Tottenham 2 - 1 Liverpool - Not the best start to the season

A disappointing Liverpool once again left White Hart Lane the victims of a 2-1 defeat, but unlike last season, there can have been little cause for complaint.

Both sides barely flickered into life during the opening 30 minutes of the first half before Robbie Keane spurned a golden opportunity to put Spurs into the lead. Selected ahead of new signing Peter Crouch, Keane will have been very disappointed with his failure to get himself on to the scoresheet. The inventive Luka Modric crossed for Keane who found himself free on the edge of the 6 yard box, but the Republic of Ireland international saw his header excellently saved by Liverpool 'keeper Jose Reina.

This chance seemed to bring the game to life and Spurs started to impress on the game alot more. They were no doubt helped by Liverpool defenders Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel clashing heads when a lack of communication led to both players challenging for the same high ball. Carragher had to leave the pitch to receive stitches to a wound on his head, whilst Skrtel was clearly in some discomfort and never looked properly settled for the rest of the match until he was replaced on 75 minutes by youngster Daniel Ayala.

Spurs continued to press and it was Keane again guilty of failing to convert a chance, when Modric slide a great through ball inbetween Skrtel and fullback Emiliano Insua. Keane tried to chip the oncoming Reina, but the Liverpool 'keeper stood tall to beat the ball away.

When Spurs' first goal did come, there was little Jose Reina could have done to stop it. A free kick given away in a dangerous area saw Tom Huddlestone blast the ball aimlessly at the Liverpool wall. The ball fell kindly to Benoit Assou-Ekotto, the Spurs full back previously without a goal to his name during his entire career, who lashed the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area. It was a tremendous strike and one that confirmed Tottenham's growing dominance of the half.

During the second half Liverpool were much more expressive and Steven Gerrard began to wrestle control of the midfield more, although in doing this he was forced to drop deeper than he perhaps should have done as Fernando Torres frequently found himself isolated. Frustration boiled over for Torres, who was caught up in several squabbles with Spurs defender Ledley King.

Liverpool were level after a Steven Gerrard penalty - blasted straight down the middle of the goal perhaps symbolic of the largely frustrating afternoon the Liverpool captain was enduring - which was the result of a brilliant foray forward by Liverpool's new signing Glen Johnson. He picked the ball up on the right and drove into the Spurs penalty area, drawing a rash lunge from keeper Heurelho Gomes.

The teams had been back on level terms for less than 5 minutes before Liverpool were once again behind. A poor and unnecessary foul by Jamie Carragher on Jermain Defoe gave Spurs a free kick which new signing Sebastien Bassong converted with a powerful header.

Back to a goal behind Liverpool did at last start exert some control over the match, partly helped by Spurs starting to sit back deeper and defend their lead. The substitute Yossi Benayoun provided a more creative spark on the left after he replaced the disappointing Ryan Babel. But even as the team rallied in the last 20 minutes an equaliser was not forthcoming.

Two late, good shouts for penalties were ignored by referee Phil Dowd - with substitute Andriy Voronin in particular having a very good case for complaint. Voronin was played in by Yossi Benayoun and as he looked to nudge the ball past the oncoming Spurs keeper, he was pushed off the ball by Assou-Ekotto. Replays showed the Spurs defender made no attempt to play the ball and had essentially run into Voronin. The same defender was also not adjudged to have handled the ball when blocking a Fernando Torres cross at close range.

Tempers on the Liverpool bench were clearly frayed by the referee's refusal to award either of the penalties and Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee was ordered out of the dugout by referee Dowd.

Lee's frustrations could just as easily been caused by a generally lacklustre Liverpool display, one which left manager Rafa Benitez with much to ponder.

A much more consistent performance will be required for the visit of Stoke to Anfield on Wednesday.