Live Commentary

90mins

An exciting game is brought to a close by Referee Mark Halsey with a rampant Liverpool failing to take advantage of their dominance

90mins

Fernando Morientes should have wrapped up the points for Liverpool but fires over the bar

89mins

Steven Gerrard is unlucky as his shot from distance strikes the woodwork and rebounds away from goal

88mins

Jermain Defoe replaces Robbie Keane for Spurs

88mins

Luis Garcia again fails to find the target, shooting wide of the goal from the edge of the box

86mins

Jerzy Dudek again stands firm to deny Frederic Kanoute's header

85mins

Jerzy Dudek makes a great save to deny Simon Davies' shot from outside the area

84mins

Igor Biscan is on in place of Xabi Alonso for Liverpool

82mins

The game hits a slight lull as both teams look to find a decisive goal

77mins

Djibril Cisse replacs Antonio Nunez for the Reds

77mins

Luis Garcia shoots just wide from a tight angle

75mins

Fernando Morientes sees his right-footed drive saved by England man Paul Robinson

72mins

Reto Ziegler replaces Andy Reid for Spurs

72mins

Xabi Alonso again tries his luck from outside the box, but this time cannot find the target

70mins

Xabi Alonso tries an outrageous effort from more than 35 yards, but Robinson is able to save for Spurs

69mins

Steve Finnan flashes a shot across the face of goal as Liverpool again try to find the net

68mins

Luis Garcia blasts a left footed effort over the bar

63mins

Sami Hyypia pulls Liverpool level for the second time with a low drive through a huddle of players

59mins

Frederic Kanoute drills a shot over the bar from 18 yards

57mins

The Liverpool captain, Gerrard, takes the penalty himself, sending Robinson the wrong way but failing to hit the target

56mins

Steven Gerrard is brought down in the box by Stephen Kelly resulting in a spot kick

55mins

Patience pays off for Spurs as Keane heads home Freddie Kanoute's cross to restore the visitors' lead

52mins

Frederic Kanoute meets Andy Reid's corner but his close-range header goes wide

52mins

Spurs look to regain the lead as Robbie Keane has a shot saved by Dudek

46mins

Liverpool pick up where they left off with Fernando Morientes firing wide from 25 yards

46mins

The second half is underway

45mins

Robbie Keane blasts a shot over the bar as the first half draws to a close

45mins

Paul Robinson makes a tremendous save to deny Fernando Morientes' header from Steven Gerrard's free kick

45mins

Liverpool dominated the first half and deserved their equaliser just before the break

44mins

Javier Sanz Luis Garcia fires Liverpool level with a left-foot shot curled into the top corner from 25 yards

41mins

The home side are rampant as capatin Steven Gerrard drives a 20 yard shot straight at Paul Robinson

37mins

Liverpool's liveliest player Antonio Nunez unleashes another shot but again is unable to trouble Paul Robinson in the Spurs goal

35mins

John Arne Riise replaces the injured Stephen Warnock for Liverpool

34mins

The visitors are defending strongly as Michael Dawson and Ledley King clear two Antonio Nunez crosses

32mins

The Reds enjoy a good spell of possession but are unable to create any threats on goal against a determined Spurs side

28mins

Robbie Keane looks to break through the Liverpool defence but is twice caught offside

22mins

Stephen Warnock tries to pull the home team level but his left-footed effort is off target

20mins

Spurs continue to press with Jerzy Dudek forced into a save from Ledley King's close-range header

19mins

Jamie Carragher clears Michael Carrick's free kick as Spurs look to extend their advantage

13mins

Antonio Nunez fires a shot wide of the mark from 20 yards

12mins

Erik Edman gives Spurs the lead with an unstoppable 35 yard drive for his first goal in English football

11mins

Defender Michael Dawson clears a Liverpool attack denying England midfieder Steven Gerrard's cross

9mins

Jerzy Dudek confidently claims a Frederic Kanoute cross as Spurs begin to find their feet

5mins

A promising attack is brought to a close as Antonio Nunez is flagged offside

3mins

Liverpool have started well, passing the ball confidently following their European triumph in midweek

0mins

Referee Mark Halsey gets the game underway

Match Report

Liverpool dropped two vital points in their race with neighbours Everton for the Premiership's fourth spot as they drew 2-2 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Reds were brimming with confidence from their historic defeat of Juventus on Wednesday, but lacked their recent fluid passing.

Booking their place in the Champions League semi-final put Liverpool firmly back on European football's power map and they were keen to impose their presence early on.

The home side's critics drew attention to their dismal record in the Premiership in games following their European adventures, but Rafa Benitez silenced all doubts with 'a watch this space' rallying cry before the match. And with Steven Gerrard back at the helm after recovering from a groin strain - he must have been expecting a win.

However, Gerrard was clearly uncomfortable and looked unable to fully stretch for his trademark crunching challenges and his usual pin-point passing drifted wide of the mark.

And just as the game appeared to be sinking into a midfield quagmire, Spurs' Erik Edman unleashed a 40-yard thunderbolt in the 12th minute.

Instead of controlling a wayward ball, the eagle-eyed visitor spotted Jerzy Dudek just off his line and Edman launched a stunning swerving left-foot drive that the hapless goalie could only watch as it sailed into the back of the net.

Liverpool were left reeling by Tottenham's early wonder strike and Gerrard appealed for calm from his team-mates as they trudged back to the centre circle.

Anfield's one bright spark in the first half was Xabi Alonso, who hasn't missed a beat since returning from a shattered right ankle, and was determined to carry on his Champions League heroics.

The Spanish international was an inspiration going forward and kept Liverpool in the game. It remains to be seen if Alonso and Gerrard can find their top form together, but when either of them are playing, the Anfield faithful can be sure of some midfield magic.

Alonso's pinpoint passing clearly helped the captain settle down into his game and they both started to orchestrate Liverpool's play.

The Reds threw everything they had at Spurs in the closing stages of the first half and it paid off a minute before the break, when Luis Garcia collected the ball just inside the area and calmly tucked it away.

Liverpool looked more determined after their half-time pep talk, but they were caught with three dubious offside calls much to the Kop's frustration.

But the hosts were caught napping again by Robbie Keane as Spurs regained the lead in the 55th minute, courtesy of a deflected header by the Irishman.

The Reds were handed a chance to equalise again moments later when Gerrard was bought down in the penalty area by a clumsy tackle from Michael Carrick.

Liverpool's captain looked anything but fantastic as he nervously stepped up to take the spot-kick and sliced it wide of the mark and into the middle tier of the stand.

But they were level again minutes later when unlikely hero Sami Hyypia unleashed a right-foot rocket from a scrappy Gerrard corner.

The England midfielder slid the ball to Steve Finnan and his attempted cross only rebounded to Hyypia at the edge of the box, but the Finnish defender deftly placed the ball past Paul Robinson's right hand.

Liverpool were clearly inspired by Hyypia's heroics and continued their all-out assault on Spurs' back four.

Gerrard nearly redeemed his earlier blunders when he brilliantly threaded the ball through two white shirts to Finnan, but the Irishman pulled his shot wide with only Robinson to beat.

Djibril Cisse received a rapturous reception when he came on to replace a tired Antonio Nunez on 78 minutes. The French striker made a remarkable comeback from a broken leg in Turin earlier in the week and looked intent on proving his fitness.

He looked comfortable running at defenders and at one point demanded the ball from Garcia and with a deft ankle flick, nearly beat Michael Dawson to get through on goal.

Tottenham gave Liverpool one last fright when Keane's break was halted and the ball fell to Simon Davies on the edge of the area, but his thunderous effort produced a fine save from Dudek.

But it was the Reds who should have scored with the last throw of the dice, when Gerrard danced through the visiting defence and his fine shot beat Robinson, only to be denied by the woodwork.

After the game, Spurs coach Martin Jol said: "When you come to Liverpool it's always hard. We had a good start but the crowd was on a high and Liverpool were on a high from the Champions League which was always going to make it harder.

"We sat with them for a bit in the first half and their second equaliser was frustrating.

"We wanted to win this game which is why we kept the system of two strikers until the end and perhaps that cost us the win."

He added: "Edman's strike was terrific. I'm always telling him to keep it down in practice and hit it straight but he came up trumps for us today."

Rafa Benitez said: "We had a very good game, but we were unlucky not to take advantage of our chances.

"The last 20 minutes of the second half were brilliant, we had it all - shots on target, hitting the post - I thought we deserved to win. I am pleased with our performance, but the result is very disappointing."

Of his captain's return, he added: "Stevie looked to me to be slightly behind from missing the game midweek and for me his penalties are usually a guarantee.

"I don't believe fourth position is out of our reach yet, we have plenty more opportunities to win games."

Man of the Match: Xabi Alonso

The Spaniard's passing was flawless and kept Liverpool in the game after Spurs twice took the lead.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides