A late winner from the spot by skipper Steven Gerrard kept Liverpool's hopes of Champions League qualification alive as they beat Tottenham 3-2 in a topsy-turvy Premier League affair at Anfield.
The Reds took the lead halfway through the first half thanks to a nicely worked goal with Phillippe Coutinho producing a skillful set-up from the left wing before combining with Jose Enrique who slipped a lovely pass through for Luis Suarez to stab in the opener neatly inside keeper Hugo Lloris' near post with the outside of his boot.
Spurs hit back with a Jan Vertonghen header just before the break and the Belgian then fired the visitors ahead eight minutes into the second half striking the bouncing ball clearly past replacement keeper Brad Jones from 15 yards out.At that point the visitors looked in total control, but Kyle Walker's horrendous back pass left Lloris stranded, only able to to kick the ball into Stewart Downing's path who coolly converted the chance presented to him on a silver plate firing the ball into the back of the net through Vertonghen's legs on the line to make it all square at 2-2.
And the turnaround was comeplete when Jermain Defoe's clumsy back pass found Suarez who was brought down in the box by Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Gerrard converted the resulting penalty sending Lloris the wrong way to bag three goals and points for Brendan Rodgers' men.Suarez has now scored nine goals in the Premier League 2013, two more than any other player, whilst Jamie Carragher made his 500th league appearance for Liverpool. And the Reds have won three games in a row (in all competitions) for the first time this season. Rodgers can only hope his side can pick up a nice, longer winning run from this, improving their chances of European football next season!
Liverpool Goals: 1.: 20:41min Luis Suarez (7), 2.: 65:31min Stewart Downing (19), 3.: 81:47min Steven Gerrard (8) penalty.
Tottenham Goals: 1. & 2.: 44:52min & 52:39min Jan Vertonghen (5).
Liverpool: 1 Jones; 3 Jose Enrique, 5 Agger, 23 Carragher (booked 83.), 2 Johnson; 10 Coutinho (24 Allen - 59.), 8 Gerrard, 21 Lucas, 19 Downing; 7 Suarez, 15 Sturridge (14 Henderson - 88.). 4-4-2
Subs not used: 42 Gulacsi, 37 Skrtel, 33 Shelvey, 31 Sterling, 47 Wisdom.
Tottenham: 25 Lloris; 32 Assou-Ekotto (46 Carroll - 90.), 5 Vertonghen (booked 57.), 20 Dawson, 28 Walker; 22 Sigurdsson, 8 Parker, 29 Livermore (23 Holtby - 84.), 19 Dembele; 18 Defoe, 11 Bale. 4-4-2
Subs not used: 24 Friedel, 6 Huddlestone, 16 Naughton, 33 Caulker, 41 Coutlhirst.
Sky Stats: Liverpool-Tottenham
Attempts: 12-16
On target: 4-7
Offsides: 6-0
Corners: 1-4
Free kicks: 9-9
Possession: 46.5%-53.5%
Tackles/Success: 27-33/77.8%-72.7%
Passes/Success: 397-452/75.1%-79,6%
Crosses/Success: 10-19/20%-15.8%
Referee: Michael Oliver
Man of the match: Luis Suarez
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