Liverpool grabbed all three points at home to Spurs to move to within just one point of Tottenham in fourth place. An early goal from Kuyt followed by a second from the spot earned the Merseysiders a vital win in their pursuit of a Champions League spot. The Reds got off to a perfect start as Kuyt put the home side in the lead on six minutes. The Dutchman played a clever one-two with Alberto Aquilani before unleashing an unstoppable right-foot shot past Gomes from the edge of the box.

The best chances of the first-half arrived at the end of the first 45 minute period. A Liverpool corner caused havoc in the Tottenham box as a Dirk Kuyt header was cleared off the line before Martin Skrtel smashed the rebound just over the bar.

Pepe Reina needed to be alert to deny the visitors an equaliser on the stroke of the half-time. The Spain keeper brilliantly saved from Modric who was played into the box by Palacios.

Tottenham thought they were level straight after the restart. Defoe had the ball in the back of the net but the striker was adjudged to have pulled Reina back as the Spaniard was looking to clear a ball on the edge of his area.

At the other end Albert Riera saw his header crash off the bar following some good work from Jamie Carragher on the right touchline.

Pepe Reina was forced into to making another good save, this time from Jenas whose swerving shot almost deceived the keeper.

Second-half substitute David Ngog was denied by an excellent save by Gomes, but the danger wasn’t over for the visitors as Kuyt at full-stretch toe-poked the ball agonisingly over from three yards out.

Liverpool were looking the better side in the final stages and the home side were deservedly awarded a penalty in stoppage-time after Ngog was brought down in the box. Kuyt was forced to retake the penalty after originally scoring, but the Dutch forward made no mistake sending Gomes the wrong way to make it 2-0


- Match Stats: Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Degen (Darby, 90), Mascherano, Lucas, Riera (Maxi, 81), Aquilani (Ngog, 79), Kuyt

Booked: Mascherano, Lucas

Goals: Kuyt 6, 90+3

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka (Hutton, 61), Dawson, King (Bassong, 81), Bale, Modric, Jenas, Palacios, Kranjcar (Keane, 65), Crouch, Defoe

Booked: Bale, Jenas, Palacios