Liverpool 3-2 Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur were the architects of their own demise as Liverpool turned the game on its head to leave with all three points.
Steven Gerrard's penalty ensures LFC get all 3 points against Spurs
For the first time in almost 2 years, Liverpool won a third Premier League game on the trot, and moved ahead of local rivals Everton on goal difference in the process.
But this was no straight-forward victory.
On an icy cold day at Anfield, Rodgers elected for an attacking line up - Sturridge, Coutinho, Downing and Suarez all in the side, with Gerrard and Lucas called upon to patrol the midfield. Pepe Reina was ruled out with a minor injury and Brad Jones was drafted in.
The opening was a cagey affair with few chances for either side. Gareth Bale had a free kick which Brad Jones just about dealt with.
Mid way through the first half and the deadlock was broken.
Liverpool's opening goal came from the left wing. Coutinho finding Enrique, who combined well with Suarez - enabling the Uruguayan to score his 29th goal of the season.
The goal spurred the Spurs into action as they dominated the remainder of the half.
Liverpool failed to get a grip on the powerful runs from midfield, and allowed Spurs too much possession.
Bale over-reacted after a challenge and was sent to the sidelines after receiving treatment on the field. The referee waved him back on to the pitch at just the wrong time for the reds.
Unmarked he collected the ball and sent in a cross which Vertonghen put in at the far post to level the game at the very end of the first half.
The goal had been coming.
Second half and Spurs were out the blocks fastest and it was little surprise when they took the lead.
Spurs were awarded a soft free kick that the reds failed to deal with and Vertonghen doubled his tally. 2-1 to Spurs.
Then came two moments that changed the game.
With the visitors in the ascendancy Sigurrdson saw his shot deflected on to the post. He should have scored and sealed the game.
Moments later and Walker sent a raking backpass to his own keeper which Downing intercepted.
He kept his composure and fired the equaliser in - rejuvenating the players and the crowd.
Liverpool continued to plug away as Sturridge and Suarez increased their presence on the Spurs backline.
With ten minutes to go Spurs' Assou-Ekotto clattered Suarez and Steven Gerrard stepped up to take the penalty. A few weeks back Gerrard missed a late Kop penalty against West Brom. This time he dispatched it with aplomb and the reds saw out the remaining time to capture all three points.
Liverpool travel to Southampton next week - hoping to continue their winning ways.
The best team did lose, but suffered for a couple of minutes of stupidity. Glad that Gerrard and others have found a way to combat Bale, shove him off the balll,kick him off, stop him anyhow, knowing that with his reputation he will never get a free kick. Gerrard should have been booked for an awful foul, but he hardly ever does, his god-like reputation saves him
It may have been a different story if Couthino had been given the penalty in the first half 2 down and the spuds may have crumbled.
Can’t believe how much arrogance is coming from the Spurs camp after losing this one. AVB goes on about howwe didn’t merit the win, I thought they were lucky to get one back before half time! And as for them gifting us the game, I think we gifted them 2 goals as well. The only real bit of class all day was Suarez’s goal, they didn’t manage anything like that so in my view we probably deserved to win.
At 2-1 down me and most of the others in the Kop were probably thinking how bad was it going to get.
When Downing picked up that horrible backpass he did really well to stay calm – real pressure chance that.
Definite pen too – I don’t know what Spurs were doing putting the ball back in to the area.
Great YNWA at the end of the game as well. Great stuff.
mate,you might wrongly type Coutinho with Coates I presumed.
Fixed. Auto correct.
Under no circumstances is Coates ever part of an attacking line-up.