Reds sink sorry Spurs

Gerrard: Impressive display

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Fernando Torres set a new record for goals scored by a foreign player in a debut Premier League campaign as he helped Liverpool to a 2-0 victory over Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Two goals in five second half minutes from strikers Andrei Voronin and Torres, who broke former Manchester United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy's 23-goal tally, secured a comfortable win for Liverpool in a classic end of season affair.

Dimitar Berbatov, who is rumoured to be heading for pastures new in the summer, came the closest to opening the scoring in first half with a header from a Jamie O'Hara corner, but Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina was equal to the effort.

Liverpool had dominated possession in the first half without truly threatening Radek Cerny in the home goal, but after the break Steven Gerrard began to pull the strings and Voronin prodded the visitors in front after showing good strength to latch on to a 69th minute flick from Torres.

And on 74 minutes Torres, who joined Liverpool at the beginning of the season from Atletico Madrid, had the goal his performance deserved as he found himself one-on-one with Michael Dawson before cruising past the Spurs centre-back to caress the ball home from close range to ensure Tottenham finish in the bottom half of the table.

Should this be a farewell to Spurs striker Berbatov, it was a subdued one, although perhaps not the game to bring the best out of him. Aside from Torres needing his goal 24th goal, there was nothing significant to play for.

Spurs had a chance of moving up a place to 10th - earning an extra £720,000 in merit payment from the league - while Liverpool had already secured fourth.

Power struggle

Rafa Benitez's season has appeared overshadowed by the power struggle behind the scenes at Anfield and a reminder of their problems was the sight of co-owner George Gillett in the directors' box next to chief executive Rick Parry.

Benitez's team selection appeared to point towards the players he wants to keep next season when Liverpool will try again for their first title since 1990.

Peter Crouch, Xabi Alonso, John Arne Riise and Jermaine Pennant were left out of the squad, fuelling uncertainty over their respective futures.

There was little to choose from the two teams in the early stages, with Cerny saving comfortably from Voronin, then getting stretched a little more when Ryan Babel found a yard on the edge of the area.

Berbatov produced an impish flick for the hosts in the penalty box, after Jermaine Jenas had cut in from the right, but no Spurs player was on the end of the move.

It was Berbatov who almost opened the scoring, in the 26th minute, jumping with Jonathan Woodgate and beating his team-mate to O'Hara's corner. Reina palmed the effort away at full stretch.

Gerrard attempted to up the tempo from the centre of midfield, and the intensity was raised when Javier Mascherano clattered into Alan Hutton.

Deadlock

Referee Uriah Rennie chose not to book the Liverpool midfielder, then Hutton escaped a caution shortly afterwards when he brought down Babel at the byline.

Torres almost broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half as the Liverpool striker sent Cerny the wrong way with his finish, but the Spurs goalkeeper managed to save with his feet.

Gerrard was guilty of losing his radar with his passes and one error gifted the ball to Steed Malbranque in a dangerous position. The Frenchman fed Robbie Keane but the finish was dragged wide.

Reina then flicked a Tom Huddlestone cross off Berbatov's head, while Gerrard had a couple of efforts, one straight at Cerny and the other dipping over the crossbar.

The deadlock was broken 21 minutes from time when Alvaro Arbeloa angled a long ball from right to left towards the penalty area. Torres headed on and Voronin poked past Cerny.

Berbatov almost replied immediately but Reina tipped over his powerful volley.

Then came Torres' goal in the 74th minute, twisting and turning past Michael Dawson and slotting past Cerny. It could have got worse for Spurs but Cerny saved Hutton from an embarrassing own goal. Torres also grazed the crossbar with a chip.