Match Reports
Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham Liverpool got back to winning ways at Anfield with good win against Tottenham. The first half was mainly a frustrating affair, with Liverpool creating chance after chance, but without converting anything. Gregory Vignal was the first player to make an impression in the final third, smashing a 25 yard shot against the bar. Riise also had a chance in the early stages of the game, but his final shot was comfortably saved by Neil Sullivan, from a shot hit in the same position as that of Riise's goal last week. The star of the show was undoubtedly Jari Litmanen, and he was involved in all of Liverpool's next 3 good chances. First, the Finn played a brilliant pass to Barmby who twisted and turned Ledley King, before eventually running out of space and seeing his shot blocked, then Litmanen and Barmby combined again to good effect with Barmby playing a pass through the Spurs defence, but the angle was virtually impossible for Litmanen as he fired a shot into the side netting. Then, just moments after a piece of sublime skill in beating his marker on the touchline, Litmanen was fed the ball with no-one ahead of him. His run saw him in the area with a one on one with the keeper, but the shot was not the bast and Sullivan made a reasonably easy save. The half ended with Vignal forced to clear a shot on the line as Spurs came forward for a rare attack, and it was a similar story to the start of the second half. Tottenham again broke through Liverpool's defence and once behind the back four, a short cross past Dudek had to be dealt with by Henchoz. The reward for Liverpool's countless chances came on 57 minutes. Litmanen took the ball around 30 yards out and after looking around to see what options he had, he unleashed an unstoppable right foot drive into the net, in off the far post. It was nothing less than he deserved after being forced to watch most of Liverpool's games this season from the stands, with Houllier seeming somewhat reluctant to give him a game. It was also Litmanen's first competitive goal for Liverpool from open play, and it was fitting that it should be scored in front of the Kop and with such style. Litmanen was soon replaced by Owen to a standing ovation by the Anfield faithful and Owen immediately got himself in on the action. A couple of darting wide runs in the penalty area gave Heskey opportunities to score, but the Spurs defence did enough to keep the score to one. but Owen's involvement was short lived. An almost unforgivable lapse in concentration by the Spurs midfield left Owen to simply pick up a stationary ball and charge towards goal. Spurs defender King almost caught Owen in the penalty area, and in stretching for his shot, which was saved, Owen pulled his hamstring and was forced off after 16 minutes. Gary McAllister replaced him as Liverpool held on for their first clean sheet in a domestic match since last season. View match pictures from this game!
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