Liverpool climbed up to sixth in the Barclays Premier League

Liverpool 2
- Dirk Kuyt (6)
- Dirk Kuyt (pen 90)

Hotspur 0
The importance of the match to Liverpool's top-four aspirations had been outlined by Benitez yesterday and his players responded in fine style.

It was a match the Reds could not afford to lose, having dropped two points thanks to Stoke's late equaliser on Saturday, and they did not disappoint an appreciative Anfield crowd.

The game started at a decent pace, with both sides forcing saves before Dirk Kuyt opened the scoring in the 7th minute to give Liverpool the lead.

Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina was forced into a decent save after some confusion in the Liverpool defence, but the Spanish keeper was quick to play the ball downfield to Kuyt midway into the Spurs half.

Dirk Kuyt's double strike injected new life into Liverpool's stuttering Barclays Premier League campaign as it secured a 2-0 victory over Tottenham.

The Holland international fired home in the sixth minute from the edge of the area and then converted a twice-taken penalty in second-half injury time.

Victory lifted the Reds to within one point of fourth-placed Spurs and eased the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez after early exits from the Champions League and FA Cup.

Teams Line Up:

Liverpool:
Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Emiliano Insua, Philippe Degen (Darby 90), Javier Mascherano, Lucas Leiva, Albert Riera (Maxi '81), Alberto Aquilani (Ngog '79), Dirk Kuyt

Hotspur:
Heurelho Gomes, Vedran Corluka (Hutton '61), Michael Dawson, Ledley King (Bassong '81), Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Jermaine Jenas, Wilson Palacios, Niko Kranjcar (Keane '65), Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe