With all the other clubs around them winning, Liverpool needed to win but ended up thankful for a late equaliser in a draw that tasted very much like a defeat. After the midweek defeat against Marseilles, everyone was waiting to see how Liverpool would react but, apart from the occasional good move, rarely showed the brand of football that got everyone so excited early on in the season.

Good game
For the first time in this Premier League campaign, Pepe Reina was beaten in open play yet could have done very little to prevent both of Tottenham’s goals. Instead, he was always safe in his handling and dealing with crosses whilst his timely reading of the game ensured that he got quickly off his line to close down Tottenham players who had gotten into space. His kicking was once again woeful but otherwise it was another faultless game for him.

Jamie Carragher occasionally struggled yet his anticipation was vital to clear the ball of the line. He is one of the few that Benitez never leaves out and the same should apply to Steve Finnan whose crossing put the club’s wingers to shame. As the game wore on space opened up for him to move forward and Spurs couldn’t find a way to keep him out.

It was by no means a great game for Steven Gerrard and he does seem to miss the calmness of Xabi Alonso beside him. Yet his was the free kick that resulted in Liverpool’s first goal whilst a second kick thundered off the goal-post.

The same can be said about Fernando Torres who struggled with lack of opportunities and when a couple of half chances came along he seemed to feel the pressure and was way off target before finally heading in the leveller. Against Marseilles he saw the last gasp shot rebound off the post, Spurs weren’t so lucky.

Neither was Paul Robinson particularly fortunate to see his parry fall at the feet of Andrei Voronin. The Ukranian striker worked hard all through the game, showing exceptional strength and determination to hold the ball and lay it off to a team-mate. His only mistake, perhaps, was in laying off the ball to Steven Gerrard when he should have hammered it home to give Liverpool a two goal lead. Man of the match.

Bad Game
Sami Hyppia has been a great servant to the club and is a valuable back up but this game exposed once more his limitations when faced by a fast striker, just as Andy Johnson did in last season’s away derby.

Left out in midweek for the first time this season Alvaro Arbeloa quickly regained his starting spot yet didn’t make an impact and could hardly contain Pascal Chimbonda every time the Tottenham full-back moved forward. He was given little support by John Arne Riise who patently isn’t a winger with Tottenham effectively crowding him out every time he got the ball.

Jermaine Pennant on the other hand is a winger and did occasionally find space. Too often, however, he failed to beat his man and lacked that spark that last month made him such a match winner.

In midweek, the world and his dog were wondering why Javier Mascherano had been kept out of Liverpool’s side but yesterday’s game did little to enhance his reputation. Defensively there are none better yet he adds nothing to the side’s creative output.

The Substitutes
Ryan Babel huffed and puffed without ever really causing any problems. He’s a striker who is being forced to play out wide and it is starting to show. There was no repeat of his two recent great goals for Yossi Benayoun although his eagerness did help Liverpool stretch Tottenham’s defence. It is virtually impossible to fault Dirk Kuyt who works so hard, something that caused Spurs a lot of problems.