royal, but he was also frustrated by his side's failure to deal with the Spurs threat after the break.
Alisson made a crucial save after Kane headed over from close range, after Alli sold Kane short for a tap-in.
In a sequence that summed up the game, Spurs thought they should have had a penalty at one end only for Robertson to head in Alexander-Arnold's cross from close range at the other.
Roberton's kick on Royal was upgraded to a red card following a review after Son pounced on Alisson's error to roll into an empty net.
It would have been a record 16th game in a row if Spurs had stopped Mo Salah from scoring or assisting.
The Reds' form continues and they have lost just once in the past 35 games in all competitions, even though they have slipped further behind leaders City.
The 50th goal of the season was scored in the 18th match of the season, which is faster than any other previous top-flight campaign.
Spurs
It'sLiverpool.
Line-ups.
Match statistics.
Live text.
Formation 5-3-2.
Souza Junior6D Snchez15Dier33Davies19R Sessegnon
Lloris.
The book was written at 28 minutes.
6D Snchez.
15Dier.
Booked at 58 minutes.
Substituted forReguilnat 86' minutes.
Substituted for Skippat 64' minutes.
Booked at 47 minutes.
Substituted for Lucas Mouraat.
10Kane was booked at 20 minutes.
7 Son Heung-Min.
Substitutes.
2Doherty.
3Reguiln.
14Rodon.
18Lo Celso.
23Bergwijn.
25Tanganga.
27Lucas Moura.
29th
40Austin
Formation 4-3-3.
66 Alexander-Arnold32 Matip5Konaté26Robertson
1Alisson
66-Alexander-Arnold
It was 32 Matip.
5Konaté was read at 85 minutes.
Robertson was booked at 77 minutes.
Booked at 84 minutes.
Substituted for Firmino at 60' minutes.
7milner
11Salah.
Substituted for Gomez at 90 minutes.
Substituted for Tsimikas at the end of the game.
Substitutes.
9Firmino.
12Gomez
15Oxlade-Chamberlain.
18 Minamino
21Tsimikas.
49Gordon.
62Kelleher.
76N Williams.
78Quansah.
The match ended with a 2-2 draw between Spurs and Reds.
The second half ended with a 2-2 draw.
An attempt was missed. Harry Kane's left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Harry Winks assisted.
The yellow card was shown to Konstantinos.
It was an attempt by Spurs. Harry Kane is caught in an off-balance position.
There is a substitution,Liverpool. Joseph Gomez is the new replacement for Diogo Jota.
Diogo Jota was the culprit.
Ben Davies won a free kick in the defensive half.
There is a substitution for Spurs. Ryan Sessegnon was replaced by Sergio Reguiln.
Corner, Spurs. Ibrahima Konaté Conceded.
Ibrahima Konaté was shown a yellow card for a bad foul.
The yellow card is shown to Naby Keta.
Naby Keta won a free kick.
Ryan Sessegnon of Spurs was the culprit.
There is a substitution,Liverpool. Sadio Mané was replaced by Konstantinos Tsimikas.
There is a substitution for Spurs. Dele Alli was replaced by Lucas Moura.
Sadio Mané was the culprit.
Harry Kane won a free kick.
The red card was shown to Andrew Robertson.
Andrew Robertson was upgraded by the VAR.
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