Reds made to pay for missed chances

Spurs 2-1 Liverpool
Saturday, 1st November, 2008 | White Hart Lane | Premier League

Liverpool were made to pay for failing to put the game beyond a Tottenham team as the London club came from behind to win 2-1 after Dirk Kuyt had given the visitors the lead after just three minutes.

Liverpool controlled the match for the first 60 minutes and went close to doubling the lead without putting their chances away. They were made to pay when first Jamie Carragher’s own goal from a corner then Roman Pavlyuchenko’s goal inflicted their first defeat of the season.

Kuyt opened the scoring during an impressive start to the match, rifling past Gomes from close range and Liverpool should have put the game beyond reach. Alonso, Riera, Gerrard and Kuyt were running the midfield and Spurs were out the game.

But Carragher’s headed equaliser at the wrong end gave Spurs the advantage and Liverpool became edgy before Pavlyuchenko won the game following a strike from David Bentley which was parried by Reina before being turned back inside with Dossena and Agger somewhat slow to react.

BBC Sport Report

Roman Pavlyuchenko scored a late winner as Tottenham came from behind to beat Liverpool and haul themselves off the foot off the Premier League table.

Dirk Kuyt put Liverpool ahead when he smashed in a shot on three minutes.

Darren Bent sliced a clearance against his own post before Steven Gerrard hit the post with a deflected shot and then saw his lob cannon back off the bar.

Jamie Carragher headed into his own net to give Spurs hope and Pavlyuchenko tapped in from Bent’s cross to win it.

It was a remarkable turnaround for Tottenham, whose fortunes have been completely revived under the stewardship of new boss Harry Redknapp.

And just as they had against Arsenal in midweek, Spurs seemed to be staring defeat in the face against Liverpool only to come back from the dead.

The visitors, who have now been overtaken by Chelsea at the top of the table, will feel they should have won the game as they largely dominated on a rain-sodden pitch in torrential conditions.

But they were made to pay for missed chances, while Spurs deserve credit for hanging in at times before finishing the game with spirit and belief.

The way Liverpool started the match, it seemed the floodgates were set to open and Spurs were about to be swept away.

Former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane wasted no time in reminding the home fans what they have been missing since his summer switch to Liverpool.

Within three minutes of his return to White Hart Lane, the striker turned sharply away from Ledley King and laid the ball off to Kuyt, who smashed the ball into the top corner from a tight angle.

It was very nearly worse for Spurs when Bent attempted to clear Gerrard’s corner but he sliced the ball on to his own post.

With Liverpool enjoying most of the possession, and passing the ball around confidently, there was little for Spurs fans to enjoy.

Their only pleasure may have been to boo Keane every time he touched the ball.

But for all Liverpool’s greater fluency, they created few real opportunities.

That said, Tottenham’s only effort of note in the first half was a Luka Modric volley from the edge of the box that Pepe Reina dived full length to save.

After the interval, Liverpool stepped up through the gears and created a succession of chances.

First Gerrard struck a volley that Heurelho Gomes did well to on to the post after the ball had been diverted by King’s arm.

If that was Gomes at his best, the Brazilian soon showed his worst side when he sold King short with a pass and Gerrard almost scored with a shot that hit the bar.

As Liverpool poured forward, Kuyt sent a shot just over the bar as he slid into the box to connect with a low cross.

Another goal looked a certainty, but it was a total shock when it came as it was Tottenham who got it – and from an unlikely source.

Carragher rose highest to meet a Spurs corner but succeeded only in directing his header into his own goal.

Although the Tottenham players barely celebrated, the goal did have the effect of galvanising their spirits.

And they almost went ahead when Reina spilled the ball to substitute Pavlyuchenko, but the striker blazed over the bar.

However, he was given a chance to redeem himself when Bent saw his shot saved by Reina but reacted to deliver a cross for the Russian to make a hero of himself by notching the winner.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, King, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto (Hutton 46), Bentley, Zokora, Huddlestone, O’Hara (Pavlyuchenko 46), Modric (Lennon 75), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Cesar, Bale, Gunter, Campbell.
Booked: King.
Goals: Carragher 70 og, Pavlyuchenko 90.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Dossena, Kuyt, Mascherano, Alonso, Riera (Benayoun 78), Gerrard, Keane (Babel 66).
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Aurelio, Leiva Lucas, El Zhar.
Booked: Gerrard, Carragher.
Goals: Kuyt 3.

Att: 36,183
Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

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