Match Report

Liverpool closed their season with a comfortable 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on an emotional afternoon that marked a goodbye to an Anfield legend.

With goals from Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and an own goal from Alan Hutton, the Reds never looked like dropping points despite former striker Robbie Keane netting one for the Londoners.

With second spot all but wrapped up, Liverpool had nothing but pride to play for in the final game of the season, but true to form Steven Gerrard flew out of the starting blocks and whistled one inches over the bar in the first minute.

Having yet to find their feet, Tottenham were forced onto the back foot for the opening ten minutes as Benayoun and should have done better from six yards and Torres had an effort blocked on the edge by Ledley King.

Despite all their early probing Liverpool failed to open the visiting defence and with the pressure absorbed, Spurs gradually began to string some passes together.

The game had subdued with neither side looking to take the initiative, but a speculative long-range effort from Benoit Assou-Ekotto on 21 minutes momentarily silenced the crowd, but Jose Reina was always behind the ball despite needing two attempts to gather.

Torres tried to spark some life into the game with a sudden burst of speed to jink past three into the box, but almost tripping over the ball, he couldn't set himself to create any power on the shot.

The deadlock was eventually broken just after the half-hour mark when a lapse in concentration from Spurs gifted Torres a simple header from three yards.

With Tottenham struggling to hold the ball, Liverpool were able to repeatedly break with ease and a charge down the right from Dirk Kuyt gave the Dutchman space to loft a cross to the back post, where Torres beat Vedran Corluka and Hutton to head home his 50th goal for the club.

After the break it was the visitors who desperately needed to get a foothold in the game and a Gareth Bale free-kick from the centre of the goal had the travelling fans on their feet, but Reina was well-positioned to make the catch.

Liverpool looked to have put the game to bed in the 67th minute after a neat one-two between Kuyt and Benayoun on the edge of the box gave space to Kuyt, who looked to have dragged his shot well wide before Hutton stuck out a leg to deflect the ball into his own net.

The Reds should have made it three after skipper Gerrard chested down an Alonso pass and stroke a right-foot effort across the keeper only to be denied by the woodwork.

Alonso forced the save of the game from Heurelho Gomes with a curling effort towards the top corner, but the keeper covered the ground well and dive high enough to push the ball around the post.

Tottenham managed to get on the score sheet to give themselves a lifeline and it was Liverpool old boy Keane who finished well from close range.

A long ball from Luka Modric on 77 minutes left the home back four standing with their arms in the air, but having staggered his run, Keane was able to control the ball and with only Reina to beat he calmly lifted it over his former colleague.

The game was finally put beyond Harry Redknapp's men only minutes later after a crunching tackle from Gerrard on the edge of the box released Benayoun to slot under Gomes and give his side a comfortable and well deserved win.

Bringing his ten-year Liverpool career to an end, substitute Sami Hyypia almost put the icing on the cake with a fourth goal, rising well from a corner at the near post only for his header to be cleared off the line by Assou-Ekotto in the final minute.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides