11th May 2008
TOTTENHAM (0) 0
LIVERPOOL (0) 2 (Voronin 69, Torres, 74)
TOTTENHAM: Cerny; Gilberto, Dawson (Bent), Woodgate, Hutton; O’Hara (Huddlestone), Jenas (Tainio), Zokora, Malbranque; Berbatov, Keane
LIVERPOOL: Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua; Kuyt (Lucas), Gerrard, Mascherano, Babel (Benayoun); Voronin (Finnan), Torres
The last time Liverpool won at White Hart Lane. It was the final day of the 2007-08 season and Liverpool had already secured 4th place, and travelled to London to meet a Spurs side who were down in 11th. Spurs, managed by Juande Ramos, had endured a frustrating season. They’d finally lifted some silverware when they won the Carling Cup, but their League form had been patchy. They came into the game unbeaten in 5 yet had won just once in their past 6. Liverpool were unbeaten in 7 and had been beaten once in their previous 15. They had also narrowly lost in the Champions League Semi-Final to Chelsea.
The game, and much of Liverpool’s season, was about Fernando Torres. He stood one goal away from breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record for most goals by a foreign player in their first season in English football. TheSpanish striker had repaid the fee with interest as his goals had lit up the Premier League and given Liverpool fans hope of a much missed League title.
A goalless first half with few chances had seen the visitors as the more inventive but early in the second period, Torres almost got his goal as Cerny, in the Spurs goal, managed to keep the shot out with his feet. With just over 20 minutes to go, Arbeloa played a ball forward from the halfway line, Torres got the flick on and Voronin scrambled the ball past the keeper for the opening goal. Voronin had a difficult time at Liverpool, struggling to justify Benitez’s faith in him. This was his 6th and final goal for the club.
Berbatov forced Reina into a fine save as Tottenham created a rare chance but Liverpool were soon back in their stride as Benayoun was given far too much space in midfield, and he found Torres on the left-hand edge of the area. Torres had Dawson for company but he bamboozled him and then as Cerny came out, he just poked the ball past him with the outside of his right foot for the sort of classy finish Liverpool had got used to.
It was a record breaking goal and a remarkable season for a player who was being compared alongside the likes of Rush, Fowler, Hunt, Aldridge and Owen. Ultimately, his Liverpool career tailed off and ended in disappointment and acrimony, but you can never erase the memories of his performances this season.
Liverpool were comfortable winners at 2-0. They’d secured Champions League football for another year, but for Tottenham they were looking for a new manager just 6 months later as Ramos was sacked.
HEAD TO HEAD at White Hart Lane
Matches: 72
Liverpool win: 20
Tottenham win: 36
Draws: 16
Liverpool goals: 86
Tottenham goals: 110
Stats courtesy of Lfconline.com