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Liverpool-pageTottenham: Walker, Howells, Calderwood, Sheringham, Armstrong
(Allen 45), Wilson, Campbell, Carr, Sinton (Edinburgh 56),
Nielsen, Fox.
Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Dozzell, Austin.
Booked: Sinton, Edinburgh.
Liverpool: James, McAteer, Wright, Fowler, Barnes, Ruddock,
Thomas, Bjornebye, McManaman, Babb, Berger.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Redknapp, Matteo, Kennedy, Jones.
Booked: McManaman.
Goals: McManaman 49, Thomas 45.
Att: 32,899
Ref: G Poll (Tring).
By Bill Pierce, PA Sport
Steve McManaman scored the craziest goal of the season to clinch the victory which enabled Liverpool to climb back alongside Arsenal at the top of the Premiership tree and add another icy blast to Tottenham's mid-winter of discontent at White Hart Lane. Sad Spurs, still rocking with the trauma of last week's 6-1 Coca-Cola Cup humbling at Bolton, were already a goal down to Michael Thomas' splendidly constructed strike on the stroke of half-time.
Then, three minutes into the second period, with Spurs' top-scorer Chris Armstrong left back in the dressing room to join another growing list of injury casualties, McManaman registered the fluke goal which had the Tottenham cockrell croaking helplessly with a death rattle reminiscent of a stuffed turkey at Christmas. The England midfielder held off a challenge from Steve Carr 25 yards out and hit a hopeful shot which bounced outrageously off a divot in front of diving goalkeeper Ian Walker and skipped tauntingly over his head to land with an apologetic plop over the line.
Spurs knew then for certain that there was no way back into a match which they had hoped to use as a platform to prove their spirit and commitment was still in tact despite a volley of criticism from all quarters -- including their own chairman. And, after a gallant fightback had fluttered out to leave dejected home fans trouping home in their hundreds long before the final whistle, Spurs had to reflect on the fact that Liverpool could have gone on to inflict an even more embarrassing tally and even reach the six goals needed to make them outright leaders.
McManaman, comfortably the man of the match once Liverpool found their confidence flowing in the second half, grazed the bar with an almost lazy shot from the right after leaving Sol Campbell and Justin Edinburgh for dead. Then, five minutes from the end, Patrik Berger burst clean through only to be confronted by Walker's saving, outstretched leg, before Robbie Fowler, needing just two more goals to complete a Liverpool century, rolled his shot across an empty goalmouth with Spurs spreadeagled.
At the start Tottenham had looked capable of closing down Liverpool's free running and flair with a dedicated commitment born of desperation and a willingness to choke back the barbs of their critics. Teddy Sheringham went close with a shot on the turn after former Tottenham defender Neil Ruddock's ill-judged clearance in the 39th minute and flick-ons by Campbell and Colin Calderwood from Danish midfielder Allan Nielsen's monster throw-ins perhaps deserved better reward. But Nielsen's prodigious deliveries from the touchline proved in the end to be Tottenham's main weapon, even though Campbell had a goal disallowed for a foul on keeper David James and Sheringham deserved better with a header and a free-kick blast which the keeper kept out at the foot of the post.
Liverpool had done little in the first half to suggest that the victory which they finally achieved with consummate ease. Campbell locked up the frustrated Fowler with just as much security as Ruddock exerted at the other end against Armstrong and Sheringham. Czech star Berger looked Liverpool's liveliest hope and he stretched Walker with a cunning free-kick and also sent another promising chance off target.
But, just when the first half seemed destined to end goalless, former Arsenal midfielder Thomas struck a savage blow against the side he once supported from the terraces as a schoolboy. He started the move which flowed through McManaman, Jason McAteer and Fowler before finally returning the ball to John Barnes and running on for a lancing through pass which he despatched past the helpless Walker from 15 yards.
It was all downhill for Spurs after that. Sinton joined Armstrong in the dressing room 10 minutes into the second half after nursing a damaged eye through much of the first. Youngster Rory Allen, a substitute after the break, had neither the strength nor know-how to properly support Sheringham but the England man twice conjured up individual efforts to keep Spurs in with a chance despite McManaman's crazy strike. At the end, though, Spurs wore the same battered look they displayed at Bolton less than a week ago and, with Darren Anderton missing the match through injury, there seemed sure to be more big headaches on the menu for manager Gerry Francis before he can even think of a comforting Christmas.
Steve McManaman insisted there was no luck involved in his goal which polished off Tottenham and completed Liverpool's return to the top of the Premiership. The England winger ran Spurs ragged and should have had more than the one goal at White Hart Lane tonight, but was happy to settle for one Liverpool's second following Michael Thomas' opener in a 2-0 away win. And there was little Spurs could do about it, as goalkeeper Ian Walker dived to his right to cover the shot only to see the ball kick up off a divot in front of his face and hit the net. "The power and the swerve deceived Ian Walker," quipped McManaman, tongue firmly in cheek. "I added a little bit of bounce at the end. I practice them regularly in training."
McManaman also saw an easier shot on goal go wide, a cheeky lob hit the bar and a shot from the half-way line narrowly go over the bar as Liverpool ended Tottenham resistance in style to go level on points with Arsenal at the top of the division. "I missed a decent chance near the end and I think that (the goal) might be a little bit of justice in the end for not scoring the other goals," added McManaman. "We didn't really take much notice of their defeat in midweek. We knew they were going to come at us and give us everything but we were up for it."
McManaman's goal was typical of Spurs' luck at present and Liverpool midfielder John Barnes was relieved to see his side display all the determination that he hopes will keep them in the title race. "You can't always pass the ball around. But you've still got to battle and we got a result," he said. "We had two home draws and we didn't play particularly well but we were still only one point off the top. It's important that we don't get too far away from whoever is on top. We talk about Newcastle and (Manchester) United, and Arsenal are up there too. We're just concentrating on trying to keep as close to the top come the end of May. "The pleasing thing is that when teams don't make us play we can battle. Last year we were losing games like this where we had to battle."
Liverpool boss Roy Evans saw his side eventually let their class count as they went level with Arsenal at the top of the table but admitted: "It's all thanks to our portable divot." One-time Tottenham fan Michael Thomas put the Reds on the way to their fifth away League win of the season when he rifled home from John Barnes' pass in first-half stoppage time. But Spurs' recent misery was summed up when England star Steve McManaman span off Steve Carr to produce a 25-yard shot that bounced like a leg-break off the divot in front of Ian Walker to finish up in the back of the Tottenham net.
Liverpool might have had more before the end but Evans was happy enough with the two goals and three points. And he smiled: "We brought the portable divot with us that we had at Blackburn last year. It worked for Stan Collymore then and we decided to keep it with us!" Beneficiary McManaman could also hardly hide the pleasure which licked across his features at the thought of the freak which downed sorry Spurs. For all the humour -- even Walker smiled ruefully as he lay crestfallen in front of his net -- there was no doubting the Merseysiders' class deserved to win the day.
Spurs' best efforts came from skipper Teddy Sheringham but after Sol Campbell had a close-range header disallowed for a foul on David James Liverpool could have run riot in the final stages. McManaman, Patrik Berger and Robbie Fowler all squandered the sort of chances they really should have put away and Evans added: "We could have had a lot more but if we were offered two at the start we'd have settled for that. "It was a great result for us. We showed that we can mix skill and class and we had to, because Spurs didn't allow us to settle, didn't give us time to play. "I thought John (Barnes) and Michael (Thomas) in midfield were exceptional. Our spirit was tremendous and the lads at the back worked so hard when it was difficult for them." Barnes, dreaming of another championship medal seven seasons after his last, admitted: "We had to work hard because they didn't let us play but the important thing was that we got the result."
But while Evans and his team were savouring their victory Francis was left cursing his ill luck. "I must have run over a black cat or at least done something wrong," moaned the Spurs chief. "It was bad enough that we were behind at half-time because we deserved to be level but the second goal really hurt us. "I saw the shot going towards Ian and turned away to see what might be happening elsewhere. Then I just heard a roar and saw the ball in the back of the net. "The ball was just running towards him slowly and then went right up in the air. The strange thing is that there doesn't even seem to be a divot there now -- that's what new pitches do for you!"
Francis' problems multiplied with news that dead-leg victim Chris Armstrong and Andy Sinton, unable to see out of his left eye after an incident in the first half, could both miss Saturday's trip to Coventry while Darren Anderton is a certain absentee. At least new £2.6million Norwegian signing Steffen Iversen could be available but Francis was more concerned tonight about nursing his battered pride.
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