Liverpool 3-2 Spurs: 5 Reasons Rodgers Side Triumphed

1. Careless Play Costs Games

A game of football is decided by goals. How those goals come about may sometimes be avoidable. In Tottenham's case, two certainly were. After being undone by sublime football and clever finishing to concede the first goal, Tottenham fought back with two Vertonghen strikes. Like Liverpool's second and third goals, these could and should have been stopped by more assertive and efficient defending, but they weren't. Having taken the lead, Tottenham actually looked dead set to see the game out. They were playing flowing, technical football, keeping possession and looking as if they could extend their lead at will. Then Kyle Walker, bizarrely, smashed a back pass from the half way line towards Lloris, high in the air and with Liverpool midfielder Stewart Downing closing in - this was one mistake. The second was that of the French goalkeeper, who had the opportunity to save Walker's blushes but instead miscontrolled the ball, allowing Downing to bear down on goal and almost reluctantly slot it between Vertoghens legs. It was about the worst goal you'll ever see. But Spurs did not learn their lesson, for in the 82nd minute, as the ball bounced clear from a free kick, Jermaine Defoe inexplicably played the ball back into his own box, towards non other than Luis Suarez, who took the ball on his shoulder and went down under the clumsy challenge of Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Steven Gerrard duly converted the penalty to win the game for Liverpool, but Tottenham will feel a fair amount of regret for letting a well-fought lead slip. Did Liverpool deserve their win? Can Brendan Rodgers now aim for a top four position with confidence? Share your thoughts below.