 Goals
Keane 25 pen
Postige 53
Kewell 75
Match
Report
Helder Postiga took up the challenge to prove himself in English
football as he helped Spurs maintain their 100% start to 2004 -
and shatter Liverpool's own record in the process.
The Portuguese striker earned his chance after Fredi Kanoute went
off to Tunisia to play for Mali in the African Nations Cup, and
he claimed his first Barclaycard Premiership goal since signing
from FC Porto in the summer for £6.25million.
Robbie Keane fired Spurs into a deserved lead with a 23rd minute
penalty after he had been fouled by Igor Biscan, and Postiga ended
Liverpool's hopes of climbing into fourth place for the first time
this season when he steered home the second goal after 53 minutes.
Harry Kewell ensured a tense finale when he pulled one back for
the visitors with a lovely solo goal with 16 minutes remaining,
but Spurs held on to claim all three points.
Both teams began this game with 100% records this year, so something
had to give.
After four minutes Emile Heskey - who is wanted by Middlesbrough
but according to manager Gerard Houllier is not for sale - nodded
on a long clearance from goalkeeper Paul Jones for Owen.
The striker was playing his 200th Premiership game and was two
short of 150 goals for the club, and he almost went within one of
the mark as he flashed a 20-yard volley just wide of Kasey Keller's
right post.
Play switched to the other end and in the sixth minute Postiga
cut inside of Stephane Henchoz on the left and hit a low drive which
Jones blocked on his six-yard line.
There was drama after 23 minutes when Keane deftly brought down
Anthony Gardner's chip with his back to goal, turned and wriggled
his way into the penalty area and had his heels clipped by Biscan.
Referee Uriah Rennie pointed to the spot and Keane confidently
and powerfully drove the opening goal into the bottom left corner
to give the Londoners a deserved lead.
It was Keane's third goal in successive games and the first Liverpool
had conceded this year, and only the 10th on their league travels
all season - a record bettered only by Arsenal and Manchester United
before this match.
Spurs - who handed Michael Brown a debut after Ledley King went
down with an ankle injury - were forced to make an change at the
break as Stephane Dalmat picked up a knock and was replaced by John
Jackson.
Heskey - one of the men being watched by England coach Sven-Goran
Eriksson - was almost in after 50 minutes but Spurs skipper Steve
Carr made an important clearance in his own six-yard box.
Spurs were celebrating again after 53 minutes when Postiga finally
claimed his first goal in the Premiership. He ran on to a lovely
pass from Jackson, held off Biscan and steered the ball past Jones.
Eriksson must have been impressed with Gardner, who after 57 minutes
did well to dispossess Owen on the edge of the box, and was tidy
throughout.
Kewell ensured an exciting finale when he pulled one back for Liverpool
after 74 minutes. Running on to Heskey's knock-down on the right,
he weaved his way into the area before squeezing a shot inside Keller's
near post.
It was too little, too late, and to add to Liverpool's misery their
Merseyside rivals Everton lost at home to Charlton, leaving The
Reds further adrift of fourth place in the table.
Press Association
Teams
Tottenham: Keller, Carr, Doherty, Gardner, Taricco,
Brown, Anderton, Dalmat, Davies, Postiga, Keane.
Subs: Hirschfeld, Bunjevcevic, Zamora, Jackson, Kelly.
Booked: Carr
Liverpool: Jones, Henchoz, Hyypia, Biscan, Traore,
Murphy, Hamann, Kewell, Cheyrou, Heskey, Owen.
Subs: Dudek, Finnan, Riise, Le Tallec, Carragher.
Booked: Hamann
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
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