--- title: "Character Shines Through in Reds Comeback" canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/character-shines-through-in-reds-comeback/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Joe Musker" section: "Articles" published: "2013-03-12T11:35:17Z" modified: "2013-08-23T18:17:14Z" --- # Character Shines Through in Reds Comeback Sunday saw two of the league’s form sides, the league’s two form players, and two of the brightest young managers in Europe go head to head in what turned out to be an enthralling encounter at Anfield. With three wins in a row, confidence was high for Liverpool ahead of their showdown with Tottenham, Rodgers’ men were looking to get their first win against a team in the top six, in what will prove a huge win for the Reds, not just in terms of the three points, but the confidence and self belief it will give the players. Liverpool made two changes to the side that walloped Wigan, with Daniel Sturridge replacing Joe Allen, and goalkeeper Brad Jones deputising for late casualty Jose Reina, who missed out with a slight knock. An attacking line-up was what Liverpool fans wanted, with a confident attacking approach making Tottenham worry about the home side, rather than the other way around. It was the right move by Rodgers, his side looked bright early on, with young Philippe Coutinho looking in the mood with some silky, confident touches at the centre of Liverpool‘s good start. It wasn’t long before the visitors got into their own stride, Gareth Bale stinging the palms of Brad Jones from a free-kick, won after Daniel Agger fouled the imperious Moussa Dembele. Spurs looked an accomplished, established side who were confident in what they were doing, Jan Vertonghen and a Dembele who put in the best opposition centre back and centre midfield performances at Anfield this season were at the heart of everything for Tottenham, who started to dominate possession and had Liverpool pinned back. Bale, while not at his best, was always on the periphery. It was though, the home side who broke the deadlock, with a sumptuous bit of play between Jose Enrique, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez, who carved Tottenham open like a butcher would to his finest piece of meat, carefully and skilfully. Coutinho with a sumptuous flick round the corner to the flying full back Enrique, the Reds number three in turn  played a perfectly weighted pass through to Suarez, who in no time at all prodded the ball beneath the on rushing Hugo Lloris to give the home side the lead and sent Anfield into raptures. The Reds took heart from gaining the lead, with Glen Johnson and Luis Suarez both testing Vertonghen and Lloris’ metal, but again Spurs regained control of the play, with Bale coming into the game a lot more as half-time approached. The Welshman found space twice in a matter of minutes, and had two shots, both attempts resulting with the ball sailing high into The Kop and greeted with cheers from the Anfield faithful. The pressure continued with Bale back-heeling a very clever pass to Gylfi Sigurdsson who, with a clear sight at goal, should have done a lot better than firing wide. I’ve discussed the Icelandic midfielder a few times with Liverpool supporters, the majority see his snub for higher wages as a dodged bullet, and with Philippe Coutinho’s sparkling start to life at Anfield, it would be hard to disagree. Bale, who is thought of by most fans throughout the football world as a serial diver went down after a strong challenge from Steven Gerrard. The Welshman went off for treatment, but returned to the action immediately, to fire in a cross met by the head of Jan Vertonghen who rose highest and planted the ball past Jones. With half time approaching, Liverpool looked to have weathered Tottenham’s possession without Jones really being tested, but couldn’t hold on. At the break 1-1 was probably a fair result. The second half started slowly, with Liverpool kicking towards an expectant Kop, the first chance of the half fell to the otherwise anonymous Jermain Defoe, who shot straight at Jones. Tottenham could smell blood. No sooner had Defoe been thwarted, Spurs were ahead, with yet another cross not dealt with by the Reds. Gareth Bale provided the cross which was defended in the kind of manner you’d expect to see at an Under 8s match, leaving Jan Vertonghen free to volley the ball past Jones and give Tottenham the lead. Liverpool behind against a team at the top of the table, having been in front, had been in this position before. Brendan Rodgers’ side have a few times this season appeared to let heads drop. Once the side go behind, on a number of occasions they have stayed behind and lost the match. On the flip side, especially against the teams at the top of the table, even when Liverpool have gone ahead, they have surrendered their lead, and dropped two or three points per match, see Manchester United and Manchester City at home, and Arsenal and Man City away. Five minutes after Andre Villas-Boas’ men took the lead, Brendan Rodgers made his first change, with Joe Allen replacing the again impressive Philippe Coutinho. The change saw Liverpool go three in midfield, where before hand Dembele, Scott Parker and Jake Livermore had controlled the midfield, with Spurs having dominated possession. The change was needed and changed the complexion of the game. Within seven minutes of the change, Liverpool were level. Kyle Walker miss-hit a back pass which Lloris came out to meet it, the goalkeeper missed the ball completely and Stewart Downing kept his cool to grab a fortuitous equaliser. Since arriving for £20 million, Downing has had his critics, and rightly so, but over the last few months he has come into form and the goal capped a hard working display yesterday. Downing’s style of play from the right gives the side balance, and his tendency to cut in onto his left foot also allows Glen Johnson to bomb forward, the two have struck up a good partnership. With twenty minutes left on the clock, the momentum was with Liverpool. Anfield was expectant, and The Kop was bellowing. Daniel Sturridge twice went close, with the excellent Vertonghen getting in a last ditch tackle as Sturridge was about to pull the trigger, the second attempt saw his header hit the side netting. With less than ten minutes to go, Benoit Assou-Ekotto shoved Suarez in the box after the Uruguayan latched onto a loose pass from Jermain Defoe. A key moment in Liverpool’s season, Steven Gerrard stepped up and coolly slotted the ball past Lloris, who went the other way to seal victory for the Reds. The win isn’t big just in terms of the points, or the fact that Liverpool are now sat in sixth place, but the confidence will be flowing. Rodgers’ men now have four wins in a row, and with Southampton, Aston Villa, West Ham and Reading, Liverpool’s next four fixtures, there is reason for optimism that Liverpool can make a really strong end to the campaign. There have been times this season when Liverpool have played a lot better than they did on Sunday and drawn or even lost, but as Rodgers has said all along, the side will get better as the season goes on, and that seems to be ringing true. It took a lot of character to come back against one of the best away sides to come to Anfield in recent years, and if this fixture had been at the start of the season, the result would very likely have been different. It is all well and good playing with the great passing style Liverpool have been implementing again since Rodgers took over, but the sign of a really good side, is one that can win when they’re not at their best. Credit to Rodgers and his players , they kept battling, worked hard and when it really mattered, got it right. Rodgers did so with the introduction of Joe Allen, who after a shaky first five minutes, excelled, and changed the complexion of the match. Gerrard, when under big pressure from twelve yards got it right with the penalty, and although a draw would probably have been a fair result, no one can say Liverpool haven’t deserved the bit of luck they got for Downing’s goal, with some of the unfortunate results they’ve got after good performances this season. Up next for Liverpool is a trip to relegation battling Southampton, who have played some good football this season and, in Rickie Lambert, have a player the Liverpool defence will need to watch. The Saints will look to utilise him where possible, as Liverpool have been susceptible to conceding goals from crosses, with Vertonghen’s brace on Sunday further highlighting the sides frailty when dealing with balls in the air. Three points would be huge for Liverpool, and without getting carried away, the sides final nine matches look very favourable indeed. The attacking quartet of Downing, Coutinho, Suarez and Sturridge may prove too much for a Southampton side who have conceded fifty one goals this season, and for that reason, I think Liverpool will just about sneak this one. #### Prediction: Southampton 2-3 Liverpool.