Suarez Return Fails to Inspire Reds to Victory over Spurs

Deep into a season, teams have forged identities around modified, perhaps diminished, aspirations.  For a select few, the walking dream continues, a league title remains a realistic possibility.  For the majority, wins are the simplistic and paramount task at hand, vital towards securing a place in European competition, solidifying a place in the middle of the table or avoiding relegation.

Tottenham Hotspurs is mounting a determined challenge to the Manchester Duopoly at the top of the premiership table.  Liverpool wants to clinch a Champions League birth that comes with a fourth place finish at season’s end.  While their goals exist on different planes it would do nothing to dull the boisterous choir at Anfield in tonight's anticipated clash between Spurs and Liverpool’s.  

In their last five matches, the North Londoners had won at White Hart Lane against resurgent Everton and versus bottom dwellers Wigan.  But a draw against Wolverhamption and the 3-2 loss at Manchester City were squandered opportunities to gain ground on the leaders. 

Luis Suarez was available as a substitute for the Reds after the eight game ban for racial abuse against Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.  Kenny Dalglish surely looking to combine Suarez, Andy Carroll and Steven Gerrard, the potent trio having only shared 69 minutes together on the pitch so far.

Without Suarez, Liverpool’s confidence was boosted by the 2-2 Carling Cup home draw with Manchester City (they won 3-2 on aggregate to reach the finals) and the  FA Cup fourth round home win v. Man U, knocking their bitter rivals out of the tournament in the process. 

Liverpool’s recent good run of play has coincided with Steven Gerrard’s return to full fitness.  His play in the first half further evidence of his renewed health.  As early as the 4^th minute Carroll was released into the penalty area by a well weighted Gerrard touch with outside of his right foot. Michael Dawson, showing no nerves in only his 4^th league start, deftly nudged the ball away with a precise tackle on the big striker, denying him a chance.

After a quarter of an hour, the Reds pressed higher on the Spurs defense.  Benefiting from a few turnovers, Liverpool took more control of the tempo, the action mainly occurring in Spurs half. Craig Bellamy darted up and down the left sideline, a presence but with little in the way of concrete results or even a cross to show for it.  In fact, the cat who invaded the Anfield pitch had gotten closer to Spurs' goal then any Liverpool striker at that point.

But the pressure had Adebayor dropping deep to hold up the play for Spurs, closer to the midfield circle than to Pepe Reina’s area.  As Rafael Van der Vaart was out for Spurs, the onus was also all the more on Luka Modric to direct the movement and produce some openings for the away side. 

The best chance in a first half devoid of space coming from Glenn Johnson who charged forward, cut inside from that left wing to fire off a low shot which Friedel parried off with a sliding kick save at the stroke of halftime.  The positive play from the England defender a reprieve for Fabio Capello, who was in attendance, from the storm enveloping his support of John Terry's national team captaincy.

The game needed a flash of individual brilliance to breakdown two very organized defenses. Maybe Suarez could address that and the lack of goals for the home side on their home turf when he replaced Dirk Kuyt in the 65^th mintute.  Straight away he won a 50/50 ball from Assou-Ekotto which led to a corner for Liverpool.  He energized Liverpool’s offensive forays, but it was too frantic to sustain any real pressure on the Spurs end.  Suarez’s exuberance to impact the game resulted in a clumsy kick into Scott Parker’s stomach on a loose ball picking up a yellow card four minutes after coming on.    

In the 74^th minute, when Andy Carroll found himself detached from Dawson for the only time all night, he controlled a ball well crossed from the right but then blasted wide and over the bar to the disappointment of Kop.

The lack of attacking options like Van der Vaart and Aaron Lennon showed in second half for Spurs.  The initiative to go forward was faintly present.  A single moment of vision from Kranjcar in the 84^th minute sprang a well timed run by Gareth Bale behind the Reds defense.  But the visitors best shot of taking three points from this encounter disappeared when Bale shanked the left footed shot right at Pepe Reina.

Suarez headed a Gerrard free kick straight at Freidel a minute later when he should have done better.  And four minutes of extra time produced no further excitement for either side.

If Spurs challenge for the title this year, this next month will certainly determine their fate.  They have matches against Newcastle, Arsenal, and Manchester United all in London.  The points lost against Wolves, that polemic match at the Etihad versus Man City and tonight's goalless draw may haunt their championship aspirations.  Or these matches may be poignant indications of a team good enough to chase, not overcome, the Manchester elite. 

Liverpool’s expectations while only slightly lower, failed to close the gap of four points to Chelsea.  In the end, the Merseysiders might have to galvanize around their trophy quests having progressed to the Carling Cup final and the latter stages of the FA Cup collecting the scalps of Manchester City and United, respectively, along the way.