Liverpool got back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over
Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Luis Garcia's goal right on the stroke of half-time was enough to
give Liverpool the points and get their UEFA Champions League
qualifying hopes back on track.
The win was only Liverpool's third victory away from home this
season, while it was only Tottenham's second defeat at White Hart
Lane this campaign.
Liverpool settled the better of the two sides in the rain at White
Hart Lane and Paul Robinson had a scare in the opening two minutes
when a poor backpass from Lee Young-pyo put him in trouble and the
England keeper had to react quickly to clear the ball from Dirk
Kuyt.
Mido wasted a golden opportunity to break the deadlock on ten
minutes when the ball dropped invitingly on the edge of the box,
but with only Jose Reina to beat the Egyptian wastefully blazed his
shot off target.
A minute later Craig Bellamy got free down the right from a clever
pass from Garcia and his deflected shot had to be turned round the
post by Robinson.
Jermain Defoe had a sight of goal on 16 minutes when Jamie
Carragher's headed clearance fell to him on the edge of the box,
but the striker could only fizz his shot well over the top.
Bellamy went close for Liverpool on 27 minutes when Kuyt slipped in
on goal, but the Welshman's low shot was well saved by
Robinson.
A minute later Liverpool wasted another good opening to score when
Bellamy returned the favour for Kuyt by teeing him up inside the
box with the Dutchman clipping his shot just wide of the far
post.
Liverpool should have opened the scoring on 38 minutes when Kuyt
broke free to bear down on goal, but rather than pass the ball to
the unmarked Garcia the striker selfishly saw his shot deflected
straight through to Robinson.
The visitors continued to dominate proceedings and Xabi Alonso
tried his luck seconds later with a long-range effort which flew
just wide of the target.
Liverpool had a scare on 41 minutes when Lee flung over a dangerous
cross from the left, but Mido completely missed the ball much to
the relief of the visitors' defence.
Liverpool finally made their dominance count right on the stroke of
half-time when Garcia scrambled home from close-range.
Didier Zokora carelessly gave the ball away to Steven Gerrard who
swapped passes with Kuyt before seeing his shot blocked, but the
ball fell to Garcia right in front of goal and he slotted the ball
under Robinson.
Liverpool picked up where they left off at the start of the second
half and Bellamy forced Robinson into a good save with a drilled
left-footed shot from the edge of the box.
That was Bellamy's last involvement in the game as he was forced
off on 49 minutes with a hamstring injury and Jermaine Pennant
replaced him.
Garcia missed a great chance to double Liverpool's lead on 55
minutes when he ghosted into the box unmarked to meet Steve
Finnan's cross, but the diminutive Spaniard headed his effort wide
of goal.
Reina had a lucky escape on the hour mark when he somehow dropped a
free-kick from Tom Huddlestone inside the box, but much to his
relief no one was on hand to capitalise on his mistake and he
grabbed the ball at the second attempt.
Kuyt almost got through on goal on 65 minutes when Alonso sent the
Dutchman running clear, but Calum Davenport and Michael Dawson got
back to snuff out the danger.
Garcia tried his luck soon after with an acrobatic overhead kick
which flew straight at Robinson as Liverpool searched for a second
goal.
Spurs almost grabbed an equaliser when Dimitar Berbatov worked his
way down the right and fired in a cross which Finnan headed against
his own crossbar.
The home side wasted a great chance to draw level on 75 minutes
when Pascal Chimbonda got down the right and crossed towards Defoe
who saw his shot blocked and the ball fell to Hossam Ghaly six
yards out but he snatched at his shot firing it wide of the target
with the goal at his mercy.
Spurs continued to pour forward and Defoe saw a shot from the edge
of the box palmed out by Reina ten minutes from time.
Berbatov fluffed a great opening to score five minutes from time
when he beat the Liverpool offside trap, but his touch let him down
and the ball ran through to Reina.
The home side threw everything into attack in the dying stages, but
the Liverpool defence stood up to all they could throw at them with
Carragher making a couple of vital interceptions.