Liverpool 2 Hull city 2

Liverpool have gone two points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League after Steven Gerrard scored a first-half brace to help Rafa Benitez's men come from two goals down and draw 2-2 with Hull City at Anfield.

The Reds might only have the extra breathing space at the top of the table until Chelsea take on West Ham United tomorrow, but this enthralling match proved that it takes more than a couple of early goals to beat this resurgent Liverpool side.

First in the league and fresh from topping their Champions League group courtesy of their midweek triumph in Eindhoven, Liverpool went into the match hoping to stretch their lead at the summit of English football.

However, having witnessed back-to-back stalemates in our last two league encounters on home turf, the Anfield faithful may have been somewhat concerned by the Tigers' impressive away record.

With 15 goals to their name prior to kick-off, only Chelsea had found the net more times on their travels than Phil Brown's men and with victories at Arsenal, Newcastle, Spurs and West Brom already under their belt, they will have been undaunted by the prospect of a trip to the league leaders.

In fact, they had the first real opportunity of note when skipper Ian Ashbee headed a corner over the top on five minutes.

It sparked an instant reaction from Liverpool, as both Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera saw shots blocked before the Spaniard miscued when a searching corner from the left found him unmarked at the far post.

The Reds were looking to avoid three successive goalless draws in the league for the first time in their history and could have gone in front on 10 minutes when Dirk Kuyt came within inches of adding the finishing touch to Xabi Alonso's dangerous free-kick.
It was a moment they would rue just seconds later when defender Paul McShane out-jumped Andrea Dossena to steer a header into the top corner of Pepe Reina's net and stun the home crowd.

But Liverpool looked to make amends straight from the restart. Dirk Kuyt almost ended the home goal draught when he went within a hair's breath of converting Andrea Dossena's superb run and cross.

It was a nervy moment for Hull but their dream start got even better when Marlon King's magnificent cross field ball found Bernard Mendy in space on the right. The defender turned winger surged to the byline and sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal which the unfortunate Jamie Carragher could only turn into his own net.

The visiting support could barely believe their eyes.

An instant reaction was required if Rafa and co were to avoid more Anfield angst and once again it was the skipper who dragged the Reds back into it.

Kuyt found space down the right on 24 minutes and, although his dangerous cross was flicked clear by a desperate Tigers' defender, Gerrard was on-hand to steer the ball home.

It was an incredible start to the proceedings, and with Liverpool sensing that another sensational comeback was on the cards, they set about turning the visitors' dream into a nightmare.

Then Gerrard struck again to get the Reds' back into the match on 32 minutes.

Carragher swung in a cross on the left flank for Kuyt to head down before controlling well and finding Benayoun, who looked up and played in the advancing Gerrard. Then the Reds' skipper made no mistake with a smart finish into the top corner.

Liverpool continued to press forward and went in search of a third, but both teams went into the break level after a fantastic 45 minutes.

Shooting towards the Anfield Road end, the Reds made a bright start to the second half and continued to probe the Hull rearguard.

Gerrard made a series of forays forward, while Kuyt found some space across the front line.

And it was from a Gerrard corner that Liverpool had the best chance of the second period. The Reds captain swung in a pinpoint corner for Sami Hyypia to head goalwards, but the Finnish international's powerful effort bounced off the left-hand post for the Hull defence to clear.

But Hull continued to threaten and went straight down the other end to whip in another fierce shot over Reina's goal. It seemed that every time Liverpool went forward, Hull were never afraid to reply with equal measure.

Introducing veteran striker Dean Windass to the proceedings in place of former Red Nick Barmby on 77 minutes suggested that Phil Brown wanted more than just a point from this encounter, but Rafa Benitez also made moves to win the match and introduced Nabil El Zhar, Ryan Babel and Lucas Leiva to the action.

But despite pressing for a winner throughout the second period, Hull hung on to claim a point from this riveting encounter. This match came loaded entertainment value for the neutrals, but it will also be laced with more frustration for the Reds as they could only manage a point at Anfield for the third league game in a row.
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Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Dossena, Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa, Riera, Alonso, Mascherano, Benayoun, Gerrard (captain), Kuyt. Subs - Agger, El Zhar, Babel, Ngog, Leiva, Cavalieri, Keane

Hull City: Myhill, McShane, Turner, Zayette, Ricketts, Barmby, Ashbee (captain), Boateng, Mendy, , King. Subs - Warner, Garcia, Marney, Cousin, , Halmosi, Windass

Referee: A Wiley

Conditions: Fine

Attendance: Unknown

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Steven Gerrard

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Tottenham4 liverpool 2

Carling Cup holders Tottenham strode into the quarter-finals with a clinical win over Liverpool in a thrilling tie.

Three goals in six first-half minutes put the hosts in control, Roman Pavlyuchenko drilling in the opener.

Fraizer Campbell then got his first goals in a Spurs shirt when he clipped home before heading in from 12 yards.

Damien Plessis and Sami Hyypia headed in replies for Liverpool after Heurelho Gomes errors, but Pavlyuchenko tapped in his second in between to wrap it up.

It was an excellent performance from a home side that have been rejuvenated almost beyond recognition under Harry Redknapp, and only three matches now stand between the north Londoners and a return to Wembley where they won the trophy last season.

Liverpool, with some justification, may point to the fact that their side featured 10 changes to the side that beat West Brom at the weekend - but then Spurs themselves had made seven changes to the team that overcame Manchester City on Sunday.

Still, from the off only one side appeared to be in it.

Spurs were effervescent, closing Liverpool down at every opportunity and stringing passes together with a confidence that was so absent under Juande Ramos's reign this season.

606: DEBATE Feel sorry for Gomes, but it's about winning, we need to replace the guy rockspurs4ever

Ryan Babel was a bright spark for Liverpool, epitomised by an excellent run into the home box, dribbling past three players, before the attack petered out.

But that was it, with Fernando Torres ineffective on his return from injury, and Spurs took full advantage in a stunning six-minute spell to end the half.

Lennon had come closest to rewarding Tottenham's dominance in the first half hour when he cut inside and saw his shot blocked well by Daniel Agger - but few expected what was to come.

Pavlyuchenko and Campbell had also gone close early in the match and it was that combination that broke the deadlock, the latter latching onto Gareth Bale's pass, out-muscling Sami Hyypia and laying the ball back for the Russian to hammer home.

Three minutes later and it was 2-0 as Campbell made the most of a collision between Reds keeper Diego Cavalieri and Andrea Dossena to collect Jamie O'Hara's pass and roll home.

Gomes is stretchered off the field, but the injury is not as bad as first feared

When Campbell headed in Lennon's far-post cross on the stroke of half time, Spurs fans were in dreamland, but Liverpool were thrown a lifeline at the start of the second 45 when Plessis caught Spurs keeper Gomes in no man's land and headed in Babel's corner.

Liverpool's renaissance lasted precisely four minutes, though, as Pavlyuchenko tapped into after Didier Zokora's shot had been deflected.

If Tottenham thought they could relax, they reckoned without another woeful spot of keeping from Gomes, Hyypia the one to benefit this time as the defender nodded in Babel's corner with the Brazilian flapping.

And the mood at White Hart Lane was further dampened minutes later when Gomes went down heavily under Phillipp Degen's challenge and had to be stretchered off after over seven minutes of treatment.

Liverpool sensed an opportunity to get back into the match but, despite Nabil El Zhar causing problems, the visitors' best hope appeared to be when Degen went down under Bale's challenge in the box late on - but replays showed the defender clearly got the ball.

As it was, Spurs saw out a deserved win - their second over Rafael Benitez's side in a fortnight - to make it five victories and a draw for the hosts under Redknapp so far.

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Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp:
"It was a good win and a good performance - even if we could have done better on corners!

"That's 18 goals we've scored in my five matches in charge - we're bringing in Les Ferdinand as a striking coach and I've told him if we stop scoring it's his fault!

"In all seriousness, though, I've been so pleased with the players. They have tremendous quality and want to win every game - the desire is brilliant.

"Winning's a great habit and we have three strikers who are firing on all cylinders. I'm happy."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez:
"We did not play well, we did not defend well, and we did not deserve anything from the game.

"In the second half we were a little better, in commitment and in our quality, but after the first half it was impossible.

"I'm happy with my selection - the side was good, we just didn't perform. The only bonus from the match is that Fernando Torres played some minutes, which is good."

My day 14/11/08

Today was a fun-filled day for me.Let's see what had occurred in my day.

After the prize-giving ceremony, me and my father went to play badminton in the multi-purpose court near my house. It was fun. After that, we travelled to city hall to meet my mother after her work. We went to the Suntec City for the book exhibition where I bought a lot of books.

Late in the afternoon, we went to the food exhibition at Expo. I was amused by the amount of food my mother ate. Overall, we had a delicious meal.

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Hi there, this is Chin Ann and this is my blog. It is only the starting but I will progress and change my blog skin and add a C-box.Feel free to leave comments!