7.10.07  BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
Liverpool vs Tottenham 2-2 (BBC)


Fernando Torres' injury-time header salvaged a point for Liverpool.

Liverpool went ahead after Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson spilt Steven Gerrard's free-kick and Andriy Voronin pounced to snaffle the rebound.

But Keane's goals at the end of the first-half and the beginning of the second-half changed the game's course.

On both occasions Dimitar Berbatov's headers unsettled Liverpool and Keane's eye for goal proved deadly, but Torres' downward header rescued the home side.

Liverpool might have been three goals up before Keane got to work but Gerrard hit the post and Voronin missed a reasonable chance.

Manager Rafael Benitez made five changes for this game, with Peter Crouch deemed not even worthy of a place on the Liverpool bench.

Voronin and Torres might have scored but this is a performance that will raise further question marks about Benitez's rotational policy.

This was a disjointed performance from Liverpool and Spurs were unlucky not to come away with their first away win of the season.

Prior to Sunday's game Spurs had won just one league game and Jol's side got off to the worst possible start.

Robinson is having a difficult time of it at the moment - he was at fault for three of Aston Villa's goals in the 4-4 draw on Monday - and he will wince if looks at the video replays of Voronin's goal.

True Steven Gerrard's free-kick took a deflection, but Robinson should have held his England colleague's effort.

Instead the ball squirmed out of his hands and Voronin had the simplest of tasks to put Liverpool ahead.

Later in the game Robinson spilled a Steve Finnan shot, though this time he was rescued by Michael Dawson.

With 13 minutes remaining Robinson did better in dealing with a Xavier Mascherano shot, getting down quickly to make a good save.

Another Mascherano effort - this time from distance - had Robinson worried, but the ball faded away from the goal at the last moment.

On the half-hour Spurs' tendency to give away free-kicks close to their penalty area almost led to another Liverpool goal.

Once again Gerrard took the set-piece and once again Robinson was beaten, though this time he was saved by the post as the ball cannoned back off the post.

A sweeping move involving Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Voronin dissected the Spurs defence but the Ukraine forward elected to pass rather shoot and the opportunity to score passed.

In first-half stoppage time Liverpool were made to rue those missed chances when Berbatov flicked header released Keane, who clipped the ball past Reina.

That combination was quickly back to work at the start of the second half when Berbatov flicked on again and Keane acrobatically volleyed past Reina.

But Torres proved equally adept in the air and when Finnan crossed from the right, the Spaniard headed the ball past Robinson to give Liverpool the draw.
 

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Arbeloa (Babel 63), Pennant (Kuyt 69), Mascherano, Gerrard, Riise, Voronin (Benayoun 77), Torres.

Subs Not Used: Itandje, Lucas.
Goals: Voronin 12, Torres 90.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Lee, Tainio (Malbranque 75), Jenas, Zokora, Bale, Keane, Berbatov.

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Defoe, Huddlestone, Gardner.
Booked: Dawson.
Goals: Keane 45, 47.

Att: 43,986.
Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).