In Football it is often said that the difference between the good and the great is very marginal. On Saturday, Tottenham Hotspur were good, and can consider themselves rather unfortunate not to have earned themselves a share of the points, but two sublime pieces of skill from Danny Murphy and Michael Owen are the reasons why Liverpool are four points clear at the top of the Premiership. They are the reasons why, despite not firing on all cylinders, this team is on the verge of greatness.
This was always going to be a more difficult encounter than it had proved to be in recent years, with Tottenham not claiming a win at Anfield since the heartbreaking FA Cup quarter final over 7 years ago. They seem to be a renewed force under Glenn Hoddle this season as they seek to break in to that elusive top six.
Notwithstanding that fact, Hoddle is a gobshite, the greater percentage of his players are equally annoying and their fans are simply a London incarnation of Everton, with massive delusions of grandeur and an obsession with their hugely successful neighbours.
With the Tottenham slating out of the way for the time being, it was great to see Jamie Redknapp back at Anfield, fit and healthy for a change. Apart from the divvy behind me, who labelled him a reject, the reception he received before kick-off was a really nice touch. Without wanting to wish Hod's-God-Squad well, It'd be great for Jamie to have some better footballing memories, but he's just so much better than Spurs.
The reds made the better start to the game, but at times seemed a little preoccupied with passing the ball in to the net. Time and time again, shooting opportunities presented themselves, only for the players to look for their colleagues. We also seemed to have no problems getting in behind Spurs, who in Dean Richards have a camel only matched within the ranks of the blue half of Merseyside.
Owen was looking as sharp as he has all season, with another hat-trick under his belt in midweek, but it was Salif Diao who had perhaps the best chance of the first half, latching on to Carragher's brilliant through ball to miraculously get a strong foot to the ball, only to see his shot evade Kasey Keller's right hand post.
Salif has been a revelation recently, especially in the last 8 days. He was magnificent at Elland Road, equally so in Moscow, and for the first half today he was easily our best performer. His attacking attributes are also a lot finer than expected and with any luck, he'll make a habit of this 'arriving late on the scene' lark and add to our impressive tally of goals from midfield. Ten so far, is the highest in the top division.
Owen also found himself in behind the Spurs defence more often than not and seemed to have the simplest of chances to put the reds in front after easily turning Richards, (not that it proved difficult for Owen throughout the whole 90 minutes today) but instead chose to lay the ball back for Diouf, but the ball fell just behind the Senegalese striker.
The two combined again later in the half as Owen had the ball in the net after some strong work from Diouf had seen his path to goal clearer. A joke of a referee thought otherwise and gave a foul against Diouf. There was fuck all wrong with that goal and when people are having a pop at us for only having 2 shots on target for the whole game, I'm sure they will fail to mention that.
The second half was a slightly different story as Spurs really came back into the game, giving out back four a torrid time, especially with some well placed crosses and high balls into the box. If there was a weakness in our own game today, it was the shocking quality of our final ball.
The horrible attacking duo of Sheringham and Keane did their level best to dive and cheat their way into the lead, but with little luck. The ball seemed to run in our favour on a number of occasions in the penalty area and a fantastic goal-line clearance from Hamann kept us on level terms.
On 72 minutes Liverpool had the lead and it must be said, somewhat against the run of play. It was always going to take a mistake or a blinding bit of skill and more often than not this season, Murphy has been the man to provide it. It seemed that as soon as the ball arrived at his feet that a goal was the most likely outcome.
Spurs had a deserved equaliser ten minutes from time, with a move started and ended by Dean Richards (Godamnit!) who rose above Sami and Djimi to nod home Acimovic's pinpoint cross.
Just when it looked as though we'd have to settle for a point, Owen proved exactly why he is the continent's finest player with a marvellous run which was only ended by Steven Carr's desperate attempt to foil him. For once Mike Riley made the correct decision and pointed to the spot. But….erm…uh….Owen's taking the pen himself: SHIT!! Up he steps….BANG! 2-1, three points, top of the table, never doubted you for a second Michael lad!
Michael is now joint top scorer with Thierry Henry and on the subject of Arsenal, their third defeat in 8 days, kinda dents their chances of going unbeaten for the whole season. Arrogant pricks, serves them right.
We're four points clear and remain unbeaten in the league and still nobody is taking us seriously…long may it continue!
Team: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Djimi Traore, John Arne Riise; Steven Gerrard (Vladimir Smicer), Salif Diao, Didi Hamann, Danny Murphy; El Hadji Diouf (Milan Baros), Michael Owen:
