Kewell stunner wins it for Reds

Last updated : 15 January 2006 By Al Campbell
Liverpool's eighth successive Anfield victory, all without conceding a goal, and their 12th league game without defeat has moved them to within a point of second placed Manchester United, with two games in hand.

Pepe Reina and Fernando Morientes were recalled to the Liverpool starting line up in place of Scott Carson and Djibril Cisse who both dropped to the bench.

With Spurs only a point behind Liverpool in fourth before kick off this was always going to be a tightly contested game and so it proved.

Liverpool almost opened the scoring after eight minutes when Peter Crouch met Steven Gerrard's free kick and headed the ball goalwards. However, Paul Robinson showed why he's England's first choice goalkeeper and was quickly over to get his body behind the ball.

Michael Dawson headed over Reina's goal moments later but Liverpool were beginning to dominate the game. Morientes saw a header cannon back off the crossbar after meeting a Steve Finnan cross.

Spurs should have taken the lead moments into the second half when Jenas' cross found Robbie Keane in the six yard box but he somehow contrived to put the ball wide.

Liverpool responded immediately and Peter Crouch again came close to breaking the deadlock when his header was pushed round the post from Robinson.

The Reds were in the ascendancy and they made their possession count in the 58th minute when Steve Finnan's cross was brilliantly volleyed home by Harry Kewell for his first goal in over a year.

Mido had a chance of an equaliser soon after but Reina was equal to his strike and pushed it round the post for a corner. Spurs continued to have chances but Liverpool were the better side and almost added a second when Riise connected sweetly with a Gerrard corner but saw his goal-bound volley deflected wide by Sami Hyypia.

Spurs finished the game with ten men when Stalteri was sent off for bringing down Harry Kewell when the Australian was clear on goal after a breakaway attack by the Reds.