Liverpool 2 - 2 Tottenham

Oct 7 2007

LIVERPOOL suffered further torment at Anfield before Fernando Torres’ injury-time equaliser salvaged a fortunate point against Tottenham.

The visitors were chasing their first win at Anfield since 1993; it would have been only Spurs’ fourth league success at the home of Liverpool since 1912.

But two minutes into injury-time Torres rose to head the equaliser.

Andriy Voronin had opened the scoring for the home team only for Robbie Keane to score either side of half-time.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez made five changes following the Champions League defeat at home to Marseille, but there was not even a role for Peter Crouch on the bench.

His ineffective display in midweek had not helped his cause, while Benitez brought back John Arne Riise, Voronin, Jermaine Pennant, Alvaro Arbeloa and Javier Mascherano.

Spurs almost took the lead after just two minutes when Gareth Bale curled a 20-yard free-kick inches wide of a post.

Voronin saw a 20-yard shot easily saved by Paul Robinson four minutes later, but after 12 minutes the Ukrainian was more successful.

Jenas had pulled back Steven Gerrard 25 yards out and, when the Liverpool skipper crashed the free-kick through the wall, Robinson could only half stop the deflected effort, and Voronin punished him by scoring on the rebound.

Spurs retaliated with a flicked header from Keane which dropped just wide, and then a right-footed drive from the Irishman flashed across Jose Reina’s goal.

Torres jinked his way through before sending a low drive just wide before Gerrard almost made it 2-0 with a 20-yard free-kick which crashed against the foot of Robinson’s left-hand post after 28 minutes.

It was a very open game and Jenas was next to try his luck with a dipping drive just over.

At the other end, Arbeloa and Voronin exchanged passes to set up Torres for a shot that Robinson held.

Liverpool should have scored after 34 minutes when Torres, Voronin and Gerrard broke away, but the chance was wasted in the box after a flurry of passes and a Voronin effort was deflected away.

Spurs equalised after 44 minutes when Dimitar Berbatov nodded on Robinson’s long clearance, and Keane got in between Steve Finnan and Sami Hyypia to flick a shot past the advancing Reina.

Two minutes into the second half Keane struck again. Robinson’s free-kick for a foul by Torres soared down the field to be headed on by Berbatov, and this time Keane got to the glanced pass to lift the ball over Reina into the roof of the net.

Spurs continued to come forward and, after Bale’s grafting had retained possession on the left, the ball was transferred to Jenas, who fired wide from the edge of the box.

Liverpool were being forced into mistakes as Spurs continued to press for a third. The home side did break out, but after Voronin’s surge the chance fell to Gerrard, who drove over.

Michael Dawson was booked for a foul on Torres, with Ryan Babel coming on for Arbeloa as Liverpool searched for attacking inspiration. Then the limping Pennant was replaced by another striker Dirk Kuyt.

Robinson spilled another long-range effort, this time from Steve Finnan. But Dawson managed to hook the ball away from the danger area.

Robinson saved well at his near post from Mascherano, while John Arne Riise and Torres both blazed efforts high over.

Two minutes into injury-time, Torres finally found some space in the box when he rose to head home Finnan’s cross to give Liverpool a fortunate point.