Tottenham 0-3 Liverpool

by Amar Azam

at White Hart Lane

This was a commanding performance from Brendan Rodgers’s Liverpool, a display full of power and purpose. 

Once they had seized control of this match, they never let go. 

For Tottenham Hotspur, who had enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season, this heavy defeat came as a reminder for new manager Mauricio Pochettino as to how much work he has to do following the turmoil and upheaval of last season. 

England winger Raheem Sterling put the visitors in the lead early in the match but the game perhaps may have turned on a contentious penalty kick shortly awarded after the interval. 

Steven Gerrard put his side further ahead. However, the win was sealed with a fine solo effort from full-back Alberto Moreno. 

The visitors took the lead on eight minutes following a well-worked move. Daniel Sturridge drifted onto the flank, collecting the ball before spotting the run of Jordan Henderson. 

He played in the midfielder, who delivered a low cross into the feet of Sterling who slipped the ball under goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from close range. 

As the match wore on, Spurs’ players continued to struggle against Liverpool’s high-intensity approach play. 

New signing Mario Balotelli, playing alongside Sturridge and Sterling in a fluid forward line, had a relatively low-key debut. 

However, he should have done better with a third-minute close range header that he directed straight at Lloris. 

Nacer Chadli had Spurss best chance of the match when he ran from deep to meet a flick from Emmanuel Adebayor. 

He raced through onto Simon Mignolet’s goal but slammed his shot at the Belgian goalkeeper, who made a good save. It didn’t get much better than that for the Spurs supporters. 

Liverpool were further in the lead three minutes after the interval when they were awarded a penalty kick. 

Full-back Eric Dier was at fault, tugging at Joe Allen’s shirt. The Welshman fell to the turf dramatically. 

However, referee Phil Dowd had no hesitation in awarding the spot-kick. Gerrard easily rolled the ball home. 

Moreno completed the win with a superb solo goal on 60 minutes. 

After dispossessing substitute Andros Townsend in his own half, he surged forward with the ball before firing a low shot past Lloris.