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

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Premiership winners:

    2007 Man United
    2008 Man­ United
    2009 Man United
    2010 Man United
    2011 Man­ United
    2012 Man United

    This is the reality scousers!

    From Anon, on Mon 25 May 6:16AM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Poor bitter scouse scum eh,its just pathetic to see the­ comments from you which just spell out we're sooo­ jealous!!! you didnt win the League cos your just not­ good enough,its as simple as that..if you were,you­ would have over-hauled us!and as for the CL,well,who­ gives a stuff if you scream your lungs out for Barca,we­ will beat them,and you can wipe your eyes with your­ giro's...fact!see you next year when we do it 19­ times!!GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!!!!

    From snootsareus, on Mon 25 May 5:58AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well you know what they say 'Only winners come­­ first', everyone else are???

    From Mmmm000se, on Mon 25 May 5:38AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    well thats your season over, and nothing to show for­ it,not even the league cup,now all thats left for you­ to do is put on your barca shirts and hope for the­ best,its funny how when you put your faith in another­ team in the hope they stop your bitter rivals, you­ convince yourself that barca will turn utd over, your­ 99 per cent sure, but when that whistle blows your­ confidece evaporates, messi/eto surely they can do­ utd,then the full horror will hit you as the best team­ in the world click and take barca apart in front of­ your eyes, but no surely barca will do it, you have­ placed your faith in them there can only be one result.­ (or can there?)

    From fluffy.bits, on Mon 25 May 5:34AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well you know what they say 'Only winners come­ first'.

    From Mmmm000se, on Mon 25 May 5:33AM

  6. why has nobody said thanks to big sami for 10 years­ service. good luck sami

    From Kevin S, on Mon 25 May 4:45AM

  7. mancs, be proud and have house parties. the feeling is­ electric. there by default,but better over here than­ there. lfc4ever

    From Gerry, on Mon 25 May 4:33AM

  8. queenboudicapri --- you forgot the NO RED CARDS all­ season too!!!

    From bonno, on Mon 25 May 4:26AM

  9. 2nd to cheats needs to change.next season chaps.­ lfc4ever

    From Gerry, on Mon 25 May 4:18AM

  10. Well done Liverpool: scored more than the rest, better­ goal difference than the rest, lost fewer than the­ rest, how did we not win the title ??!! Watch out­ Fergie, Rafa's coming to get you in 2009-10.­ It's time for the true Red Army to take back what­ is rightfully ours ........ and come on Barca !!

    From queenboudicapri, on Mon 25 May 3:56AM

  11. The Scouse branch of the Barcelona Supporters Club are­ meeting in Manchester on thurs 28th May at 3pm, to­ comiserate with the chumpions league losers, Man­ Utd...all supporters welcome.

    From Koppite 1973, on Mon 25 May 3:53AM

  12. COMMENT NUMBER EIGHT HAS VISION !!!!
    BRING ON TEVES...

    From Raphael, on Mon 25 May 3:43AM

  13. FOR ALL TROTTENHAM WARMSPURS FANS:
    NO EUROPEAN GAMES­ NEXT SEASON
    ROBBIE ;O(
    IF YOU HAD NOT BEEN A CRY BABY­ AT LIVERPOOL
    YOU WOULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST 15/20 GOALS­ THIS SEASON
    YOU WOULD HAVE MAYBE MADE A DIFFERENCE ON­ THOSE 5 MISSING POINTS!
    BUT THATS THE WAY IT­ GOES

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA­ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA­ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA­ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
    HAHAHA­ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH­ AHAHAHA

    From Raphael, on Mon 25 May 3:39AM

  14. "rafascrackingup" said...."Robbie Keane­ will show the fat waiter what mistake he­ maid by­ letting him go and scores 4­ goals.Liverpoo-Spurs­ 0-4,scousers drop to 3rd place"

    spot the spelling­ mistake......lol.....

    From mkae8878, on Mon 25 May 3:27AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Wake up u loserpool no trophey for u cos u will be­ walking alone next season, congrat to d champions cos­ barca will fall. fm Tare.

    From O Akpieyi, on Mon 25 May 3:23AM

  16. "keane was too good for liverpool
    Liver pool will­ lose­ sunday
    im a tellin ya
    Sean"

    Are you any­ relation to Mystic Meg?

    From mkae8878, on Mon 25 May 3:21AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Liverpool have not won anything in 3 seasons.

    From Winston Bunn, on Mon 25 May 3:02AM

  18. BAZZA THE RED COME ON BARCA MAN U ARE SO SO SO SH;T

    From tony22041977, on Mon 25 May 2:54AM

  19. ARE U MAD BRING BACK KEANE HE DONE FU;K ALL FOR US­ APART FOR LOSE LIVERPOOL CASH GLAD TO SEE THE BACK OF­ HIM BAZZA RED FOREVER

    From tony22041977, on Mon 25 May 2:50AM

  20. lfc rock an are da best 2nd!!!!!!!!! betta than last

    From BETHANY, on Mon 25 May 2:48AM
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