Liverpool boosted their UEFA Champions League hopes with an impressive 2-0 victory over Tottenham.
Dutchman scores both goals as Reds dominate Tottenham
Liverpool boosted their UEFA Champions League hopes with an impressive 2-0 victory over Tottenham.
The Reds were full of energy in the early stages and opened the scoring after just six minutes when Alberto Aquilani played in Dirk Kuyt and the Dutchman provided a fine finish from outside the area.
Chances were few and far between for the remainder of the first half as Tottenham struggled to find their usual fluency, although Pepe Reina had to make a fine save from Luka Modric just before the interval.
Jermain Defoe had a goal controversially disallowed at the start of the second period and from then on Liverpool contained the Londoners expertly.
Rafa Benitez's side missed several opportunities to double their advantage before Kuyt eventually secured the points with his second goal of the night.
The striker scored from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time after substitute David Ngog had been brought down by Sebastien Bassong.
Appreciative Anfield
It was a match the Reds could not afford to lose, having dropped two points thanks to Stoke's late equaliser on Saturday, and they did not disappoint an appreciative Anfield crowd.
There was a brief early scare when Reina spilled a Gareth Bale cross under pressure from former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch, but he reclaimed the ball bravely from the challenge of Defoe.
Reina picked himself up to hoist a long kick downfield which Kuyt knocked back to Aquilani, playing in the hole behind the striker.
The Italian's close control took him past Michael Dawson, who brought down the playmaker, but the ball rolled to Kuyt on the edge of the penalty area and he fired low past Heurelho Gomes' right-hand to give his side the lead.
Jermaine Jenas was booked in the 27th minute for bringing down Philipp Degen as he raced over the halfway line but Liverpool failed to make the free-kick count.
And moments later Defoe was lucky to escape with just a talking to from referee Howard Webb after diving in and standing on Degen's foot.
The Swiss international was on the end of yet more rough treatment in the 34th minute when Bale clashed heads with the makeshift midfielder, which led to the Wales defender being cautioned.
Javier Mascherano became the first Liverpool player to be booked when he lost possession and then slid in on Crouch.
In first-half injury time Kuyt's header from Albert Riera's inswinging corner was stopped by Bale yards from the line and Martin Skrtel blazed the rebound over.
Moments later Modric's shot was saved well low to his left by Reina.
Pressure
Liverpool have made a season of failing to hang on to leads and they almost gifted Spurs an equaliser straight after the restart.
Sotirios Kyrgiakos dithered on the ball before surprising Reina with a short back-pass which immediately put the goalkeeper under pressure from Defoe.
Defoe put the ball in the net Fortunately for the Spaniard the Tottenham striker was adjudged to have been offside in the initial phase of play.
Wilson Palacios was next to go into Webb's notebook for pulling down Lucas as he attempted to run through the Spurs defence on the halfway line.
Riera almost doubled Liverpool's lead in the 52nd minute when his header from Jamie Carragher's cross beat Gomes but crashed back off the crossbar.
Considering their recent habit of conceding in the last minute the hosts desperately needed a second goal to give them a cushion but the longer the game went on without one the more confident Spurs became.
The danger was highlighted when Jenas' first-time shot from 25 yards had Reina going the wrong way before he stuck out a hand to deflect it behind.
Having sent on Alan Hutton for Vedran Corluka, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp then replaced Niko Kranjcar with ex-Reds striker Robbie Keane.
Liverpool should have made it easier for themselves in the 66th minute when Degen opted to play in Kuyt instead of shooting and over-hit his pass.
Liverpool continued to press and Kuyt volleyed over at the far post after Degen had flicked on Aquilani's free-kick while Riera was just wide with a 25-yard swerving left-foot shot.
Spurs, however, continued to threaten and Hutton's spectacular volley curled around the outside of Reina's right-hand post.
| Liverpool |
Team Statistics |
Tottenham Hotspur |
| 2 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
| 8 |
Shots off Target |
2 |
| 1 |
Blocked Shots |
5 |
| 2 |
Corners |
3 |
| 11 |
Fouls |
17 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
5 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 61.8 |
Passing Success |
73.2 |
| 28 |
Tackles |
21 |
| 64.3 |
Tackles Success |
76.2 |
| 45.1 |
Possession |
54.9 |
| 54.4 |
Territorial Advantage |
45.6 |
|
