Liverpool FC vs. Tottenham Hotspur Recap: 3-2 for the Reds on a Score by Mario Balotelli

Liverpool grabbed a crucial 3-2 victory over Tottenham on Sunday at Anfield on a Mario Balotelli tie-breaking score, his first Premier League goal of the season, with seven minutes still remaining on the game clock. The result puts Liverpool seventh in the overall standing, now just a point behind sixth-placed Tottenham. 

Balotelli came on as a substitute and turned home from close range to hand Liverpool the lead after a see-saw battle in which Tottenham had twice come from behind. Liverpool led twice only to be pegged back until Balotelli, on as a substitute for the tiring Daniel Sturridge, made the decisive goal. Sturridge himself was named 'Man of the Match' for his decisive play-making heroics on the football field.

Following the match, the new player ratings now stands as follows:

Liverpool - Mignolet (6), Can (7), Skrtel (6), Sakho (6), Moreno (6), Gerrard (6), Henderson (6), Markovic (7), Coutinho (7), Ibe (7), Sturridge (7); subs - Lovren (5), Lallana (7), Balotelli (7)

Tottenham - Lloris (7), Walker (6), Dier (5), Vertonghen (6), Rose (5), Bentaleb (6), Mason (6), Lamela (6), Dembele (7), Eriksen (6), Kane (6); subs - Chadli (5), Paulinho (5), Soldado (5)

In a talk with BBC about the just concluded game, Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe said: "We knew it would be a tough game but we got the three points to keep closing the gap. Mario always works hard in training. Recently he has been ill and also had a knock on his foot and couldn't get his boot on but he kept going and deserved his goal. He got the winner so I'm sure he's happy. He knew he might have to play a part and he did. It must have been a great game to watch but we knew were always going to create chances and with Daniel Sturridge back we knew we were always going to have a threat in behind. Steven Gerrard just felt his hamstring. He looked over and said he was feeling it so he was just taken off as a precaution. We talked about needing to win to get the gap closer and get closer to the top four. We will be looking to do the same when we play at Southampton in our next game - win again and keep closing the gap."

On the Tottenham side, team manager Mauricio Pochettino said: "It was a great game and I am disappointed with the result but proud of the efforts of my players. We have a young team and believe in our way of playing. The effort and performance was good. We played to try and win the game and I felt we deserved more."