INJURY TIME, Anfield Road end, penalty kick. But while seven days ago it nudged Rafael Benitez and Liverpool towards the precipice, last night the same scenario gave confirmation they are not willing to surrender their campaign without a fight.

Last week’s FA Cup exit to Reading, followed by the dramatic but damaging draw with Stoke City, had prompted the Anfield manager to admit their clash with Tottenham Hotspur represented a make-or-break encounter in his team’s season.

Given the increased pressure under which the beleaguered Spaniard has found himself lately, he could easily have been referring to his own position.

So the relief was tangible throughout Anfield when Dirk Kuyt rammed home from the spot at the second time of asking to put the seal on a deserved victory on a compelling evening.

Kuyt had earlier given Liverpool the platform of a sixth-minute goal before Benitez’s side dug deep to withstand a Tottenham revival to move within a point of their fourth-placed visitors and a Champions League qualification berth.

Games between these teams have often been a delight for the purists, but this was not a night for free-flowing, fancy football.

Even in January, both teams knew the significance of the encounter. As at Stoke City on Saturday, Liverpool, missing so many first-team regulars, showed themselves ready for a fight.

And quite simply, they wanted it more.

From the moment stand-in captain Jamie Carragher called for a pre-match huddle, the sense of defiance was evident both on the pitch and the stands. It was a stark contrast to seven days previous.

Tottenham were harried and harassed into submission.

Kuyt, as well as his two goals, didn’t give the visiting defenders a moment’s rest while Javier Mascherano revelled in the midfield scrap.

Players such as Philipp Degen and Sotirios Kyrgiakos, cited by Benitez’s critics as beacons of Liverpool’s mediocrity, put in a shift, the latter outstanding alongside centre-back partner Martin Skrtel in negating the threat of Jermaine Defoe, Peter Crouch and later Robbie Keane.

All, though, were eclipsed by Carragher who, leading by example, put his heart and soul into every challenge while cajoling and urging his team-mates into action.

True, Tottenham could reflect on the decision to disallow what would have been an equaliser for Defoe shortly after half-time. But Liverpool’s approach meant they deserved any fortune on the evening.

Benitez’s side have now won four of their last six Premier League games and are the form team in the battle for fourth place. Manchester City and Aston Villa will have duly noted this result and Liverpool’s renewed appetite.

Of course, it was defeat at White Hart Lane on the opening weekend of the season that set the tone for a difficult campaign for Liverpool, and one of greater encouragement for the Londoners.

Yet history favoured the home side last night. Tottenham now haven’t won at Anfield in the league since 1993, which was also their last win at a ‘big four’ ground – a startling run of 66 games. On top of that, Harry Redknapp has now failed to win here in 13 attempts as manager.

Having been accused of defensive team selection at Stoke, Benitez brought both Alberto Aquilani and the fit-again Albert Riera into the starting line-up, and was duly rewarded.