Liverpool 3-2 Spurs Match Report

Liverpool Win Anfield Thriller

Liverpool came back from a 2-1 deficit in the second half to win a 3-2 against an impressive Spurs side. Suarez gave Liverpool an early lead before Vertonghen headed in a Gareth Bale cross just before half-time. Vertonghen then gave the visitors the lead early in the second half before a defensive mistake by Tottenham allowed Stewart Downing to equalise before Gerrard scored from the penalty spot to give Liverpool the win.

The Team

Jamie Carragher made his 500^th Premier League appearance against Spurs and also welcomed Daniel Sturridge back into the side after recovering from injury. But Liverpool were dealt a blow with the news that Reina was unfit to start, with Brad Jones deputising.

The team that started was Jones, Johnson, Enrique, Carragher, Agger, Coutinho, Lucas, Gerrard, Downing, Sturridge and Suarez.

The Match

All the talk before the match was about Luis Suarez against Gareth Bale, but the news that Jamie Carragher was to reach another milestone with his 500^th Premiership appearance added even more interest to the fixture.

Liverpool started on the front foot with Suarez and Sturridge linking up early only to be thwarted by Kyle Walker. Then a superb pass from Coutinho sent Sturridge clear but his touch took him wide of goal.

Bale had an effort awkwardly saved by Jones as he fired a free-kick from long range. But it was Liverpool looking the more threatening as they hassled and harried Spurs out of their stride.

Liverpool took the lead in the 21^st minute after a brilliant move created by Coutinho and Enrique and clinically finished by Suarez to give Liverpool just reward for their good start to the match.

Moments later Suarez fired a shot across the face of goal which Lloris palmed away as Coutinho was bundled inside the box.

Tottenham came into the match more as an attacking threat as the half wore on and Sigurdsson went close with a shot missing the post by inches. But Liverpool were showing their steely determination exampled by a committed headed challenge by Gerrard into the back of Gareth Bale. But seconds later Bale swung over a dangerous cross from the right flank which Vertonghen headed past Jones to level things up just before half-time.

Spurs started the second half impressively as Liverpool struggled to get a spell of possession and they took the lead in the 53^rd minute when Vertonghen smashed in his second goal of the match from 8 yards after Liverpool’s defence failed to clear a Gareth Bale free-kick.

Spurs looked to put the game to bed and moments later a surging run from Bale followed by a cross which picked out the unmarked Sigurdsson in the box, resulted in his effort being denied by a combination of Jones, Johnson and a post.

Rodgers then replaced Coutinho with Joe Allen as he looked for his team to gain more possession. But Liverpool looked second best in the contest until Kyle Walker’s wayward back pass allowed Downing to race through on goal with Lloris stranded outside his penalty area, The winger drilled his effort through the legs of Vertonghen on the line to restore parity.

The goal changed the pattern of the match and it was now Liverpool who looked the most dangerous and Sturridge headed into the side-netting after a good run down the right by Downing.

Then with 8 minutes to go Defoe misplaced a clearance into his penalty box which Suarez latched onto but he was clumsily bundled to the ground by Assou-Ekotta resulting in a penalty for Liverpool. Gerrard made no mistake from the spot sending Lloris the wrong way and giving Liverpool a 3-2 lead.

Liverpool saw out the rest of the match out with some good defending and clever play to run the clock down as Tottenham’s 12 match unbeaten run came to an end.

Summary

A tremendous performance and win for Liverpool as they made a statement to the rest of the league by beating a very good Tottenham team. Liverpool started the match well and deservedly took the lead, but Spurs came back into it and looked to run away with the match when they went 2-1 up.

But Rodgers made a clever substitution bringing on Allen for Coutinho as looked for more possession from his team. Liverpool looked to be down and out at 2-1 until they got the lucky break to make it 2-2 but after that they deservedly went on to win with a stone waller of a penalty.

Gerrard and Lucas were superb in the midfield for Liverpool as they never allowed Bale to get the time and space in which he could destroy. Suarez was again terrific and scored a brilliant goal before earning the match winning penalty.

Overall it was a great win and gutsy performance by Liverpool coming back from a 2-1 deficit in the second half to beat a very good Spurs side.