Tottenham repeated their victory over Liverpool from last season as Sebastien Bassong clinched a 2-1 win.
Liverpool slip to 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane
Tottenham repeated their victory over Liverpool from last season as Sebastien Bassong clinched a 2-1 win.
Liverpool have been tipped to finally end their long wait for a league title this term but they were unable to come away from White Hart Lane with even a single point as Spurs came out on top in an entertaining encounter.
Both sides struggled for fluency in the early stages but Tottenham settled towards the end of the first half and carved out a succession of good chances, with Robbie Keane twice denied by Pepe Reina as he looked to score against his former club.
The deadlock was then broken in sensational style just before the break as Benoit Assou-Ekotto struck a ferocious effort into the top corner from just outside the box that left Reina with no chance.
Spurs started the second half strongly as well but conceded an equaliser when the marauding Glen Johnson was brought down by Heurelho Gomes in the 56th minute and Steven Gerrard smashed home the penalty.
Tottenham shrugged off the disappointment to quickly restore their lead through Bassong's header and Liverpool could not force an equaliser as referee Phil Dowd turned away a late penalty appeal from Andriy Voronin.
Clash of heads
After a slow start, there was a stoppage on 14 minutes when Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher collided heads after both jumping for a high ball.
The English defender had to go off for treatment on a gash to his forehead before returning with some heavy bandages, while Skrtel nursed a jaw injury.
Gerrard let fly with a 25-yard effort, which was just wide of Gomes' right-hand post. Spurs then really should have gone ahead on 30 minutes.
Wilson Palacios got away down the right, and looped the ball across to the far post. Luka Modric lofted it back into the six-yard box, where Keane arrived with a diving header - but one which was straight at Reina, who reacted brilliantly.
The Liverpool keeper then denied his former team-mate once again, this time standing up well as Keane tried a chip.
On 44 minutes, Skrtel gave away a free-kick in a dangerous position, some 25 yards out, when he fouled Palacios.
Tom Huddlestone drove his effort into the wall - but the ball fell kindly for Assou-Ekotto, who promptly smashed it back into the top corner.
Flowing move
Liverpool regrouped at half-time and produced a flowing move when Dirk Kuyt touched the ball back to Fernando Torres, who laid it on for Gerrard, but the England midfielder struck his low shot just wide from 20 yards.
A fine fingertip save from Reina then denied Palacios a second goal for Spurs following a rasping 25-yard drive towards the top right corner.
Liverpool found a way back into the match when they were awarded a penalty on 54 minutes.
Johnson was upended by Spurs keeper Gomes as the full-back burst into the right side of the box, and Gerrard stepped up to fire the ball straight down the middle, just below the crossbar.
Tottenham looked to respond straight away, with Defoe's shot on the turn blocked by Carragher.
The defender was then booked for a foul on Defoe on the Spurs right as the home side pressed again.
It proved a costly free-kick to concede, as from it, Spurs regained the lead on 59 minutes.
Modric floated the ball into a crowded penalty area, where Bassong got up to head into the corner and mark his debut in style.
On 67 minutes, Liverpool replaced Ryan Babel with Yossi Benayoun as Benitez opted for 'Plan B', while Spurs sent on summer signing Peter Crouch for Keane.
Liverpool felt they should have had a penalty when substitute Andriy Voronin went down following a shoulder challenge by Assou-Ekotto - but this time, referee Phil Dowd was not interested.
Tempers frayed on the Liverpool bench as time ran out, with assistant boss Sammy Lee sent to the stands for continued protests.
| Tottenham Hotspur |
Team Statistics |
Liverpool |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 7 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 6 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 6 |
Corners |
5 |
| 12 |
Fouls |
17 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 3 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 75.1 |
Passing Success |
80.7 |
| 33 |
Tackles |
22 |
| 75.8 |
Tackles Success |
72.7 |
| 47.3 |
Possession |
52.7 |
| 46 |
Territorial Advantage |
54 |
| |
|
|
|
