Tottenham 4 Liverpool 0

Tottenham Overrun 9 - Man Liverpool

Spurs so totally dominated Liverpool throughout this match that the one goal half-time lead failed to tell the story of the first 45 minutes.  Liverpool, reduced to nine men, were completely out-played as Adebayor marked his home debut with two goals.

Tottenham Hotspur 4 Liverpool 0
Scorers: Modric, Defoe, Adebayor (2)

Team: Friedel; Walker, King (Bassong), Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto; Kranjcar (Van der Vaart), Parker, Modric, Bale, Defoe (Giovani), Adebayor.  Subs: (unused) Cudicini, Pavlyuchenko, Corluka, Livermore

Luka Modric scored first goal for Spurs

Tottenham started at a quick tempo putting Liverpool under immediate pressure.  Emmanuel Adebayor, making his home debut, could have scored after three minutes when put through by a pass from Niko Kranjcar following good movement by Tottenham.  He put his shot wide but Spurs maintained the early pressure with Gareth Bale causing problems on the left.  After seven minutes his cross found Defoe who laid it off to Luka Modric on the edge of the box and he powered a curling shot into the top corner of the net.  A beautiful and well-deserved goal which instantly helped every Spurs supporter forget about the summer transfer saga.

Tottenham didn't ease off with Liverpool simply failing to get to the pace of the game and make any impression on Spurs' midfield or defence.  Scott Parker and Modric were controlling the game and the only surprise was that Spurs hadn't added to their score.  The visitors first foray on goal found Spurs in some disarray but Luis Suarez's goal was disallowed for offside.   Liverpool's day worsened when Charlie Adam was sent off for a second bookable offence when his foot caught Parker about knee-height as they went for a dropping ball on the edge of the penalty area.  It could be said that, 'Justice had been done - if six months late,' as Adam was fortunate to avoid a red card for Blackpool last season when his foul tackle ended Bale's season. 

Tottenham had a series of free-kicks on the edge of the Liverpool box but neither Bale (twice) nor Modric was able to find the net and the visitors were relieved to reach half-time only one goal behind.

Rafael Van der Vaart replaced Niko Kranjcar at half-time and Defoe should have added to the score in the opening minutes, shooting wide from a good pass from Adebayor.  Spurs' domination continued, Kenny Dalglish's half-time talk having made no difference to his team.  Liverpool never threatened the Tottenham goal and had Skrtl sent off for a foul on Bale, a second bookable offence, twenty minutes into the second half.

Modric and Adebayor Celebrate

Spurs eventually scored the goals their domination deserved.  On the break against nine-men Liverpool, Defoe made the extra space count, taking a pass from Van der Vaart and holding off a challenge as he speeded to the box, turned his man to score after 66 minutes.  Two minutes later, Adebayor scored after a shot by Defoe was spilled by Reina, he took the ball past the keeper to score his first Tottenham goal at White Hart Lane.

Damage limitation for Liverpool, Tottenham enjoyed all the time and space they needed to stroke the ball around unchallenged.  In the last minute of added time they eventually scored their fourth - Adebayor's second, receiving a through ball from Assou-Ekotto to bring to an end Liverpool's worse day at White Hart Lane since conceding seven in 1963.

Harry Redknapp was vindicated in sending an inexperienced team to Greece and the senior players responded by rising to the challenge of playing Liverpool.  Has 'King Kenny's' magic touch worn off?  On that performance it certainly looks like it - at Anfield they patiently await the return of Steven Gerrard.

Spurs have got their season started - two wins, two successive clean sheets in the League and two strikers who have shared five goals in the last two matches.