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 18 - 37 of 77

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  1. comment 36 is well right lfc prem winnersssssss! next­ year!

    From BETHANY, on Sun 24 May 7:36PM

  2. 2009;10S ALL LIVERPOOLS RED FOREVER BAZZA

    From tony22041977, on Sun 24 May 7:36PM

  3. 2nd is still a lt better than last yr

    the reds­ ave got the prem next yr!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Nicole, on Sun 24 May 7:31PM

  4. a good season for lfc could have been better, so­ near yet so far, hope alonzo stay prob the best ine­ europe in his role, role on 2009-2010 season.

    From TEVEZ, on Sun 24 May 7:12PM

  5. Well done Liverpool! Always doing your fans proud! All­ hails to Sami! He will be sorely missed! Can't wait­ for him to comeback and wish him the success in­ Germany. I also want to pay my respect to R.­ Keane!
    Liverpool are the only side who have been beaten­ twice and didn't win the league. Perhaps,­ managerial mistakes and lack of luck , which we'll­ overcome next season, were behind that!
    You Will Never­ Walk Alone!
    Liverpool fans you've been the best­ and you'll stay the best!

    From Domistiic, on Sun 24 May 6:47PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    LIVERPOO ARE LOSERS
    YNWA-YOU´LL NEVER WIN ANYTHING

    From rafascrackingup, on Sun 24 May 6:30PM

  7. Well done Liverpool.
    Oh Sami, Sami.
    Sami, Sami, Sami,­ Sami Hyypia!
    Hyypia is a LEGEND and will be missed!

    From Suzy, on Sun 24 May 6:29PM

  8. I love liverpool...liverpool is the best ...this team­ is the real winner in 2009...never walk alone.

    From Szabo, on Sun 24 May 5:59PM

  9. Man utd did it again with luck but congrats to them for­ keeping it up they do leave bigger cheques in the­ officals changing room, i think they need to keep Fergi­ if their going to carry on winning look what happened­ to Liverpool when Bob Paisley stood down they were not­ the same but now Rafa has been given the chance to stay­ and work at it watch what happens next season,­ Liverpool will bounce back to their old selves

    From RALPH, on Sun 24 May 4:04PM

  10. LFC 4 LYF LIVERPOOL R GONNA WIN ALL THE TOURNAMENTS­ NEXT SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From hashim, on Sat 23 May 2:29PM

  11. Nice 1 CCS

    From Domistiic, on Fri 22 May 7:00PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    keane was too good for liverpool

    Liver pool will lose­ sunday
    im a tellin ya

    From Sean, on Thu 21 May 10:10PM

  13. i love Xabi Alonso

    From ian.mitchell74, on Thu 21 May 9:47PM

  14. 18= Very well put!

    From lee, on Thu 21 May 8:28PM

  15. BRILLIANT TURN ARROUND I SAY , COYS

    From NO 1 GARDENER, on Thu 21 May 8:00PM

  16. Peter, peter, peter. Uneducated @#$%!!! Lets face it as­ a spurs fan you have even less to cheer about!
    Well­ thats not true at least you didnt go down!!!

    From townsley_adam, on Thu 21 May 4:26PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Liverpool walking with a crown of pride, not­ likely!
    some filthy Scouse will have nicked it from the­ changing rooms whilst the game is on
    Liverpool - always­ the Fat Bridesmaid, never the bride
    you lot are like­ Del Boy -
    "This time next year lads, we'll be­ champions. Just you wait and see"
    "Ear,­ didn't you say that last year?"
    "Shut up­ you Plonker, keep flogging those knock-off shirts,­ otherwise the Yanks'll go bust and we'll be­ evicted"
    Wa Wa Waaaa!

    From ZougaTheFist, on Thu 21 May 2:09PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    @#$% off liverpool..@#$%...title next seaso how long­ you bin saying that...everton finih highier...go on the­ spurs...yid army

    From nick, on Thu 21 May 1:07PM

  19. Liverpool will definetly end on a winning streak.­ Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will have their last­ magic touch for this season giving them a 2 - 0 score­ line. I'm sure Rafa Benitez is heading in the right­ direction, creating many firsts. Next season will be­ for us to see Liverpool finishing at the top of the­ table. To all the players, you've done a great job.­ " We'll Never Walk Alone " We always walk­ with a CROWN OF PRIDE .

    From grsbrett_19, on Thu 21 May 10:46AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Spurs to win at Anfield and break the voodoo of the­ cheating fans and officals at Anfield. I bet I am wrong­ because we will be talking about the ref decisions­ again and Gerrard diving like typical English to get a­ penalty.....Fulham to lose and Spurs sneak through the­ back door to UEFA spot..no clean sheet for Liverpool,­ trying to break records that don't win you the­ title mean jack s!it as you english say. Keane to get­ revenge. he was good at my Inter and we should have­ kept him, however he seems a bit out of form in these­ days but Liverpool is good motivation for him I am­ sure.
    Hull City to win too, they deserve to stay up and­ Newcastle and Middlesborough to go down. That's my­ predictions anyhow. We in Serie A will have a good last­ day too if matches this weekend go the right way.­ It's always a shame to see the end of the season­ come round so fast. A bigger shame that Liverpool could­ not hold their nerve and grow some balls and do Man Ure­ for the title.....idiots....

    From Diehard Italian Fan, on Thu 21 May 10:16AM
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