Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League

Liverpool stole the points against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night, as the Reds battled their way to a 3-2 win in a pulsating match at Anfield.    

Daniel Sturridge started his first game for Liverpool since the August fixture against Spurs, but Brendan Rodgers' side were without Raheem Sterling, who was sidelined by injury.

Tottenham remained unchanged after their heroic victory against Arsenal in the north London derby at White Hart Lane on Saturday. The game started off at a frantic pace as the EPL's two most in-form teams looked for control of the match.

Liverpool's midfield gained early advantages as Spurs made errors, and the territory was leaning towards Rodgers' side. The Anfield giants made them pay on 15 minutes as Lazar Markovic opened the scoring.

The flying midfielder expertly ran at the Tottenham defence and fired a left-foot shot beyond a flailing Hugo Lloris—who should have done better by pushing the opportunity wide.

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty highlighted Lloris' error but gave credit to the goalscorer for his composure:

But Liverpool's lead only lasted a shade over 10 minutes, as Tottenham continued to play the attacking football we have become used to seeing them perform in recent weeks.

And it was the incomparable Harry Kane who netted once again to level the match.

Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela linked up on the edge of the box to feed through the prolific striker—who kept his shot low and powerful, grabbing yet another goal in his magnificent campaign.

Oliver Kay of The Times called the goal and commented about the fantastic standard of the tie:

Jordan Ibe and Kane had good chances for both teams before the whistle, but the first half concluded 1-1.

The second half began in an equally explosive fashion, as Liverpool put the visitors under immediate pressure. Rodgers' team started to show some of the attacking form of last season, but Tottenham were always prepared to counter punch.

The Reds once again reclaimed the lead following a penalty on Daniel Sturridge. Replays showed the most minimal of contact between Sturridge and Danny Rose, but the linesman spotted the foul and flagged for the incident.

As usual, Steven Gerrard took the penalty and made sure his team grabbed their second goal of the game on 53 minutes.

John Hartson of BBC Radio 5 Live praised the bravery of the official, taking the responsibility of the penalty call into his own hands.

"Well done to the linesman for getting involved in the big decisions. I like to see that," Hartson stated.

But once again, just as Liverpool fans were getting used to being in the lead, Spurs hit back with a controversial goal from Mousa Dembele.

Simon Mignolet pushed away a direct free-kick from Christian Eriksen, allowing Kane to return the ball across the area, ricocheting off Dembele and into the net.

The replays picked up the decision again, showing Kane standing in an offside position at the free-kick, leading to fierce protests from Mignolet and his team-mates.

Fox Sports tweeted a slide of the incident, clearly showing the Spurs striker offside:

Late in the second half, Liverpool lost both Sturridge and Gerrard, with the club captain off with a hamstring injury.

Liverpool removed Sturridge in a pre-planned measure, giving Mario Balotelli a chance to prove himself in the final minutes. And prove himself he did, as the Italian grabbed the winner late on in the game.

Balotelli instinctively poked home Adam Lallana's low cross from the right-hand side in the 83rd minute, sending Anfield into rapture.

Former Spurs chairman Alan Sugar acknowledged Balotelli's strike but felt his Spurs side were out of luck:

With just minutes left to spare, Tottenham tried to grab one last chance. However, it was not forthcoming, as the ecstatic home support sung aloud "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Neither side deserved to lose at the end of the day, but Liverpool's home advantage just gave them the edge over a very good Tottenham team.

The match was one of the best EPL games of the season, and those who watched it will remember it for a long time to come.

Relevant Player Grades

Harry Kane: B+

Once again, Harry Kane looked as dangerous as ever and laid siege to the Liverpool goal at every opportunity. 

The player grabbed a goal and assist on the night, and if it had not been for Liverpool's endeavours to attack, Kane would have had many more chances.

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty spoke about Kane's effervescence and quality of work-rate:

Harry Kane's confidence was illustrated by an ambitious attempt from the halfway line that did not work. The finish for his goal was much more routine and one he was never going to miss on his current golden run. Not afraid to go looking for work either.

Daniel Sturridge: B

The England striker looked sharp and full of running in the first half but faded as the second half progressed. Sturridge was pivotal in Liverpool's second goal, bursting across Rose to win the penalty. His return is great news for Rodgers and gives the Reds a top-class talent in the striker's position.

Mario Balotelli: B

He was only on the pitch for the closing period of the game, but the Italian was the unlikely match winner for Liverpool.

The crowd reaction to the player's arrival for Sturridge was lukewarm, but the Kop exploded with joy as Balotelli tapped the ball home. The maligned striker took his chance well and gave his usual "non-celebration" as the stadium erupted.

WhoScored.com marked Balotelli's effort with a poignant stat:

Post Match Reaction

Following the game, the Premier League quoted Sturridge, who was ecstatic with the win and performance by his team: 

The BBC's Gary Lineker focused on Balotelli's strike and had a playful dig at his celebration:

McNulty praised both teams, highlighting how far Tottenham have come under their new leadership:

Liverpool have hit form at just the right time and they genuinely have a chance of making it into the Champions League places. It is imperative they keep Sturridge fit, as he will provide the goals the team desperately needs.

However, Tottenham will also push hard, and they will be distraught not to have claimed a point at Anfield, with Harry Kane looking like a good bet for PFA Player of the Year.