Given that the start of the season is the one time during which all clubs align their goals and start on level footing, it seems naive to expect no surprises. And indeed we got one when Liverpool succumbed to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. It was the complete antithesis of last year's famous Pavlyuchenko-inspired victory, this time coming up against a considerably more insipid 'Pool side for whom the loss of Xabi Alonso might hurt just a fraction more than Benitez has projected. Lucas and Mascherano, fine tacklers as they are, could not muster any sort of possession throughout the game, resorting to snapping at the deft heels of Lennon and Modric. They are not the only ones to blame, though. The trio supporting Fernando Torres were bereft of ideas, in particular the anemic Ryan Babel, for whom Benitez's patience is surely running thin. Gerrard had a poor game but it sums up Liverpool's afternoon when he, having to drift back behind Babel and Kuyt to gain possession, looked like the only player in red who was capable of mustering something.
It is interesting that Spurs applied the similar tactic of two holders in front of the back four. What made the difference, though, is that Huddlestone and Palacious were infinitely more sure of their abilities and each other's presence, enabling them to alternate freely between protecting the back four and driving forward. Modric looked more and more convincing in his free role down the left, and Lennon is continuing the form of last season's back-end that had Fabio Capello jotting down another potential solution to that conundrum on the right flank. Up front was the only place where Spurs looked slightly lost, Defoe and Keane not being able to find the right combination of deadly accuracy and deep drifting that would enable them to gel seamlessly. It is somewhat surprising that 9 million pound signing Peter Crouch failed to make his debut here, although he may be given a chance after the performances of Keane and Defoe, who failed to translate his fine England form into Premier League potency. Of course, the defence was the standout today, with Benoit Assou-Ekoto, never having scored for Lens or Tottenham, placing an early candidate for goal of the year into the top corner of Pepe Reina's net. Sebastien Bassong, the 8 million pound signing from Newcastle, also managed to showcase his prowess at the attacking end as he outjumped Carragher to connect with Modric's beautifully weighted cross, thereby giving Tottenham a thoroughly deserved win. Granted, Andriy Voronin should have had a penalty, but it was somewhat just that he didn't get it as Liverpool deserved to lose after what was a display lacking any of the consistency that brought them within 4 points of Manchester United last season.
It was said that this is to be Liverpool's year to end the title drought. On this display, not seeing it happen for awhile sounds like the best possibility. Benitez has some serious work to do before he can start the mind games again.
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