SUNDAY 22ND APRIL, 2001
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
LIVERPOOL 3 (1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 (1)

Liverpool scorers:-
Heskey, 6
McAllister (pen), 72
Fowler, 88

Spurs scorer:-
Korsten, 23

Referee:- Barry Knight

Attendance:- 43, 547

Teams:-

Liverpool (4-4-2):- Westerveld; Babbel, Henchoz, Hyppia, Carragher (sub Vignal, 63); Smicer (sub Hamann, 53), Gerrard, McAllister, Berger; Owen, Heskey (sub Fowler, 39)

Subs not used:- Arphexad (GK); Murphy

Booked:- Vignal

Spurs (4-3-2-1):- Sullivan; Carr, Thelwell, Gardner, Young; Davies (sub Piercy, 77), Sherwood, Clemence; Korsten, Leonhardsen; Doherty

Subs not used:- Walker; Hillier; Etherington, Ferguson

Booked:- Clemence

The most ardent of Spurs fans did not expect to get anything out of this game, and when Emile Heskey put Liverpool ahead after only 6 minutes, it looked like a goal rout was likely. After all, Spurs were missing the equivalent of Solskjaer, Cole, Yorke, Sheringham, Stam, Brown, Phillip Neville, Irwin, Keane and Beckham. Yes, we were missing 4 possible strikers, 2 centre backs, 2 left backs, and 2 midfielders. How would the champions cope with such a list of absentees?

However, whilst it was very hard at times to contain the pace of Heskey, Owen and Fowler (who replaced Heskey), each of whom was the target for piercing through balls from Berger, McAllister and Gerrard, the Spurs youngsters actually managed an equaliser, and until a dubious penalty decision enabled McAllister to give the home side the lead after 72 minutes, Spurs were competing well, and looking like taking what would have been a glorious point home. As it is I am proud of every one of them, and enjoyed the game far more than I expected to.

The memorial to the Hillsborough dead was smothered with floral tributes, and they were still arriving today, as for some foreign fans this was their first opportunity to pay tribute following the recent anniversary. The minute's silence today was for referee Mike North, who had died on the pitch when officiating a Southend v Mansfield game last week. For the third time in as many weeks, the Spurs fans took part in an immaculate offering of respect.

Doherty played a lone role, supported closely by Korsten on the right, with Leo on the left. Clemence played in the middle today, and Sherwood was a man of the match contender for Spurs, popping up at vital moments at either end of the pitch. Sullivan, of course was kept in action, as were Thelwell and Gardner. Once again, Gardner looked the more comfortable player, but Alton did ever so well against the pace attack.

Spurs were soon under pressure from corners, and Sullivan had to get down neatly to a Hyppia header. That Heskey goal arrived too soon, though, as he beat Thelwell to a Berger through ball, and slid the ball past Sullivan with ease. Smicer was the next to threaten as he cut inside from the right and shot low to Sullivan's left. Neil saved comfortably.

Spurs were nearly punished for a poor Clemence free kick, as Liverpool countered through Gerrard (unusually playing in consecutive games), who sauntered past Thelwell on this occasion. Gerrard found Owen on the left of the area, and Sullivan parried his shot, then bravely saved at the advancing Gerrard's feet. Spurs had a lucky escape when Babbel's deep cross found Berger, whose shot was turned in instinctively by Owen, who was adjudged to be offside. In the very next minute, Spurs were on a rare attack, as Leonhardsen raced down the left, and found Korsten with his cross. Korsten had time to turn to his left, and hit a rocket above Westerveld to the top of the net for his first Premiership goal for Spurs. Game on!

McAllister was soon threading the ball to Owen, who beat Thelwell in a one on one, but slid his shot wide of the goal across Sullivan. Heskey was lucky to escape a booking as he clashed with Korsten, but perhaps justice was served as he had to be replaced through self-inflicted injury soon after the incident. After 35 minutes, Gerrard and McAllister exchanged passes, and Gerrard's shot was deflected onto the top of the bar by a foot stuck out by (I think) Sherwood. Sullivan was beaten all ends up this time. Doherty won a corner, and Spurs enjoyed a little pressure with a goalmouth scramble in which shots were blocked and a Sherwood overhead pass was cleared.

Gerard Houllier gambled by using all his subs by the 63rd minute. In the early part of the second half, Spurs were taking the game to their three time cup finalist opponents. Sherwood tried an audacious chip that was not too far wide of the mark. The Liverpool crowd was beginning to put pressure on the referee with handball appeals for anything resembling such an infringement. One appeal that was turned down looked more justified than the one that was later given. Clemence should have given Spurs the lead after 67 minutes, when he was in a beautiful position in front of goal from a Leonhardsen cross. Clemence tried to chip delicately over Westerveld, who did not have to stretch as much as he should have to prevent a goal.

Then came the successful penalty appeal. The ball was fired at Thelwell at short range, and he had no chance of avoiding contact. Knight pointed straight to the spot to the delight of the crowd, and Clemence got booked for arguing. McAllister stepped up to score his third vital goal in a week, as there is no doubt that this penalty turned the game. Gardner got plenty of power behind a header from a Davies corner, but Westerveld held well. With two minutes left, Babbel sent another deep cross from the right, and Robbie Fowler powered a header home to give Liverpool a chance of reaching that coveted Champion's League third slot.

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