EPL: Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool will be determined to return to winning ways when they tackle a Tottenham side fighting hard to climb out of the bottom three.

Martin Jol's future has been the subject of speculation almost since the start of the season, but Rafa Benitez will be another manager under pressure this weekend after Liverpool's dismal performance against Marseille.

The Reds slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Anfield to dent their chances of advancing in the UEFA Champions League, and Benitez's team selection again raised eyebrows.

Benitez has promised to stick by his rotation policy, but Liverpool have scored just one goal in their last three Premier League games and the Spanish tactician will be tempted to field his strongest available side.

Javier Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt, Alvaro Arbeloa, John Arne Riise, Ryan Babel and Andrei Voronin were all on the bench in midweek and most are likely to figure from the start on Sunday.

Jermaine Pennant is also back in the squad after being suspended for the clash with Marseille, but Fabio Aurelio is doubtful with a muscle injury.

Harry Kewell, Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso are all long-term casualties.

Jol set to make changes

Tottenham have yet to win on their travels this season and remain in the relegation zone after the incredible 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Monday.

Jol made changes for the Uefa Cup clash with Anorthosis Famagusta on Thursday and is likely to recall a number of the players that were rested.

Dimitar Berbatov and Pascal Chimbonda are both set to return, while Robbie Keane is also likely to start after coming off the bench to score in Cyprus.

Aaron Lennon missed the game with swelling on his knee but is expected to be fit, while Teemu Tainio is available again after suspension

Ricardo Rocha has had surgery on his ankle and will be out for more than two months, and Ledley King is still recovering from knee surgery.

Skysports

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Liverpool Team:
Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypiä, Arbeloa, Pennant, Mascherano, Gerrard, Riise, Voronin, Torres.

Spurs Team:
Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Lee, Tainio, Jenas, Zokora, Bale, Keane, Berbatov.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool bench: Itandje, Benayoun, Kuyt, Babel, Lucas.

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1-1 Half-Time.

Liverpool continue playing safe boring football. Football should be fun to watch. Not sleeping time. Only Voronin show some quality.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

No system. Bad movement. Little pace. Bad interaction. Bad confidence. A better performance from Wednesday though.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

I think too many touches from each players is the main problem these days. That's why the play goes to slow. And I don't like when some players have to adapt a new position under the game. Too many changes under the game destroys the rhytm. And why the hell do Rafa use Riise on the left wing? He has nothing to offer offensive. Play Riise on the left back or do not use him at all. I rate Riise over Arbeloa on the back. Rafa should have started with either Benayoun or Babel on the left side.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Torres saves sorry Reds

An injury time equaliser from Fernando Torres saved Liverpool from their second home defeat in five days.

Torres headed home in the second minute of added time to earn his side a point in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham at Anfield.

Andrei Voronin had put Liverpool, who lost to Marseille in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, in front when he poked home on 12 minutes after Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson had spilled a Steven Gerrard free-kick.

However, Robbie Keane pounced in copy cat poaching style either side of the half-time interval to put Spurs in front.

Keane latched on to a Dimitar Berbatov flick on to prod in his first on 45 minutes and with Liverpool still stunned by the equaliser the Spurs striker pounced again in the first minute after half-time.

On 47 minutes Berbatov again provided the assist as Keane beat Jamie Carragher to the ball to steer past Jose Reina in the Liverpool goal.

Liverpool looked destined for their first Premier League defeat of the season as frustrations grew, but Torres demonstrated why he earned such a high summer price tag as he saved the day.

Under pressure

The match brought together two managers under pressure; Rafa Benitez because of his tinkering with the side and the abject European defeat in midweek, and Martin Jol because his job seems to be under threat on a match-to-match basis.

There was extra tension in the air, but it did not stop Spurs from venturing forward. They almost took the lead after just two minutes when Gareth Bale curled a 20-yard free-kick inches wide of a post.

Voronin saw a 20-yard shot easily saved by Robinson four minutes later, but after 12 minutes the Ukrainian was more successful.

Jenas had pulled back Gerrard 25 yards out and, when the Liverpool skipper crashed the free-kick through the wall, Robinson could only half stop the deflected effort, and Voronin punished him by scoring on the rebound.

Undaunted Spurs retaliated with a flicked header from Keane which dropped just wide, and then a right-footed drive from the Irishman flashed across Reina's goal.

Gerrard almost made it 2-0 with a 20-yard free-kick which crashed against the foot of Robinson's left-hand post after 28 minutes.

Open game

Liverpool should have scored after 34 minutes when Torres, Voronin and Gerrard broke away, but the chance was wasted in the box after a flurry of passes and a Voronin effort was deflected away.

But Spurs deservedly equalised after 44 minutes when Dimitar Berbatov nodded on Robinson's long clearance, and Keane got in between Steve Finnan and Sami Hyypia to flick a shot past the advancing Reina.

Two minutes into the second half Keane struck again. Robinson's free-kick for a foul by Torres soared down the field to be headed on by Berbatov, and this time Keane got to the glanced pass to lift the ball over Reina into the roof of the net.

Spurs continued to come forward and, after Bale's grafting had retained possession on the left, the ball was transferred to Jenas, who fired wide from the edge of the box.

Liverpool were being forced into mistakes as Spurs continued to press for a third. The home side did break out, but after Voronin's surge the chance fell to Gerrard, who drove over.

Desperate Reds

There was an air of desperation now about Liverpool - yet another team had come to Anfield and attacked them - and they were not enjoying it.

The hard-working Teemu Tainio was replaced by Steed Malbranque after 75 minutes, with Liverpool still showing little sign of an equaliser.

That was until Robinson spilled another long-range effort, this time from Steve Finnan. But Dawson managed to hook the ball away from the danger area.

Robinson saved well at his near post from Javier Mascherano, while John Arne Riise and Torres both blazed efforts high over.

Mascherano fired just wide from 20 yards, with time apparently running out for Liverpool who had not been able to mount the expected grandstand finish.

But two minutes into injury-time, Torres finally found some space in the box when he rose to head home Finnan's cross to give Liverpool a fortunate point.

Skysports

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Torres voted fans star man v Spurs

Fernando Torres was voted Liverpool's star performer during the 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Sunday by the Reds fans who took part in an exclusive vote on this website.

Meanwhile Andry Voronin took the Liverpoolfc.tv accolade.

After each game we ask you to pick the Reds' top three players - and we'll pick ours too.

The winner of each poll then gets three points, the runner-up gets two and the third best player gets one. At the end of the season the points are totted up to reveal our star performer.

Liverpoolfc.tv's top three players v Spurs

1. Andriy Voronin. Worked so hard for the team and scored a poacher's goal.

2. Steve Finnan. Produced a fantastic cross for Torres to score the equaliser and tried to get forward and support the attack.

3. Ryan Babel. The Dutch international was lively when he came on as a substitute and tried to make things happen.

Liverpool fans' top three players v Spurs

1. Fernando Torres. 534 votes.

2. Andriy Voronin. 464 votes.

3. Javier Mascherano. 232 votes.

Meanwhile Pepe Reina was voted the fans star man during the 1-0 midweek defeat by Marseille while Jamie Carragher took the Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match award.

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv: Official Web Site

I think Voronin was better than Torres yesterday.

[NJ10]

That is a twat of a result. We should be battering teams like that at Anfield. Especially after getting the early goal, which is something that Rafa is always listing as an excuse when we dont beat teams. The defending for both goals was really poor, and the uncertainty around the box was worrying. Twice Voronin had good chances in the box and twice he tried to set up Gerrard rather than go for goal himself- coincidence??

Gerrard btw was terrible, giving the ball away, pulling out of tackles and generally playing as if he had things on his mind. It was left to Finnan and Mascherano to step up and drag us from defeat, Finnan was man of the match for me.

Poor poor run of form is devastating after we got our "fast start"