Match Report

Liverpool

Tottenham Hotspur

James, Jones (McAteer, 87), Kvarme, McManaman (Berger, 87), Leonhardsen, Fowler, Redknapp, Riedle (Owen, 75), Ince, Bjornebye, Matteo.

Attendance
38,006

Referee
S Lodge

Walker, Edinburgh, Howells, Calderwood (Domingues, 68), Anderton (Sinton, 68), Carr, Ginola, Scales, Iversen, Allen (Armstrong, 14), Campbell.

Subs not used: Harkness, Nielson.

Subs not used: Fox, Baardsen.

Booked:

Booked: Ginola.

Goal Scorer: McManaman 48, Leonhardsen 50, Redknapp 65,Owen 86

    Gerry Francis suffered the ultimate humiliation as he was forced to listen to Tottenham's fans singing ``Bye, bye Gerry'' after his side had suffered a second-half Anfield drubbing.
    Liverpool's revival was given a tremendous boost by their second successive four-goal home show in the Premiership to follow up the demolition of Derby a fortnight ago.
    But under-fire Spurs boss Francis was left with his future on the line after this comprehensive defeat that saw the north London side sink to the fringe of the relegation zone.
    Before the game this clash was billed as the battle between two managers under pressure.
    That was hardly fair on Roy Evans after the form and commitment of recent weeks, and the Liverpool chief made it clear earlier in the week how angry and disappointed he was to see not only himself, but more importantly Francis, taking so much flak.
    But Francis knows he is in the results business and a dismal season sees Spurs now with only three wins in 14 league games and time running out for the manager.
    In the end it was Liverpool's ability to raise their game, the growing return to form and fitness of Jamie Redknapp and the driving inspiration of skipper Paul Ince that pulled the home side together and set them on their way to their third victory in four games.

    Since Evans reverted to a 4-4-2 formation and pace and awareness was restored to the defence, Liverpool are cruising up the table.
    Francis must have viewed the first half with great confidence. Spurs were the better side, more organised and fluid while Liverpool had one of their edgy, stuttering periods.
    Sol Campbell had been magnificent at the back and Norwegian striker Steffen Iversen had given Liverpool plenty of worrying moments
.    Iversen had an early header blocked in the six-yard box by Dominic Matteo, while centre-back partner Bjorn Kvarme got in the way of John Scales' follow-up effort.

    Iversen then took advantage of a rare Matteo error to fire wide of the far post before David Ginola was booked for a clumsy, rather than nasty, foul on Rob Jones.
    Spurs must have emerged from the dressing room for the second half believing they could get something from the game but their hopes were dashed inside five minutes of the restart.
    After 48 minutes Oyvind Leonhardsen worked the ball in from the right to find Redknapp on the edge of the box.
    The midfielder spun to lash a low drive which Ian Walker did well to turn aside at full stretch, but sadly for the England goalkeeper the ball bounced invitingly for Steve McManaman to tap over the line.
    Spurs' defence was guilty of slow reactions two minutes later when Karlheinz Riedle put Robbie Fowler clear in the box on his 200th appearance for the club.
    Fowler bore down on Walker, who saved brilliantly at his feet. But the ball bounced out to the edge of the box and Leonhardsen took control and fired home into the bottom corner.

    Ince and Fowler combined soon after and the striker saw his first shot saved by Walker before hitting the post with the follow-up.
    Spurs had sagged visibly by now and the third goal came after 65 minutes. It was fitting that Redknapp should score it, a stunning low drive after Stig Bjornebye and Fowler had created the opening.
    It was just a case of how many now, Walker saving brilliantly from another Redknapp drive before substitute Michael Owen completed the rout.
    Ince's long ball put him clear, he forced his way past Walker on the edge of the box and tapped the ball into the empty net.
    Owen again, Fowler and Redknapp all had further chances and Spurs, after such a promising first half, were just glad to get off at the game.