Premier League - Liverpool secure second spot

Eurosport - Sun, 24 May 20:04:00 2009

Liverpool secured second place in the Premier League after cruising to a 3-1 victory over Tottenham at Anfield.

FOOTBALL Liverpool's Fernando Torres celebrates scoring his 50th goal for the club during the 3-1 win over Tottenham at Anfield. - 0

Spanish striker Fernando Torres netted his 50th goal for the club to open the scoring just after the half-hour mark with Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun adding second-half strikes sandwiched by Robbie Keane's effort.

The result ensured that Liverpool finished second while Spurs missed out on the final Europa League spot.

The Reds were excellent value for their win in a match that for long stretches had a gentle, end-of-term feel to it.

Rafa Benitez's men made the brighter start to the match and Torres's opener came after Steven Gerrard and Benayoun had both gone close.

The visitors made more of an impact in the second-half with David Bentley - who had come on for the injured Jermaine Jenas - looking lively if not always effective.

The hosts always looked the more likely to score again with Ledley King making a goal-saving tackle from Torres on 49 minutes to prevent a second.

The pressure on Spurs continued to build, and it was no surprise when Kuyt added a second just after the hour mark when his shot deflected off Alan Hutton and past Heurelho Gomes.

Fifteen minutes later Keane beat the offside trap and he took his time coolly to curl the ball around Pepe Reina - though the former Liverpool striker refused to celebrate or even acknowledge his goal.

Spurs briefly looked as if they might get back in to the match, but just five minutes later Benayoun latched on to a superb through-ball from Gerrard before hitting a left-foot shot that trickled over the line with Gomes getting a hand to it.

Liverpool could have had another as Benoit Assou-Ekotto cleared the ball off the line from a late goalmouth scramble following a corner.

But they had already done more than enough to close out the game - even if, for this season at least, they were still destined to finish four points adrift of arch-rivals Manchester United.

Spurs, meanwhile, will consider finishing just outside the European spots a job well done after a miserable start to the season - but Harry Redknapp's side still have work to do if they are to challenge the big four's dominance.

Toby Keel / Eurosport

Comment 58 - 77 of 77

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  1. Liverpool secure second spot:
    Best you could expect I­ guess !!

    From Pete H, on Thu 9 Jul 4:19AM

  2. 69, united have not won the cl yet.

    From Malcolm K, on Mon 25 May 10:06PM

  3. Whose bleary fault is it with the rotational tactics­ that saw Liverpool having draws with so many weaker­ teams?
    RAFA, you 8astard! We could have won it­ comfortably this year except for your stubbornness and­ your inability to pick match winning teams. Lucas? Get­ rid of that fellow before he starts scoring own goals.

    From GI Joe 323, on Mon 25 May 5:16PM

  4. Liverpool fans are well satisfied with their season,­ lets face it the 20 years since your last championship­ has just flown bye, yes be satisfied being second to­ the champions. Sorry Raffa you blew it, again.

    From , on Mon 25 May 3:48PM

  5. I think darth comment 60 sums up you scouse idiots­ livin in your tennenant blocks and sponginging off of­ the rest of us! Glory Glory girls Get over it you lost­ you won nothing zero zilch Saddos!

    From D S, on Mon 25 May 2:17PM

  6. Oh dear where are all the claims of winning the leauge­ now? I must get my sat nav fixed because it still­ thinks Liverpool is in europe! HO HO HO HO My sad­ lirrel scouse girls! Glory glory!

    From D S, on Mon 25 May 2:00PM

  7. You Mancheater scums, have you forgotten the way tou­ won some games....refrees lifting you all the way??
    As­ a Liverpool fan, we'r satisfied with the wat the­ season went for us, scoring goals for fun....and I am­ sure the scum mancheaters will not be happy because of­ the way they won this...they will only be happy if they­ win the CL, if they dont..I can assure you they will be­ as sad as Newcaste United.
    YNWA

    From james, on Mon 25 May 1:59PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Sami Hyypia a Legend, god when will u people learn,­ Daglish, Hansen YES legends Sami a legend, never in my­ life. Just shows how starved of CLASS u have been for­ the past 5, no 10, no 15, sorry 20 years.

    From , on Mon 25 May 12:51PM

  9. Its good to see remain unbeaten at home for the whole­ season. We Liverpool fans know that we will win the­ title soon and it depends on what players Rafa buys­ next season. Its also good to see Robbie Keane score­ yesterday but it was tearful to see a LEGEND in Sami­ Hyypia to play his last game for Liverpool. I wish u­ all the best Sami in Leverkusen and I hope that u will­ return 1 day, whether as a coach or player.

    From Naren7, on Mon 25 May 10:13AM

  10. Disgusting language on a public site, there again what­ more can one expect from the dole drawers of­ Liverpoool.

    From , on Mon 25 May 10:09AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Liverpool had a great season this year, it is best for­ 2 decades. In this fantastic season, they reached 1/4­ final of CL, 1/8 final of the FA Cup, and 2nd in the­ EPL. Congratulation to Liverpool on the outstanding­ season they had and may your next 20 years be the same­ unlike the underachieving Man United who only managed­ to win the world cup, the EPL, the CL, and to qualify­ to this season's CL. They need a good coach like­ Benitass to replicate what Liverpool has achieved this­ season

    From Half A Brain, on Mon 25 May 8:50AM

  12. Liverpool Fans (use that term very losely) actually you­ are a poor lot as far as fans go. MU are Champions­ because they deserve the title based on the 38 games,­ not half a seasons results,but the full term. When we­ you realise that as long as Raffa is there, the title­ will go elsewhere.
    You are a bunch of foul mouthed­ thugs and deserve what you get, no cups, no titles,­ jusy memories.

    From , on Mon 25 May 8:45AM

  13. man u scum supporters make me laugh, they bang on bout­ bein the champs when they can only equal everything­ that liverpool has done, oh except the champions­ league. face it scummers you really are 2nd best!!!!­ bye bye

    From william, on Mon 25 May 7:56AM

  14. This stuff about, "we'll win again next year -­ fact" no "we'll win it, your rubbish­ etc" nonsense. How the @#$% would any of you twats­ no anyhow?? Chelsea could win it, Arsenal could win­ it!! Are you people idiots. I hope LFC win it, but just­ enjoy it, and stop being twats. Fans!!! Most of you­ couldn't spell fans. Grow up, credit were credit is­ due!! I love football, hate Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal­ etc, but they're still great teams. Man U are­ awesome. Can any childish Manc's tell me LFC are­ good?? Mmmm

    From Andrew, on Mon 25 May 7:03AM

  15. All those people leaving nonsensical comments on this­ site, please go away and don't return. Man U did­ well this season, and in recent years have been the­ form team, but LFC are still the most successful­ English team in this country, (at the moment anyway) so­ go away. I written a much stronger version which was­ rejected, so if you'd like a little more, sorry, no­ can do. But grow a brain, Manc's. Stop commenting­ like children.

    From Andrew, on Mon 25 May 6:59AM

  16. At least we showed great character today fantastic send­ of for Hyypia what a legend!! Shame he'll be in­ Germany now when we win everything next season!! Man­ United days are over now after Wednesday DEFINATELY

    From lfcredsforever, on Mon 25 May 6:50AM

  17. Comment 49
    WE ARE THE TRUE RED ARMY ONLY 1 THERE IS!!­ UNITED AVE HAD IT NOW THEY'VE GOT THEIR 18th They­ won't win anymore FACT

    From lfcredsforever, on Mon 25 May 6:47AM

  18. Comment 57
    The fact we are getting better worry's­ you!! We drew with Stoke home away lost to Borough if­ we of beaten them.......My friend you would'nt be­ champions FACT

    From lfcredsforever, on Mon 25 May 6:46AM

  19. Comment 58
    You talk out yer ar*e!! Dream on

    From lfcredsforever, on Mon 25 May 6:44AM

  20. Well done Sami for 10 . Next season the title­ LFC!!!

    Nick Griffin for MEP!!!

    Visit the BNP­ website!!!

    British Jobs For British Workers!!!

    From Darth Vader, on Mon 25 May 6:40AM
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