Tottenham defeat Liverpool, as Chelsea are held by Newcastle

Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool

Tottenham went into the match on the back of two league victories and a win against Werder Bremen in the Champions League. A win for Liverpool, however, and they would go level on points with Spurs. Things didn’t start well for Harry Redknapp’s side as Rafael van der Vaart tweaked his hamstring and had to be substituted.

Liverpool then took the lead just before half time when Martin Skrtel poked home a scruffy goal. In the second half, Tottenham were awarded a penalty, and it was very similar to the one awarded to them against Arsenal last week. Fearing the ball would hit his face, David Ngog blocked Gareth Bale’s free kick with his hands.

Jermain Defoe stepped up to take it, however, and blasted it wide. It was the fourth missed penalty for Tottenham this season.Spurs finally broke the deadlock five minutes later, when Luka Modric’s cross was deflected into his own net by Martin Skrtel deflected the ball into his own net.

Jermain Defoe put the ball into the back of the net in the last minute, but it was correctly disallowed for an offside. Just when it looked like it would end up a draw, however, Aaron Lennon completed the comeback in the second minute of injury time. The England international skipped past Paul Konchesky before placing the ball past Pepe Reina. The win sees Tottenham inch to within a point of fourth place Manchester City, while Liverpool drop to tenth.

Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea

Chelsea failed to win for the third game in succession away to Chris Hughton’s Newcastle United. Andy Carroll opened up the scoring for the Magpies in the sixth minute, when he rolled the ball into an empty net following a mix-up between Alex and Peter Cech.

Chelsea managed an equaliser just before half time when Solomon Kalou’s shot deflected off of Danny Simpson and into the net.  With ten minutes to go, Kalou could have put Chelsea in the lead, but conspired to miss from four yards out.

Chelsea are now two points behind new leaders Manchester United, who are also ahead now on goal difference. Newcastle, meanwhile, move up to ninth place – ahead of Liverpool.