Final, 0-0: An under-strength Tottenham was able to come to Anfield and, as seven other teams have before it, hold the Reds to a scoreless draw.
Suarez made his long-awaited return, and was involved in Liverpool’s best scoring chances late in the game.
Reina had little to do, but his save on Bale’s shot in the 85th minute kept the score level.
The Reds remain in seventh place in the Premier League, sitting on 39 points. Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea (43 points) are all involved in this race for fourth place. There are 14 games left in this Premier League campaign, and still so much to play for.
That’s all for now and thanks for joining us. Let’s discuss this one on Twitter @NESNsoccer and Facebook. Be sure to keep an eye out for some news, fan reactions, analysis and opinion that is on the way on NESN.com.
93rd minute, 0-0: The Reds are applying all the late pressure.
90th minute, 0-0: The Uruguayan has another chance on goal, but King is there to intercept.
Suarez wanted a penalty, but the referee thought it hit King in the chest.
86th minute, 0-0: Suarez takes a pass from Gerrard and directs his header on goal. But the ageless Friedel is there to prevent the fairy-tale ending.
85th minute, 0-0: The visitors nearly steal the game late in the second half.
Bale beat the offside trap, and went in alone on goal. Reina rushed off his line, and saved Bale’s shot. The Welshman aimed it between his legs, and Reina got down to block it.
83rd minute, 0-0: Spurs have remained steadfast in their defense, and it’s looking like a point is all they want (need) from this game.
The quality Liverpool’s attack in the second half has decreased.
74th minute, 0-0: Carroll and Downing both spurn scoring chances. Kelly delivered the ball into the box. Downing jumped and missed, so it fell to Carroll.
The LFC striker was under pressure, and his shot from 10 yards out went over the bar.
73rd minute, 0-0: The chess match continues, as Downing replaces Bellamy.
It was the first game in months that Bellamy wasn’t one of the best players on the field.
72nd minute, 0-0: Saha is making his Tottenham debut, coming on for Adebayor.
Bale immediately goes on a run, but his right-footed shot is wide of Reina’s goal.
70th minute, 0-0: Suarez is booked four minutes after making his return. He kicked Parker in the hand (or stomach) while going for a high ball.
66th minute, 0-0: Suarez comes on for Kuyt, and the Anfield faithful greet him with a thunderous ovation.
63rd minute, 0-0: Tottenham is passing the ball around with ease — in its own half.
Liverpool is sitting back and waiting until Spurs cross the line to apply their pressure.
59th minute, 0-0: Kelly pushes forward and drives a shot on goal from distance. Friedel dove and saved turned it away. Parker was hurt on the lead-up to the play, when Adam’s tackle caught him on the ankle.
57th minute, 0-0: Bale takes a bouncing ball in the box and fluffs his shot from close range. Adebayor sent a cross across the face of goal, and LFC was unable to clear it.
54th minute, 0-0: Bales has come to life. He ran down the right, and went down from a nothing challenge from Agger.
The Welshman popped up and got in the face of the LFC defender. He started some pushing and shoving with Agger and Johnson. Let’s hope Bale’s not like the Hulk (LFC supporters wouldn’t like him if he was angry).
52nd minute, 0-0: The opening minutes of the second half are ticking away, and the Reds haven’t shown the same spark coming out of the locker room as they did against Wolves.
The pace of the game is slow and deliberate, which is just fine as far as Spurs are concerned.
46th minute, 0-0: The onus is on the Reds to open the scoring. Tottenham is likely to be content with taking a point from an Anfield trip.
Bellamy and Kuyt had little influence on the first half. Dalglish and both players will be expecting more.
Halftime, 0-0: That brings the first half to a close, and neither team has broken the deadlock.
The game has been played at a high level so far, as both teams are defending very well. The passing and approach play has been fluid, but not good enough to unlock the opposition.
LFC held Spurs to just two shots on goal in the first half. It was marginally more dangerous with Spearing’s shot and Carroll’s penalty appeal (that wasn’t) standing as its best scoring chances.
It is likely that Suarez will appear sometime in the second half. What sort of impact will he have?
46th minute, 0-0: Johnson tests Friedel with a shot from distance, but the veteran goalkeeper makes a save.
39th minute, 0-0: Parker is booked for a late tackle on Gerrard. Liverpool has a free-kick from a dangerous spot, but Bellamy hits it into the wall.
36th minute, 0-0: Bale is hurt and limping a little bit. He and Skrtel were chasing a ball near the sideline and the LFC defender gave him a push into the advertising board. He’s staying on the field.
33rd minute, 0-0: Spearing drives a shot from distance that just swerves wide. Gerrard set him up, and the young LFC midfielder came close to scoring his first senior goal for the club.
26th minute, 0-0: Spurs have scored in their last 18 games (in all competitions). But the Reds have done a thorough job of neutralizing the visitors’ attack.
Adebayor has had little impact, playing as a lone striker on a balky hamstring.
The Reds are content to let Parker sit in possession in a deep-lying role. He won’t do too much damage from there.
When Modric and Bale get the ball, LFC players swarm in applying pressure. That streak will come to a close if things keep up like this.
20th minute, 0-0: Liverpool’s looking very secure on the flanks. Johnson has gotten the better of Kranjcar and Walker on the left. Bale has been (ominously) quiet on the right. Kelly has stayed in position on the right, and focused on stopping one of wold soccer’s most dangerous attackers.
15th minute, 0-0: This game has the makings of a classic, tactical battle. Modric and Parker are controlling play for Spurs. Gerrard is playing that role for Liverpool.
Both teams are moving well without the ball, but defenders are tracking the runners, while maintaining the overall shape of the defense.
11th minute, 0-0: Play has stopped because a cat — yes, a cat — ran out onto the field.
Fifth minute, 0-0: Gerrard sends Carroll into the area, but Dawson tackles it — and him — away before he can shoot. The Anfield crowd wants a penalty, but there’s no call.
Fourth minute, 0-0: Tottenham is able to sustain a bit of possession and threaten Liverpool. But the Reds were well positioned in their area, and prevented a cross, shot or entry pass.
Second minute, 0-0: This one’s off to a slow start, with both teams taking a deliberate approach to their approach play.
Pregame: The big news is that Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will miss the game because of a canceled flight.
Redknapp is on trial in London for tax evasion, and the club chartered a plane to take him from there to Liverpool. But a mechanical problem scrapped the flight. Assistants Kevin Bond and Joe Jordan will assume Redknapp’s responsibilities.
There was also a bit of an issue with a heavy fog in and around Anfield. It was thought it could cause the game to be pushed back, but it has lifted and the game will take place as scheduled.
Jose Enrique will miss the game because of a calf problem.
2:25 p.m.: Here are the lineups:
Liverpool
Pepe Reina (25), goalkeeper
Martin Kelly (34), right back
Martin Skrtel (37), center back
Daniel Agger (5), center back
Glen Johnson (2), left back
Charlie Adam (26), midfielder
Jay Spearing (20), midfielder
Steve Gerrard (8), midfielder
Dirk Kuyt (18), forward
Craig Bellamy (39), forward
Andy Carroll (9), striker
Substitutes
Doni (32), goalkeeper
Jamie Carragher (23), defender
Sebastian Coates(16), defender
Fabio Aurelio (6), defender
Stuart Downing (19), midfielder
Jordan Henderson (14), midfielder
Luis Suarez (7), forward
Tottenham Hotspur
Brad Friedel (24), goalkeeper
Kyle Walker (28), right back
Ledley King (26), center back
Michael Dawson (20), center back
Benoit Assou-Ekotto (32), left back
Scott Parker (8), midfielder
Jake Livermore (29), midfielder
Luka Modric (14), midfielder
Niko Kranjcar (21), midfielder
Gareth Bale (3), midfieler
Emmanuel Adebayor (10), striker
Substitutes
Carlo Cudicini (23), goalkeeper
Ryan Nelsen (33), defender
Bongani Khumalo (36), defender
Massimo Luongo (45), midfielder
Danny Rose (25), midfielder
Lois Saha (15), striker
Cameron Lancaster (53), striker
12 a.m. ET: When Liverpool FC met Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in September, Spurs gave the Reds a 4-0 hammering. A lot has changed since then, and Monday’s game between the two clubs should be viewed as nothing less than the truest of examinations of Liverpool’s top-four credentials.
Spurs have been the Premier League’s surprise high-fliers since that September day. They sit third in the league, and are outside contenders to win a shock Premier League crown.
But they will travel to Anfield with a lengthy injury list. Jermain Defoe, and Aaron Lennon are doubtful due to hamstring problems. Rafael van der Vaart (calf) and Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring) — both dominant figures in September’s LFC-Spurs game — are even bigger doubts than Defoe and Lennon. Defenders Kyle Walker and Ledley King could shake off injuries and play.
However, Player of the Season contender, Gareth Bale, will lead Tottenham’s attack. Deadline-day signings Lois Saha and Ryan Nelson could make their Tottenham debuts.
Liverpool is in the midst of one of its season’s high points. It will look to continue in its winning ways Monday. Most headlines are dealing with the return of star forward Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan has completed his eight-game suspension, and is a good bet to play from the start. He could be joined by the Steve Gerrard in the starting 11, for just the third time this season.
LFC’s fit and deep squad is posing some welcome selection headaches for manager Kenny Dalglish. A number of first-team regulars will start the game on the bench, giving Dalglish plenty of options as far as in-game adjustments are concerned.
Join us right here at 3 p.m. for all the action between Liverpool and Tottenham.
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