Worryingly, Liverpool were little better in the first half, having to rely on Pascal Chimbonda's deflection from a corner that struck the post as their best effort, narrowly edging out a Bellamy shot palmed away by a sprawling Paul Robinson. And Xabi Alonso's early volley from 30 yards - a mere tap-in for him - just skimmed wide of the post. But it was pretty aimless and disjointed stuff, not helped by the somewhat subdued atmosphere these early kick-off times tend to generate, no matter how used to them we all are now. But, as was always the tradition in the glory days, attacking the Kop end in the second half always carries a certain inevitability that it will eventually beckon the ball into the net in front of it. Kuyt delayed this process when he found himself underneath a couple of far post crosses and unable to direct either of them into the net. Then after Jenas's howler, it was Gerrard who was stunned into action more than anyone and again produced a moment that changed the course of a game when he left Benoit Assou-Ekotto for dead with a brilliant piece of skill. He squared for Bellamy, whose rebound off the foot of the post fell perfectly on Gonzalez's left foot and he hammered home. Another Kuyt header was clutched by Robinson before the Dutchman finally made it two in two games when he collected Luis Garcia's subtle flick through to emphatically shake the netting with the confidence of a man still flying high after his midweek heroics. The show was over for Spurs then, but Riise ensured a rousing finale with his surge into the danger area, capped by a jet-powered drive into the corner. It all made the writing-off of the title chances following the Chelsea defeat seem somewhat premature. Six days and six points later prove that a week - or just less - really is an eternity in football. LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina; Finnan, Hyypia, Agger, Riise; Gerrard, Alonso (Carragher 84), Sissoko, Gonzalez (Aurelio 77); Bellamy (Garcia 69), Kuyt. Subs: Dudek, Crouch.
BOOKINGS: Hyypia (68, foul). TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-2): Robinson; Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto; Jenas, Murphy (Mido 80), Zokora, Tainio (Davids 61); Keane, Defoe. Subs: Cerny, Lee, Huddlestone. REFEREE: Howard Webb ATT: 44,330 NEXT GAME: Galatasaray v Liverpool, UEFA Champions League Group C, Wednesday, 7.45pm. | 
