Liverpool have moved to within a point of fourth place in the Barclays Premier League with a hard-earned win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Goals in both halfs from Dirk Kuyt ensured that Rafael Benitez's side saw the Reds move above Aston Villa into sixth place.
Benitez made two changes from the side that drew with Stoke City at the weekend with Alberto Aquilani restored to the starting line-up to play behind lone striker Dirk Kuyt whilst Albert Riera made his first appearance for the club since November, replacing Fabio Aurelio on the left-hand side of midfield.
Temperamental winger Ryan Babel was restored to the substitutes' bench after apologising for his irate outburt on micro-blogging network Twitter following his omission from the side that travelled to the Potteries.
Before kick-off, a banner on the Kop read 'Liverpool FC - supporting our manager since 1892' whilst one supporter held up a home-made sign proclaiming "I (still) trust Rafa", in response to the intense media scrutiny the Spaniard has endured in recent weeks.
Hours earlier, fans had gathered on Anfield Road with a vast array of flags to greet the team coach as it passed under the Shankly Gates to signify the unconditional support they feel for the club.
Those same flags were out in force once again during a passionate rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone as the home supporters aimed to inspire their team to a vital win over one of their rivals for fourth place.
Kuyt's promotion to the front line paid off during a scrappy opening minutes when he broke the deadlock with a well-driven effort from just outside the penalty area after good work by Aquilani to hand Liverpool the best possible start.
Spurs attempted to stamp their authority on the game after the restart but struggled to threaten Pepe Reina's clean sheet as the Reds built on their defensively strong performance at the Britannia Stadium four days previous.
Jermaine Jenas was handed a caution on 25 minutes after scything down a marauding Philipp Degen as Harry Redknapp's side struggled to live up to their billing as the heirs apparent to Liverpool's top four throne. The Swiss defender was on the receiving end of another hefty lunge, this time courtesy of Jermaine Defoe.
Liverpool by comparison gave a very positive account of themselves, a far cry from the "diabolical", "hoof it up the park" style of play described by Anfield legend Ian St John at the weekend. The square ball routine that has made a frequent appearance this season, most recently the FA Cup exit to Reading last week, was not evident as Benitez's troops perfected the Shankly-taught 'pass and move' tactic to pinpoint accuracy.
Spurs were reduced to heavyweight tactics of clattering players with Degen on the receiving end of a Gareth Bale elbow, which earned the Welsh international a booking.
Jamie Carragher, deputising as captain for the injured Steven Gerrard, continued to embody the spirit of Shankly's untouchables with a gutsy and attacking approach when in possession as Javier Mascherano became Liverpool's first name in Howard Webb's notebook five minutes from the break for a late challenge.
The hosts continued to pile the pressure on their muted guests and went in at half time riding high on confidence following weeks of criticism from all quarters. Kuyt should have found himself with two goals to his name in stoppage time but his header was cleared off the line by Bale before Martin Skrtel blazed the ball just over Gomes's goal.
Defoe thought he had pulled Spurs level minutes after the restart when he slotted the ball into an empty net but his effort was ruled out for offside despite tussling with Reina on the edge of his area.
At the other end Riera, who limped out of the 2-2 draw with Manchester City two months previous, angled a free kick just over from 20 yards out. The Spaniard rose above Vedran Corluka to meet a Carragher cross but saw his header crash against the crossbar as Liverpool aimed to carry on where they had left off in the first half.
Robbie Keane, who returned to White Hart Lane a year ago following an unsuccessful five-month spell at Anfield, was intorduced as Spurs looked to draw level but it was Liverpool who broke first with Kuyt battling beforer laying the ball off to Degen. The right back-cum-winger attempted to return the compliment instead of shooting and spurned the opportunity, prompting calls of "attack attack attack" from the already fired-up Kop.
Kuyt wasted an opportunity hmself when he failed to direct Emiliano Insua's header across the box goalwards, skying the ball into the Anfield Road stand whilst Riera also went close minutes later with a curling effort that spun just wide and over Gomes's crossbar.
Alan Hutton almost equalised with a curling volley that swerved just wide as Benitez, no doubt buoyed by a vote of confidence from owner George Gillett earlier, aimed to regain momentum by introducing David Ngog 12 minutes from time in place of Aquilani, who earned a standing ovation from the Kop who also greeted Maxi Rodriguez's first appearance in a red shirt with similar delight.
Ngog almost made his mark with a series of twists and turns through the North Londoners' defence before firing a shot which Gomes did well to parry. Less than a minute later the Frenchman was the architect once again when he glanced a Carragher cross into the path of Kuyt who once again lifted the ball high into the stands.
Sotirios Kyrgiakos, the Reds' hero at the Britannia, almost made it two goals in as many appearances when he latched onto a knock-down header from Degen but his effort could only find the body of Spurs' Brazilian stopper.
Stephen Darby was introduced as a late substitute as Ngog was fouled in the area by Sebastian Bassong. With five minutes of stoppage time remaining, Dirk Kuyt stepped up to fire home before being ordered to retake the spot kick after Lucas had encroached before the kick was taken.
The Dutchman made no mistake second time round to gift-wrap maxium points as joyous chants of Benitez's name rang around Anfield.
Final score: Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Degen (Darby 90), Mascherano, Lucas, Riera (Maxi 80), Aquilani (Ngog 78), Kuyt. Subs not used: Cavalieri, Spearing, Babel, Pacheco.
Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes, Bale, Dawson, Corluka (Hutton 61), King (Bassong 80), Jenas, Palacios, Modric, Kranjcar (Keane 64), Crouch, Defoe. Subs not used: Alnwick, Rose, Pavlyuchenko, Giovani.
Referee: Howard Webb
Attendance: 42,016
.jpg)
samuel king , liverpool around 1 month, 2 weeks ago