Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli made his debut as his new team blew three goals past Tottenham for a much needed victory. The Italian wasted several chances but it mattered little as Spurs lost for the first time under new boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Liverpool led when Raheem Sterling converted at the far post. That was followed by a Steven Gerrard penalty and Alberto Moerno’s fantastic finish.
Liverpool scored nine goals against Tottenham last season-following up the 5-0 success in north London with a 4-0 victory at Anfield- and tore apart a new-look Spurs side which had made a positive start under Pochettino.
Liverpool boss Brenden Rodgers is still trying to integrate nine players into his squad and saw his side edge past Southampton in the opening weekend, before being humiliated by defending champions Manchester City on Monday.
Raheem Sterling continued his blistering form with an early goal. The England international, who played a more central role, was a menace to Spur’s defence with his pace and direct running.
He scored the opening goal as the Reds needed just eight minutes to find a breakthrough against a Spurs side which had not conceded in their opening two Premier League fixtures.
Daniel Sturridge picked out the intelligent run of Jordan Henderson and he unselfishly squared across the Spurs goal for Sterling to steer in.
Despite Rodgers insisting his team have not turned into “the Mario Balotelli show”, the Italian inevitably proved to be a central figure in the opening exchanges.
His firm header forced Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris into an acrobatic save after just three minutes, before a weak header from inside the six-yard box squirmed wide shortly after Sterling’s opener.
Spurs had netted 21 goals in their previous six home games but were unable to exploit some defensive uncertainty from the visitors as they searched for an equaliser before the break.
Emmanuel Adebayor lobbed over the Liverpool goal when a long punt forward caught the away defence flat-footed, before Reds defender Dejan Lovren came to the rescue by blocking Erik Lamela’s shot after Mamadou Sakho sloppily surrendered possession.
But their clearest opportunity came when Liverpool allowed another high ball to slice them open, with an unmarked Nacer Chadli pouncing to force Belgium team-mate Simon Mignolet into a smart reaction save.
Any Spurs momentum gained soon dissipated, however, when right-back Eric Dier tugged back Reds midfielder Joe Allen in the box moments after the restart and Gerrard confidently fired low into the corner from the spot.
And Spain full-back Moreno, a recent £12m signing from Sevilla, sealed the comprehensive win when he charged forward unchallenged before driving a low shot into the far corner.
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