Liverpool second-half show takes points
Rafael Benitez watched his Liverpool side's form continue to recover after a poor start to the season
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Saturday, 23, Sep 2006 08:04
Liverpool swept to their second successive victory with three second-half goals burying Tottenham's hopes of taking anything from their Anfield visit.
It could have been very different however had Jermaine Jenas not fluffed a chance early in the second period when the match was still goalless.
As it was his miss preceded a late Liverpool onslaught that saw Mark Gonzalez, Dirk Kuyt and John Arne Riise all score in the final half-hour.
A tight first half saw the Reds dominate possession but fail to find the required to breach a well-organised Spurs backline, while Tottenham wasted the best chance.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy delivered a fine cross which found Ledley King in glorious isolation on the edge of the six-yard box.
His captain inexplicably mistimed his header however and the ball floated harmlessly wide as the Jose Reina's goal yawned in front of him.
The second half proved a much more open affair with Kuyt and Bellamy getting in each other's way in their eagerness to head home, before Jenas put an Edgar Davids cross wide when it seemed easier to score.
It proved a turning point with Gonzalez smashing home a rebound for the opener just seconds later after Craig Bellamy hit the post.
Kuyt doubled his Liverpool tally emphatically lashing a shot past Paul Robinson after Luis Garcia had poked a pass through the Spurs offside trap.
Late on Riise let fly with a trademark blockbuster that flew into the bottom corner to wrap up the win and further ease the pressure on Rafael Benitez after an indifferent start to the season.