Liverpool’s English midfielder Steven Gerrard (centre) celebrates scoring a penalty for their second goal with Daniel Sturridge (right) and Mario Balotelli (left) during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at White Hart Lane in London yesterday. (AFP)
DPA/London
Liverpool showed they mean business in the Premier League title race again this season as they bounced back to winning ways with an impressive 3-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.
While Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at Leicester City and Aston Villa beat Hull City 2-1 to go third, Liverpool shrugged off their defeat at champions Manchester City last week to move back up to fifth.
Goals from Raheem Sterling, Steven Gerrard and Alberto Moreno completed victory for Brendan Rodgers’ side, featuring Mario Balotelli on his debut, prompting the manager to describe his side’s play as “exceptional.”
“Everything that could be good in our game was there,” said Rodgers.
“We played the diamond in the first half and I thought we were a threat between the lines in midfield.
“Overall our quality was exceptional, we got three goals and could have had more. We closed the game out very well and all in all it was a good three points.”
Having won 5-0 at Spurs last season, Sterling gave Liverpool the perfect start as he side-footed home Jordan Henderson’s low centre after just eight minutes.
Tottenham had a couple of chances to equalize but Liverpool continued to dominate and doubled their lead early in the second half when Gerrard converted a penalty after Joe Allen was fouled on.
Full-back Moreno then burst clear from the halfway line to score a brilliant third as Liverpool recovered from last week’s defeat at Manchester City.
Sterling almost scored a sensational fourth goal but his finish was far too tame.
“He was exceptional today,” Rodgers said. “But I had to laugh when he almost scored the fourth.
“He dribbled through the Spurs defence like Ricky Villa (a former Tottenham player), but his finish was more like Ricky Gervais.”
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pocchetino said his team had been outplayed.
“We need to learn and improve - today was a very tough game for us,” he said.
“I think the first 45 minutes we competed very well and had some good chances.
“But the key moment came in the second half - it was a very soft penalty. When you are 2-0 down against Liverpool it is very difficult.”
Aaron Ramsey put Arsenal in front at Leicester but the home side grabbed a point when Leo Ulloa equalized to drop the Gunners to seventh.
“We were unlucky we conceded the goal when Laurent Koscielny was injured,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
“I don’t think we would have conceded otherwise. But a draw was a fair result and we didn’t create enough today - clear-cut chances.
“We lacked a bit of creativity and sharpness. We had a tough game against Besiktas in the Champions League, it is not an excuse but we were a bit jaded.”
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson was delighted with his team’s response to going a goal down.
“We played well, but we have played better and been more assured in possession,” he said. “But we still showed the ability to create things.
“To be successful you can’t go into the Premier League and just be tight and not create things. We looked dangerous on the counter attack and with some decent moves.
“We have got more to come. We have got some ability that has not been maximised so far.”
Aston Villa are a point clear of Liverpool in third after they beat Hull City 2-1, thanks to goals from Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann.
“After the first half we should have been out of sight,” Villa manager Paul Lambert said.
“The second half we were under pressure, but the first half set the tone of the game.
“You are never going to dominate a game for 90 minutes. But we deserved to win the game.”
