Relegation? They were worried about it at Christmas but, if the form that brought this fourth consecutive victory is maintained, Tottenham might even start dreaming of the Champions League spot that Liverpool so desperately covet. There was certainly no doubting Spurs' superiority on the day. It was built on the relatively young central defensive partnership of Gary Doherty and Anthony Gardner, whose splendid performances pointed up the inadequacy of Liverpool's Igor Biscan, featured busy midfield displays from Simon Davies and the debutant Michael Brown and was further distinguished by the first Premiership goal of Helder Postiga. The notion that Liverpool, whose foreseeable fortunes depend on their finishing the season fourth, might go down without a fight was swept away by Harry Kewell's reply less than 20 minutes from the final whistle and Michael Owen had a plausible appeal for a penalty refused when Doherty handled. But Spurs' sharper, more fluent game earned a result that gave added pertinence to the question of why, if David Pleat can coax football like this from the players, the board are preparing to bring in a new manager.
Patrick Barclay, Sunday Telegraph
Houllier left to fret again as Postiga finally repays faith
Gérard Houllier, presumably buoyed by Liverpool's recent ascendancy, had declared defiantly in the prelude to this contest: "Liverpool will win the championship. It's just a matter of time." Afterwards, his words contained about as much resonance as Iain Duncan Smith's declaration that he could overcome a Conservative leadership challenge. IDS is a Spurs fan and the man who deposed him, Michael Howard, is a self-styled Liverpool aficionado and reportedly one who advocates the replacement of Houllier with Martin O'Neill. Howard was here yesterday in the directors' box, and must have been as disturbed as the remainder of the visiting faithful by the manner of their team's capitulation. True, they finished with a flourish after Harry Kewell's scintillating goal injected optimism in Liverpool hearts, and an official other than Uriah Rennie may have yielded to last-minute penalty claims after Gary Doherty laid hand on ball - "a definite penalty. It was deliberate handball," claimed Houllier - but taken overall this was an insipid performance from Liverpool following a three-game sequence of victories. The oft-ridiculed defender Igor Biscan bore a degree of culpability for Tottenham's goals, but as Houllier emphasised, scathingly, by his usual standards: "This was not a performance we're proud of. There's no hiding behind the facts. It was not one player. It was the whole team."
Nick Townsend, Independent on Sunday
Postiga finally delivers
There was a time, not so long ago, when this fixture would have quickened the blood. Either or both of the teams might have been challenging for the Championship and either or both might have played fluent, attractive football. This is no longer the case. Both teams are among the morass chasing fitfully for fourth place. It is as if the strain of having to keep up with the big three has taken its toll. Yesterday they conspired to produce a drab game which Spurs deservedly won, if only because Liverpool failed to put in any kind of a performance. It is a win that places Tottenham, who were relegation-bound a month ago, back in the hunt for Europe and a loss which suggests fourth is beyond Liverpool's limited ambitions.
Will Buckley, The Observer
Postiga stamps on Liverpool
The scoreline looks close, but the game was anything but. Tottenham’s third successive Premiership victory means that a corner has been firmly turned, but the buccaneer manner of it often recalled the glory-glory years. Liverpool, though, had a spineless, disengaged afternoon: they were without thigh injury victim Steven Gerrard once more and, my, how they missed his heart and his craft. After a troublesome 2003, the new year had brought renewed hope for both teams. They kicked off yesterday with 100% records in 2004 and with just one goal conceded between them. If Liverpool’s problems came during the game, Tottenham’s came before it. With Freddie Kanoute newly dedicating himself to Mali’s cause, Gustavo Poyet suspended and Ledley King’s ankle forcing his late withdrawal, caretaker manager David Pleat found his already slender resources further depleted. “It was,” noted Pleat, “a massive headache, but we played it to feet and our victory was a victory for character.” Liverpool’s recent improvement —- particularly their victory at Stamford Bridge — had taken some of the pressure off manager Gerard Houllier. The presence of Conservative leader and Liverpool supporter Michael Howard (who called for Houllier to be replaced by Martin O’Neill last week), however, was a reminder that the critics will not disappear into the ether. “It’s not a performance we’re proud of,” sighed a disconsolate Houllier. “We didn’t play well. Perhaps our endeavour in the last 20 minutes deserved a draw, but we should have done better before that. All I want is to get on to the next game.”
John Aizlewood, Sunday Times
