Tottenham ... 2 Liverpool ... 3: If Liverpool have been reproached for being too stuffy, they can make amends in a helter-skelter end to the season as they race for a Champions League place. From Kevin McCarra at White Hart Lane
In their first victory at White Hart Lane since 1996, they lost the opener, reacted with three goals and then held out after Teddy Sheringham scored for Tottenham. "I like the way the team is growing," said Gerard Houllier, viewing this season's troubles as a finishing school.
Not everyone will join in that cheerful interpretation after a match swayed by blunder as much as invention but the energy of Liverpool was undeniable.
"We were 1-0 down less than 72 hours after we played Celtic," said Houllier. "I am not unhappy that we had to dig in." There have been days when a well-rested Liverpool have been listless so the vigour here was impressive.
There was an enlivening dispute to animate everyone. Mauricio Taricco, the Spurs left-back, was accused of trying to provoke El Hadji Diouf in a first-half exchange of words. The Senegal international was already being barracked by the crowd for the spitting incident in Glasgow last week.
"Whether it was on purpose or not, Taricco looked as if he wanted to have him sent off," said Houllier. "I have never had a player who tried to get someone sent off and I want to keep that ethic."
The incensed Liverpool manager not only protested to the Spurs coach John Gorman but, according to Glenn Hoddle, went even further at the interval. "For Houllier to attack our player verbally in the tunnel I don't think is on," he said while also dismissing the claims as "absolute rubbish".
An injury-ridden Spurs, with Dean Richards suspended, were less trenchant than Hoddle and, despite a couple of goals, they are heavy-footed in attack while Robbie Keane is out.
The match itself had an iron-clad dullness in the first half that could only have been pierced by outlandish error.
Since that mistake against Manchester United in November, Jerzy Dudek's reputation has been in rehab and there was a relapse here. After 49 minutes, Taricco struck a 25-yarder straight at him but the ball squirmed out of the goalkeeper's arms and rolled into the far corner of the net.
Dudek told Houllier later that he had been "surprised by the trajectory" of the shot but thereby condemned his own powers of judgment. The comfort for the Pole arose from his team's enhanced vehemence, which saw them cover for him with goals.
Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool the advantage in their UEFA Cup tie with Celtic by asserting himself in midfield and there was no trace of weariness against Spurs.
A loose pass by Sheringham in the 51st minute paved the way for him to break through on the right and hit the low cross that Michael Owen turned in.
With 18 minutes left, an erratic throw-out by Kasey Keller let Jamie Carragher release Gerrard once more and his driven ball was headed home by Emile Heskey amid a suspicion of offside.
There could be no qualms, however, about the last Liverpool goal in the 82nd minute. Danny Murphy sent Gerrard running clear of Ben Thatcher to fire a shot low past Keller's right hand.
Three minutes from the end Sheringham netted after a knock-down by the substitute Jamie Slabber, a teenager making his Spurs debut.
Guardian Service
TOTTENHAM: Keller, Carr, Thatcher, King, Taricco (Freund 69), Davies, Poyet, Bunjevcevic, Etherington, Sheringham, Doherty (Slabber 79). Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Acimovic, Toda. Booked: Carr. Goals: Taricco 49, Sheringham 87.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Riise, Diouf, Hamann (Diao 88), Gerrard, Murphy, Heskey, Owen. Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Smicer, Baros, Biscan. Booked: Hamann. Goals: Owen 51, Heskey 72, Gerrard 82.
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
