Liverpool wear down Spurs

Korsten celebrates his 36th minute equaliser

Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Gary McAllister rescued Liverpool from the penalty spot as Willem Korsten's first goal for Spurs was not enough to save his side from defeat.

McAllister's third goal in three games, his second in four days from the spot, followed by a late Robbie Fowler header ensured Liverpool moved back into fifth place in the Premiership.

The match had looked like heading for a draw after Korsten had cancelled out Emile Heskey's slick early opener.

At times Glenn Hoddle's patched-up side were overwhelmed by Liverpool's surging superiority.

Yet on other occasions, Liverpool, playing their eighth match in 23 days, looked weary.

Owen: In erratic form

In the first half, the men in Red carved out a dozen decent openings after Heskey's smoothly-taken sevebth minute strike from after a defence-splitting pass from Patrik Berger.

With Sol Campbell, one of the 13 Spurs players on the injury list, missing from the back four, the visitors struggled to cope with Liverpool's free-running offence.

Vladimir Smicer had a great strike tipped wide, Stephen Gerard saw a shot deflected onto the crossbar and Michael Owen had a bullet header ruled out for offside.

The England striker spent most of the afternoon misfiring in front of goal.

Four of five times in the opening 45 minutes he was put in the clear.

But in contrast to Heskey's cool finish, on each occasion Owen either miscontrolled the ball or mistimed his shot.

Indeed Owen knew little about the disallowed goal as it ricocheted off his head from Berger's fierce cross-shot.

Instead of extending their lead to two goals, Liverpool were pegged back to level terms as Spurs equalised with the very next move.

Gardener missed a great chance to get Spurs back in the game

Oyvind Leonhardsen, whose good work down both flanks gave Spurs their most promising chances, broke down the left to set up Korsten who smashed home to make it 1-1.

The former Liverpool midfielder presented Stephen Clemence with a superb chance to give Spurs a shock lead with 20 minutes to go.

His perfectly-weighted through ball drifted sweetly into the stride of Clemence but he made a hash of controlling the ball and fired it straight at Sander Westerveld.

Within minutes it was Liverpool who charged ahead again.

Once again the chance appeared to have gone as Fowler then Owen dallied on the edge of the box.

But Owen's scooped shot caught Anton Thelwell on the hand and Liverpool were awarded a penalty which McAllister despatched.

Once again Spurs spurned a chance to force themselves back into the game, Anthony Gardener heading straight at Westerveld.

And once again Liverpool made the most of the let off, Fowler leaping to power home Markus Babbel's superb cross with three minutes remaining.

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Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Smicer, Gerrard, McAllister, Berger, Heskey, Owen. Subs: Fowler, Murphy, Hamann, Arphexad, Vignal.

Tottenham: Sullivan, Carr, Gardner, Young, Thelwell, Davies, Clemence, Leonhardsen, Sherwood, Doherty, Korsten. Subs: Walker, Etherington, Hillier, Piercy, Ferguson.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington)