It was all about Gareth Bale at White Hart Lane on Wednesday as he was involved in all three matches on the day, including one for Liverpool. As predicted before the match Bale was the man to watch out for the North Londoners.
Gareth Bale stars as Spurs edge past Liverpool
Gale opened the scoring in the 7th minute after a brilliant solo run of over 30 yards followed by a low flying cross to Aaron Lennon. Lennon tapped in from 5 yards as Spurs took the lead.
The next big chance of the game fell to Liverpool as Hugo Lloris came off his line to collect the ball; but the French stopper was never going to get there before Liverpool and the ball was passed to Jordan Henderson who put the ball wide off the post with an open goal in front of him.
It was Henderson again in the middle of things as he fouled Clint Dempsey 30 yards from goal. Bale who took the resulting free kick sent one flying and dipping over the wall low and straight as the Reina and the wall misjudged it.
Liverpool kept pushing Spurs and Suarez was always a threat to the home team. In the 36th minute it was controversy again as Liverpool were denied a penalty appeal as Gerrard seemed to have been bought down in the penalty box. The defender or the keeper did not get the ball and it fell into the path of Luis Suarez who fired in a shot but Kyle walker came running in and made a clearance off the line brilliantly to keep Liverpool at bay.
After the break Liverpool were the better team as they kept bulk of the possession in fact they had 64 percentage of the possession in the whole match. The visitors almost conceded a third as a Martin Skrtel clearance gave Dempsey a chance.
Liverpool’s failure in front of goal continued troubling them again and their lack of finishing abilities starved them from a goal despite deserving it. They finally got one thanks to one of the most bizarre own goals ever. Jonjo Shelvey’s corner was headed by Gerrard, Lennon who was on the line cleared the ball but it hit Bale in the face and went in.
Liverpool continued to put pressure as a Suarez volley flew over and Shelvey chipped just wide of the post.
The result means that Liverpool are now 12th with just 16 points from their 14 matches and Spurs move into 5th ahead of Arsenal and Everton following the draw between the two at Merseyside.
Bale was an outstanding performer for the Spurs and what they would do without him as he too like his former Spurs team mate is rumored to want to leave for Real Madrid.
Brendan Rodgers now has things to worry about as he has failed to get a win once again. Liverpool’s form in the attacking third has been poor and they will be hoping that January can change things for the Reds because possession alone cannot win you matches.
Tags: EPL, Football, Gareth Bale, Liverpool, Premier League, Spurs, Tottenham Hotspur, White Hart Lane
