BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
TUESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY, 2015
(8PM)
LIVERPOOL 3 (1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (1)

Liverpool scorers:-
Markovic, 15
Gerrard, 53 (pen)
Balotelli, 83

Spurs scorers:-
Kane, 26
Dembele, 61

Attendance:- 44,577

Referee:- Phil Dowd
Assistants:- D. Bryan & S. Ledger
Fourth Official:- P Tierney

Teams:-
Liverpool (3-4-3):- Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Ibe, Henderson, Gerrard (Capt.) (sub Lovren, 68), Moreno; Markovic (sub Lallana, 79), Sturridge (sub Balotelli, 74), Coutinho

Subs not used:- Ward; Johnson; Allen; Lambert

Booked:- Skrtel (foul on Kane), Sakho (foul on Dembele), Gerrard (foul on Kane)

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Lloris (Capt.); walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Bentaleb, Mason (sub Paulinho, 69); Lamela, Dembele (sub Soldado, 85), Eriksen (sub Chadli, 81); Kane

Subs not used:- Vorm; Fazio, Davies; Townsend

Booked:- Mason (foul on Markovic), Eriksen (foul on Ibe), Dembele (foul on Moreno), Walker (foul on Can), Paulinho (foul on Lallana), Kane

“Bad boy” Mario Balotelli snatches victory for Liverpool

Late substitute Mario Balotelli, who has hardly featured for Liverpool, and who hasn’t scored since October, scored his first Premier league goal for his current club in the 83rd minute to snatch victory in a game of five goals. By this time, both teams, who had played hard games on Saturday were already starting to tire, with all substitutes being used. Spurs, fielding an unchanged team, who had contributed fully to an open and entertaining game, couldn’t conjure up a third equaliser, and Liverpool drew within just one point of their rivals for a top four place. Spurs have dropped to sixth, whilst Arsenal won at home to Leicester. In my preview, I said that “you’re only as good as your next game”, and despite the euphoria of Saturday’s derby win, this was a set-back.

I wondered before the game if energy levels would be high enough for Saturday’s team, but once again, they didn’t lack energy, or effort. Both teams played an attacking, pressing game, with Liverpool’s enterprising 3-4-3 formation buoyed by the pace and penetration of 19 year old Jordan Ibe, playing at right wing-back, behind Markovic, but regularly giving Danny Rose and the left of Tottenham’s defence problems. Rose, as always, was committed to attack, but often struggled against Ibe, who spent the early part of the season at Derby, but has now played 90 minutes against Everton, and now in this game. His pace and presence certainly made up for the absence of Raheem Sterling, whose foot injury did keep him out of the frame. Daniel Sturridge made his first start since his come back from injury, and gave Spurs plenty of problems, including an assist for Markovic’s goal, and a late first half flick that grazed the outside of Lloris’s left post.

Mind you, Spurs gave themselves too many problems tonight, with both Bentaleb and Mason too often guilty of gifting the ball to eager Liverpool marauders, whilst even Lloris has to accept some of the blame for Markovic’s half-hit shot.

Lloris won the toss, and turned Liverpool round, so that they had to play towards The Kop in the first half. Danny Rose had already had a shot go wide, after Lamela’s pass, before Lamela put Harry Kane through into the right side of the Liverpool box. Kane went down under Mignolet’s challenge, and the ball was already out of play, which must have influenced referee Phil Dowd’s decision not to award a penalty. Mr. Dowd wasn’t our friend tonight, freely dishing out yellow cards, and often for first challenges. Mr. Dowd was our friend when we beat Chelsea 5-3, but not tonight. He also refereed Liverpool’s win at White Hart Lane in August.

Lloris had to be sharply out to the edge of his area to pick up Coutinho’s through ball, and then he was down to collect Sturridge’s shot after the striker had been sent away by one of those mis-placed Mason passes.

After 10 minutes, Rose fouled Ibe, and Gerrard curled a free kick outside Lloris’s left post. The Liverpool fans near us were getting excited for no good reason! Ibe won a corner versus Rose, and Lloris had to save from Sturridge again.

Dembele combined with Eriksen as they tried to feed Kane, but the Spurs man of the moment was unable to get a shot in, as Liverpool defended strongly. Mason (again assisted by the impressive Dembele) hit a good shot, but it was comfortable for Mignolet. From this save, and clearance, Liverpool took the lead, as Vertonghen challenged Sturridge, but the ball ran to Markovic towards the left of the area. Markovic’s shot beat Lloris’s left hand, and The Kop roared.

Spurs tried to bounce back, with Mason feeding Eriksen, who was blocked, as Spurs won two corners. At the other end, Sturridge was away again, heading for goal, but Eric Dier did just enough to put Sturridge off his shot, which went high. Spurs went level with a superbly worked goal. Eriksen and Lamela exchanged clever passes on the edge of the area, and it was Lamela’s final, and delicate touch which put Kane through for his 23rd goal of the season. Kane took just an extra moment in which to place his shot and beat Mignolet.

Lloris had to save from Ibe’s powerful shot from the right hand side. He couldn’t hold the ball at the first touch, but picked up a rebound. Eriksen fed Kane, and Mignolet saved well, but Kane was offside anyway. As we entered added time, Dembele was breaking clear just in the Liverpool half, on the right, but Sakho “took one for the team” as they say. It was too far out for any “last man” considerations by the referee, but the job was done, and the Spurs threat neutralised. Sturridge had that chance from close in, which scraped the post, but that was it for the first half.

Harry Kane had an early second half effort blocked, after Mason had made the final pass, but it wasn’t long before Spurs gifted Liverpool the lead. It was Danny Rose who was adjudged to have fouled Sturridge in the box with his out-stretched leg, which cynics might say was well spotted by Sturridge. Referee Dowd wasn’t going to award the spot kick, but he bowed to his assistant’s guidance and gave Gerrard the chance to fire home to the left of Lloris for his 117th premier League goal. Gerrard has three more games to play for 500 league appearances.

Mignolet had to make a great save from Lamela, tipping his rising shot over the bar for a corner. Mason, again, had been the spurs provider. Gerrard was then doubly punished for an alleged foul on Kane. Eriksen took the free kick, which was parried out by Mignolet. Kane crossed low and hard from the left, and Dembele chested in from close range for his first goal since December 2013. Mignolet seemed to be the only Liverpool player protesting, and his appeals, perhaps for offside against Kane, fell on deaf ears.

Dembele had just scored a rare goal, and then got a rare booking for his foul on Moreno. Dier made a great tackle on Sturridge at the expense of a corner. Dier clearly and cleanly got the ball, but, of course, Sturridge wanted a penalty. Rodgers took Gerrard off, and brought on another central defender. Pochettino changed Mason for Paulinho, and the dynamic of the game was already starting to change, with energy levels understandably dipping. Mr Dowd actually managed to flick a Liverpool pass on to Sturridge, who perhaps was offside anyway, but Lloris held the shot.

Kyle Walker had been impressive all night, often anticipating a chance to nick the ball, and always keen to take advantage with a run down the wing. He did however commit a needless foul, which got him a booking, and Liverpool a free kick, which came to nought. Balotelli and Lallana were introduced for Sturridge and Markovic.

Dembele passed to Kane on the right, and Harry hit a long powerful drive wide across the goalmouth from the right, but Spurs suffered the killer blow when first Ibe, then Lallana, threaded the ball from the right, through the Spurs defence and to the feet of Balotelli, who couldn’t miss from close range. Spurs could not find another equaliser, despite four minutes of added time.

Now we have a full week off before renewing our quest for Europa League glory at home to Fiorentina next Thursday. It was, of course, disappointing to lose this vital game, but we do still have all to play for. Well, apart from the FA Cup, which is why we have a week-end off this week!

· See the exclusive "Spursometer" and have your say regarding the performances of the team, individual players, manager and officials.

Follow @spursodyssey

· Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
· Read the preview for this game.
· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats