Before the match journalists were saying that Liverpool was likely to welcome back two talismanic figures. Kenny Dalglish confirmed captain Steven Gerrard in the squad to face Harry Redknapp's men, having missed the 3-0 drubbing of Wolves last time out. Luis Suarez was also available for the Reds having now served his nine-game suspension (eight of which were for using racist language toward Manchester United's Patrice Evra, the other for an obscene hand gesture to Fulham fans) but he started the match in the bench.
Therefore Jordan Henderson dropped out of the midfield with Jay Spearing continuing to deputize for Lucas, who is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury. Dirk Kuyt was confirmed as Carroll and Bellamy.
Rafael van der Vaart was a doubt for Tottenham after being forced off the pitch with a calf injury after half an hour of their deadline-day win over Wigan, and Jake Livermore replaced him in the midfield in his absence. Aaron Lennon (hamstring) and Jermain Defoe were both considered unlikely to be fit. Louis Saha and Ryan Nelsen, both signed at the end of the final day of the January transfer window, were available for selection and started the match in the bench.
The first ten minutes the rhythm was aggressive from both sides but nothing dangerous was created. Relevant was the appearance of a cat that forced the referee to stop the match waiting its leaving. After that the first clear chance of the match: Adebayor rose well during a Modric’s corner but he was only able to glance the ball that arrived close to King, there as well, but unable to finish the action.
After the first 15 minutes, the match settled down. There was an important action by Gerrard but Livermore read it and cleared.
After that Assou-Ekotto did a good run on the left side, passed the ball inside to Kranjcar, that did a low shot from 22 yards quite tricky for Reina, but the goalkeeper saved it at the second attempt.
Few minutes later Friedel had to punch away Adam's dangerous inswinging corner and the costless-kick of Bellamy from 22 yards finished into the defensive wall.
The first half concluded with a good action for Spurs with Walker that fizzed in cross from right, Bale somehow fashioned effort on target, straight at Reina. The second half started as the first one finished, with a good chance for Spurs as the ball bobbled around in Liverpool's area following a corner of Modric, then Bale sliced wide with his right foot but the result did not change.
After that there was a brilliant save from Friedel: Kelly's 25-yarder palmed away at full stretch by Spurs’ goalkeeper. Later on, Dawson, as it is typical from him during the last matches, did a fantastic block from Adam's 25-yarder. Liverpool kept attacking and had another opportunity with Carroll from Gerrard's corner, but the ball finished straight at Friedel that saved without any problem.
The best chance of the match happened on Carroll’s foot: Kelly did an excellent cross from the right, the ball was missed by Skrtel but arrived close to the striker that shot from 10 yards without finding the box. With Saha left alone by the team, the last 10 minutes have seen Spurs defending the results and Reds trying to score the goal of the victory. Johnson managed to do a good cross from the left side, the ball met Carroll but King did enough to contrast the striker with the ball that landed on roof of net at the 81’. While the Reds were trying the biggest effort to score, Spurs had a very clear chance, the best one for the Redknapp’s men: Bale was sent completely clear in front of Reina but the goalkeeper saved the one-on-one and the ball scrambled away. At the 91’ Parker, again between the best players of Spurs today, blocked a tremendous shot of Gerrard. The match reinforced the position of Spurs that can maintain the gap of 7 points between them and Chelsea. For the Reds, another match without victory at home, too many in this season. Now the Reds will have absolutely to focus on the next games looking at the Carling Cup’s Final to achieve their first trophy of the season.