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Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool
Match Reports, 19:03, August 16, 2009 ,
Goals from Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Sebastien Bassong gave Tottenham all three points as Liverpool taste defeat in the opening weekend.
After a quiet opening Spurs got the scent of blood following the injuries to the Liverpool pair Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher and despite the fact both were judged to be fit to continue the home side upped the tempo and took the game to the visitors.
Their first half pressure was rewarded just before the break as Assou-Ekotto unleashed a vicious left-footed strike from 25 yards after Tom Huddlestone's free kick had been blocked. Pepe Reina had no chance of saving the shot and Spurs took a deserved lead into the break.
The visitors continued to struggle in the second half but levelled matters against the run of play on 56 minutes. Heurelho Gomes brought down Glen Johnson in the box and Liverpool were awarded a penalty. Steven Gerrard stepped up to take it and buried the ball past the Spurs keeper with a powerful strike.
However, it didn't take long for the home side to regain their advantage as Bassong, making his league debut for Tottenham, rose to meet Luka Modric's free kick on 59 minutes and put the ball beyond Reina.
Liverpool continued to press and were denied two penalties late on after Assou-Ekotto shoved Andriy Voronin off the ball on 86 minutes.
Assou-Ekotto could have gifted the visitors an equalizer again on 88 minutes but he was lucky to escape with no punishment after Torres' shot struck his arm. It was all too much for Liverpool assistant Sammy Lee who was sent to the stands as Spurs clung on to record a victory in their opening fixture.