Tottenham Hotspur beat Liverpool 2-1 thanks to goals from Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale, although a second half own goal nearly saw the visitors get back into the match.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool: Final score 2-1, Bale and Lennon fire Spurs past Reds
The Reds were on the back foot early, with Spurs looking threatening whenever they attacked at pace down the wing. It came as no surprise, then, when the hosts took the lead. It was a simple goal, too -- Bale blew down the left flank and sent in a low cross for Lennon at the back post. Stewart Downing, playing left back for some reason, had no idea how to defend the pass, and Lennon was left with an easy tap-in.
Although Tottenham were in control, Liverpool had their chances too. Luis Suarez was looking lively, and the hosts' backline was characteristically sloppy. At one point Kyle Walkter and Hugo Lloris managed to get so confused that they managed to give Jordan Henderson a chance at the open goal from 30 yards out. The ball flew wide.
But despite the worries at the defensive end, Spurs ended up going 2-0 in front thanks to Bale. The free kick might not have been so dangerous if not for a deflection and the fact that Pepe Reina was hopelessly unsighted, but as it was the ball flew into an almost entirely unguarded net.
Liverpool weren’t entirely dead, however. Walker was forced to clear a Suarez shot off the line after a scramble in the penalty area, and eventually they’d manage to haul a goal back thanks to a Spurs comedy show in the 72nd minute. Lennon attempted to clear a shot off the line, but instead of hitting the ball to safety the effort struck Gareth Bale flush in the face and ricocheted into the back of the net. Whoops.
That own goal set up an exciting ending -- Tottenham aren’t exactly known for their composure in the late stages of close games, and Liverpool were looking much improved in the second half. But despite throwing more or less everyone forward and coming very close to snatching a (probably deserved) point, the visitors weren’t able to break the deadlock at White Hart Lane.
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