Liverpool fell to a late defeat on Sunday as a last minute strike from Aaron Lennon condemned the Reds to yet another miserable away day. A pulsating Premier League match saw both sides play exciting end-to-end football, with Liverpool claiming the lead through Martin Skrtel on 42 minutes before squandering three fantastic opportunities to put the game to bed.
Unfortunately Tottenham responded and controlled the second half. Defoe missed a penalty and had a goal chalked off for offside either side of Martin Skrtel's own goal before terrible defending allowed Lennon to fire past Reina and to break Red hearts during the dying moments.
Roy Hodgson selected a bold starting line-up as Liverpool reverted to an unfamiliar 4-4-2 formation, with David Ngog partnering Fernando Torres up front. Lucas and Meireles started in the centre as Gerrard missed out due to an injury picked up on international duty.
The result was an interesting and eventful opening as both sides tried to win the game, in contrast to our usual dull and defensive approach on the road. One thing never changes though; Paul Konchesky was abysmal once again.
After only four minutes he was easily skinned by Lennon, who proceeded to centre the ball for Modric. Thankfully the Croatian midfielder's volley lacked power and bounced into the arms of Reina.
Maxi went close with a stabbed effort on nine minutes but it just shaved the post on its way wide after the Argentinean had worked a yard of space for himself inside the box.
Maxi tried to find the back of the net once again soon after when he collected Torres' lay off before shooting inches wide from 20 yards. More significantly Tottenham's playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart had to leave the action after pulling up with an injury.
Many expected this to be the turning point that handed the initiative to the visitors, but that wasn't the case as Tottenham continued to threaten our backline. Kaboul hit a Spurs free kick high and wide from 25 yards out before a brilliant piece of defending from Carra was needed to retain parity.
Pepe, who looked uncharacteristically nervous throughout, split Modric's cross at the feet of Defoe. The England striker seemed destined to break the deadlock, however his compatriot Carragher denied him as a sensational block from the scouse stand-in skipper saved Reina's blushes.
From then on Liverpool took control of the first half and played some purposeful and promising attacking football. Ngog powered Kuyt's dangerous cross wide of goal before Torres' shot was blocked by Kaboul. Meireles then tested Gomes with a well- struck effort from all of 30 yards before Liverpool took the lead moments from the break when Martin Skrtel instinctively stabbed home the loose ball inside the box from Meireles' free kick.
The away side then spurned three excellent chances to seal the points. Two of those arrived before the half time interval when a brilliant recovery tackle from Bassong stopped Torres as he was prepared to pull the trigger after the Spaniard had expertly set up Maxi with a beautiful flick only a minute earlier. Agonisingly Maxi had stumbled at the crucial moment and the chance was gone.
An identical opportunity fell to Torres at the beginning of the second period as the Spanish striker sped through on goal. Disappointingly he took one touch too many, allowing Bassong to slide in with another terrific tackle in the box.
That was Liverpool's only real clear cut chance in the second half as, although we had started positively, Hodgson reverted back to his depressing type and we sat deep in a desperate attempt to cling on to our one-goal advantage. This played right into Tottenham's hands though as Harry Redknapp's side never say no to the chance of playing attacking, free flowing football.
After 51 minutes Meireles headed Bale's bouncing volley off the line after another mistake from Reina had presented the ball to the flying Welsh winger. Assou-Ekotto then drilled the ball goalwards from distance but Meireles deflected it over and Lucas cleared the resulting corner.
What appeared to be a pivotal point in the match arrived on the hour mark when Spurs were correctly awarded a penalty after Gareth Bale's free kick was bizarrely and blatantly blocked by the hands of Ngog.
The French striker looked embarrassed and rightly so, because his pointless error gave Tottenham the perfect opportunity to exert their dominance. To the relief of the Reds Jermain Defoe dragged his spot kick just wide of the post. The hosts didn't have to wait long to equalise though as Martin Skrtel's own goal soon levelled the scores.
Modric burst past Carragher and into the box far too easily before his low cross was turned over the line by the desperate Skrtel. The Slovakian, who had only scored twice previously, had now frustratingly scored at both ends to leave Liverpool fighting a resurgent Spurs side.
At times it felt as if we were battling with the officials as well. On 70 minutes Kuyt was sent crashing to the turf by Assou-Ekotto's challenge but Martin Atkinson refused to point to the spot. Lennon's cross then wreaked havoc in the Liverpool box with a mere 10 minutes remaining, as the ball eventually fell to Bale, whose volleyed effort was blocked by Pepe Reina.
Raul Meireles thrived in his preferred role in the centre of midfield and he almost stole a winner for the visitors when his superb left footed strike screamed inches past the post. It was a terrific effort from the Portugese, however it was our last sight of goal as Tottenham pressed forward intently while we tried to hang on to what would have been an invaluable point.
Jermain Defoe nearly compensated for his penalty miss on 89 minutes when he volleyed past Reina from close range. Thankfully we had a stroke of luck as he was flagged offside.
It simply wasn't going to be Defoe's day. Unfortunately it was going to be Tottenham's day though as they claimed a last gasp winner during injury time. Crouch and Kyrgiakos contested a long ball in the air and the former Liverpool striker succeeded as he flicked the ball on for Lennon, who stormed past the pathetic Paul Konchesky with frightening ease.
Spurs' number 7 fired past Reina to leave Liverpool devastated. Not only had we lost in the worst manner possible, but we had also lost inspirational defender Jamie Carragher to a long-term injury late on.
However, despite the disappointing defeat and irritating injury some significant positives can be taken. For the first time this season we actually had a go away from home. In the first half we attacked and played some good, impressive football that we haven't seen for far too long.
We might have returned to a depressingly dull style of play in the second half, however the fact that we performed so well in the first period demonstrates that we do have a very good side that can compete with even the best opposition either at Anfield or on the road.
It will require a change of heart from Hodgson, but if we can replicate that away form for the rest of the season then we have a real chance of challenging for a top four finish.
YNWA
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