Heart-and-soul show gives Graham reprieve

The lid is on. For now. The Tottenham Hotspur fans disappearing down the sodden Seven Sisters Road last night did so with a spring in their step and a song in their voice. Tottenham had beaten Liverpool, coming from behind with a heart-and-soul performance that protected their unbeaten home record. Moreover, for the first time this season Spurs had defeated a team in the top five. By the end the atmosphere inside the stadium was rousing.

It had been rather different in the beginning. With rebellion in the air and anti-Alan Sugar leaflets in the hand, some Spurs fans arrived with dread, others with bitterness. For all his defiance, George Graham, still unforgiven by many for his Arsenal past, must have been concerned about the sense of drift and the growing antipathy. His awareness of his position must have been sharpened when, in the 18th minute, Robbie Fowler clipped in his first Premiership goal of the season. At that point Spurs were shapeless and underconfident. But Graham descended from the stands to the bench, started barking out orders and the impact was such that before half-time Les Ferdinand and Tim Sherwood had given them a lead they would not lose.

Spurs were aided by some Liverpool defending that Gerard Houllier called "childish". But it was down principally to their grit, which was admirable considering Alton Thelwell was a 20-year-old debutant, Ledley King, also 20, made his first appearance of the season and was intelligent and efficient in midfield, and Luke Young is just 21.

"Excellent resilience," was Graham's verdict, "and some of our passing was good, especially Stephen Carr. He's so exciting, his play has been a joy to watch."

Carr was impressive, and after his outburst about his contractual status a couple of weeks ago, Graham's words were diplomatic indeed. Graham indicated yesterday that Carr would be signing an improved deal imminently. Manchester United might not be too pleased to hear that.

Graham said the announcement would be made quietly. He was in that kind of mood, quietly satisfied. He knew it had been a good day when it could have been otherwise. "I don't worry about the political side," he said, "it really doesn't worry me. The team spirit has been very, very good."

It needed to be. It took only 26 minutes before Graham left his perch in the stand for the more intense experience offered on the bench. His arrival there, from where his voice was audible even in a seething ground, had an immediate galvanising effect. "In, in, in, up, up, up," was the constant refrain to his players. Every tackle became a personal test of responsibility and courage.

It had to be so. Spurs were a goal down and could have been more behind had Fowler converted a difficult snapshot at the near post, or an even harder headed chance from Markus Babbel's blasted shot across the Tottenham area. Fowler did well on both occasions, his confidence clearly returning after his early strike.

Fowler had Danny Murphy to thank for that, Murphy's outstretched touch from Sami Hyypia's pass leaving every Spurs defender, including goalkeeper Neil Sullivan, flatfooted. Fowler spiked the ball home.

With Gary McAllister commanding, Liverpool were in control. Then, in the 32nd minute, Stephane Henchoz mucked about at the back, lost the ball to Sergei Rebrov who back-heeled it to Stephen Clemence. Clemence's driven cross beat Sander Westerveld's slow dive at the near post and Ferdinand slid the ball in from five yards.

Four minutes before the interval more idle Liverpool defending allowed Clemence a prairie of space down the left. His high cross this time was met emphatically by Sherwood. There was only a hint of a red challenge. To think Liverpool had the best defensive record in the Premiership last season. As Houllier said after, this was the 11th time Liverpool had taken the lead this season. If they could hold those leads they would have 33 points.

They did attempt a comeback here. Sullivan tipped a Hyypia header over and followed that with a save from Michael Owen straight after half-time. But Emile Heskey (suspended) was missed, and when Nicky Barmby and Steven Gerrard left the bench neither suggested they were capable of lifting their colleagues.

No, this was George Graham's day for uplift, though he will have noted that three of Tottenham's next four games are against Leicester City, Arsenal and Man United. Experienced as he is, Graham knows the lid can always come off again quickly.

TOTTENHAM: Sullivan, Carr, Young, Perry, Sherwood (Freund 85), King, Thelwell, Anderton, Clemence, Ferdinand, Rebrov (Armstrong 84). Subs Not Used: Walker, Vega, Korsten. Booked: Anderton. Goals: Ferdinand 32, Sherwood 41.

LIVERPOOL: Westerveld, Henchoz, Babbel, Hyypia, Traore (Gerrard 65), Hamann, Murphy (Carragher 79), Smicer (Barmby 61), Owen, McAllister, Fowler. Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Vignal. Booked: Smicer, Babbel. Goals: Fowler 18. Att: 36,036.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).