Liverpool beat Spurs. Stay in chase for Top 3

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Liverpool 3 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur
The figure 21 on Gary McAllister's back continues to look more like his age than squad number.

Anthony Gardner and Emile Heskey in Anfield battle
(AlexLivesey/Allsport)
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier no doubt had players of more tender years in mind when he warned about the growing peril of fixture congestion and vowed to guard against it by using his rotation policy to the full.

McAllister was meant to be a handy extra option, ready and able to step into the breach whenever younger limbs began to feel the pace. That was the theory anyway, although the 36-year-old former Scotland midfielder refuses to subscribe to it.

Robbie Fowler's glorious far-post header two minutes from time may have put the seal on a surprisingly hard-earned win that kept Liverpool on the trail of a Champions League place to go with their three cup final appearances.

But the accolade of match-winner once more went the way of McAllister, who seems intent on turning the twilight years of his career into a fairy-tale to compare with any in recent times.

In three frenetic high-profile matches in six days, the vital contribution has come from the veteran playmaker's right boot to make the past week as the most memorable of his career.

Snapped up on a free transfer from Coventry last summer, McAllister had already agreed a one-year extension to his contract when he launched his dream week with a 44-yard free kick that snaked past Everton keeper Paul Gerrard to settle the Merseyside derby four minutes into injury time.

A nerveless penalty maintained the storybook theme on Thursday night and booked Liverpool's first European final for 26 years as Barcelona were dispatched from the UEFA Cup. Two priceless points looked like slipping away until McAllister, bounding around Anfield like a 21-year-old, gave tiring Liverpool the lift they needed.

Spurs, missing 13 players for one reason or another, appeared suited to the role of sacrificial lambs in an uncertain opening that could have cost them more than Emile Heskey's 22nd goal of the season in only the sixth minute.

Patrik Berger, recalled to the starting line-up in place of Dietmar Hamann, delivered a through ball that sent Heskey clear and sparked an urgent inquest in Spurs' dithering defence as the striker powered through and drilled a low shot past Neil Sullivan. The four members of Tottenham's back line exchanged accusing stares and words of recrimination.

Vladimir Smicer brought the best out of Sullivan in the 15th minute and Michael Owen squandered a one-on-one with the Spurs keeper after being played through by Steven Gerrard four minutes later.

As Liverpool discovered to their cost last season, after being held to a goalless home draw by Southampton with a Champions League place in sight, Glenn Hoddle teams seldom lack organisation or resilience.

The Hoddle touch was nowhere to be seen in the early stages but became increasingly evident as a youthful centre-back pairing of Anthony Gardner and Alton Thelwell gradually grew in self-belief and formed the basis of a Tottenham revival.

Indeed, within seconds of seeing Owen's 23rd-minute far-post header ruled out for offside, under-strength Spurs were level.

Oyvind Leonhardsen marked his return to Anfield with a low cross to Willem Korsten, who had enough time and composure to sidestep Berger's challenge and rifle a 12-yard shot into the roof of the net.

Gerrard almost restored Liverpool's advantage with a blistering 35-yard drive that struck the bar via Tim Sherwood's back.

Such moments of incisive attacking flair were becoming more and more spasmodic, though, as a well-drilled rear-guard action spread frustration as well as fatigue through the Liverpool ranks.

For a while, Houllier's players bore the heavy-limbed look of a side subjected to eight games in 23 days.

They could even have been counted out by a 71st-minute Sherwood chip that floated beyond Sander Westerveld and the post, but suddenly had a spring in their step seconds later when referee Barry Knight saw a handball that eluded most onlookers.

Thelwell was apparently the guilty party as he blocked an Owen shot after superb approach work by Fowler.

Dubious though it may have been, there was no doubting the strength of McAllister's resolve as he stepped forward with purpose and sent Sullivan the wrong way from the spot.

Fowler's picture goal two minutes from time, hanging in the air and planting Markus Babbel's deep cross beyond Sullivan, triggered more scenes of jubilation from Houllier and his players but Hoddle was still convinced that his side had been unjustly treated.

'I've looked at it again and if that was intentional handball, I'm in the wrong game,' fumed the Spurs boss. 'The crowd had been baying for three or four decisions beforehand and the referee succumbed.'

Houllier, who will lose Smicer for up to three weeks with hamstring trouble but backed Heskey to recover from a bruised shin in a matter of days, said: 'This was a test of character for the players, after eight games in 22 days, and they came through it well.'