Tottenham grabbed a second late goal in as many games as Roman Pavlyuchenko dented Liverpool’s title aspirations with the winner in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory at White Hart Lane.
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Robbie Keane marked his return to Tottenham after his summer move by setting up Liverpool’s third-minute opener for Dirk Kuyt, who produced a brilliant finish from a tight angle.
After the visitors had twice hit the woodwork in search of a second, Jamie Carragher headed past his own keeper at a 68th-minute corner get Spurs level.
And Russian international Pavlyuchenko turned home from close range at the near post with just a minute remaining to earn Spurs their seventh point in three games since Harry Redknapp took over from Juande Ramos late last Saturday night.
The result comes just three days after Aaron Lennon had earned his side a point with an injury-time leveller against north London rivals Arsenal.
Just two minutes had elapsed when Keane made his presence felt at White Hart Lane – with disastrous consequences for Tottenham.
The Republic of Ireland striker continued some slick build-up play by finding an unmarked Kuyt down the right and the Dutchman hit the net from a tight angle with a brilliant finish
Spurs’ best attempt of the first half came when an under-worked Reina was forced to push aside Luka Modric‘s impressive effort from the edge of the area just before the break.
Steven Gerrard twice hit the woodwork at the start of the second half as they pushed for a second goal to seal the match. On 49 minutes, his shot bounced down off the elbow of Ledley King and needed to be touched onto the post by Heurelho Gomes.
But the much-maligned keeper was almost the architect of his own downfall a few minutes later when he carelessly gave the ball straight to Gerrard just outside his own box, although the Liverpool skipper could only chip his effort onto the crossbar.
Spurs made the visitors pay for not extending their lead when Carragher rose highest in a group of players contesting a near-post corner, only to see the ball deflect off his head and past the helpless Reina.
Both sides pressed for a winner as the game finally opened up in the final ten minutes, with substitute Lennon sparking the home side into life with some jinking runs.
And the winner came with just a minute of normal time remaining when Reina pushed David Bentley’s drive away, only for Darren Bent to turn the ball back to the near post where Pavlyuchenk turned the ball home.
