Tottenham 2 Liverpool 3

Last updated : 16 March 2003 By Footymad Previewer

With the Worthington Cup already in the bag, Gerard Houllier's side are now closing in on the fourth Champions League spot after second-half goals from Michael Owen, Emile Heskey and Steven Gerrard saw them claim another priceless three points.

Earlier a Jerzy Dudek howler had given Spurs the lead when he allowed Mauricio Taricco's shot to slip through his fingers. but his blushes were spurred when a late Tottenham fightback only brought a consolation goal for Teddy Sheringham.

There was no hint of the drama to come later during a dull first half in which Liverpool sat deep and invited Spurs to try and break them down.

That meant the home side had the majority of the play but clear goalscoring chances were few and far between.

The first fell to Gus Poyet who blasted Simon Davies' cross over the bar while at the other end Owen put El Hadji Diouf's centre just wide.

Owen then forced Kasey Keller into a smart stop as the half wore on and it was Spurs who took control, they could have grabbed the lead only for Davies to narrowly fail to get a touch to Taricco's teasing cross.

The game really needed a goal and it arrived just three minutes into the second half in the most unusual circumstances. Taricco is hardly known for his goalscoring so when he let fly from 25 yards there seemed little danger, only for Dudek to somehow allow the ball to trickle over the line.

But after working so hard to get the lead Spurs simply threw it away three minutes later when Sheringham gifted the ball to the impressive Gerrard whose cross was converted by Owen at the far post.

Now it was the Reds in control and they went ahead when Jamie Carragher cut out Keller's throw and with the Spurs defence still out of position Gerrard picked out Heskey to head home.

The game was wrapped up in the 82nd minute when Gerrard burst clear from the halfway line to drill a shot past Keller and although Sheringham set up some nervous final moments by pulling a goal back with two minutes to go, it was not enough to save Spurs.