Van-Tastic

THE BATTLE for fourth place has been decided, now the battle for fifth looks over as Tottenham get the points over Liverpool at Anfield yesterday.

Liverpool fans hoped to mark the appointment of permanent manager Kenny Dalglish by clinching the fifth Premier League spot and getting the three points on Sunday. The party was spoiled by a strong Tottenham side with an eye for goal and an on form Rafael Van der Vaart.

Harry Redknapp’s side commanded the first half with quick passing football and intelligent moves from midfield from the likes of Croatian wizard Luka Modric. Modric’s pace and vision had supplied the ammunition to the majority of Tottenham’s first half attacks, with balls finding Aaron Lennon on the wing and Peter Crouch to good effect.

Spurs capitalised on their performance early on through Van der Vaart, the Dutchman hit home a volley from the edge of the box to give spurs the lead. At the half way point, Dalglish would have wanted to see his side come out and take the game back but the reds still seemed shaky at the back and later conceded a penalty in the 53^rd minute, Modric converted the penalty and added to his superb performance.

Andy Carroll returned to the side and caused problems for Carlo Cudicini, the closest the reds came was through a Jay Spearing drive that narrowly went wide and a great shot on the turn by Suarez. Though it was Tottenham who came out with the three points and now look like hot favourites to seal the fifth spot and place in next season’s Europa League.

Team Ratings:

Liverpool:

Reina – 7

Flanagan – 7

Carragher – 6

Skrtel – 6

Johnson – 6

Kuyt – 7

Spearing – 7

Lucas - 5

Maxi Rodriguez – 6

Suarez – 7

Carroll – 5

Tottenham Hotspur:

Carlo Cudicini – 7

Rose – 7

King – 8

Dawson – 8

Kaboul – 6

Pienaar – 7

Modric – 9

Sandro – 7

Lennon – 7

Van der Vaart – 8

Crouch - 7