Suarez back, but it’s another Anfield draw (From The Northern Echo)

Suarez back, but it’s another Anfield draw

2:34pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Football: Club News

Liverpool 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0

LUIS Suarez’s long-awaited return from suspension could not inspire Liverpool to victory over Tottenham at Anfield.

The Uruguay international, having served an eight-match suspension for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, had not played since Boxing Day.

And although he gave his side another dimension when he appeared as a second-half substitute, he could not end six weeks’ of frustration with a decisive intervention, missing a golden chance from close range late in the game.

As can be expected with Suarez, his 24-minute cameo was not without incident. He was booked for kicking Scott Parker in the stomach when attempting a close-range volley and also felt he should have had a penalty for handball when he had in fact used his own arm to control.

However, Tottenham left Anfield seemingly satisfied with a point, as while the home team were enjoying having Suarez available again the visitors were missing their absent manager.

Harry Redknapp had been due to fly to Merseyside after another day in Southwark Crown Court at his trial into charges of cheating the public revenue, which he denies, but technical problems with his aircraft meant he was left stranded.

Liverpool threatened as early as the fifth minute, only for Michael Dawson’s perfectly- judged challenge to nick the ball away from Andy Carroll inside the penalty area.

Steven Gerrard drilled a free-kick into the wall before play was interrupted briefly when a cat ran on to the pitch.

Niko Kranjcar’s long-range effort was the only save Jose Reina had to make in the first half as Spurs’ attacking was curtailed.

Glen Johnson, switched to left-back because of Jose Enrique’s hamstring injury, was involved at both ends. After deflecting Kyle Walker’s shot wide, his own swerving effort was batted away by Brad Friedel in the last action of the opening half.

Suarez was on in the 66th minute. The Uruguayan’s first touch was to rob Benoit Assou-Ekotto on the touchline which helped win a corner that Carroll headed straight at Friedel.

Suarez was then booked for booting Parker square in the midriff as he tried to volley a ball dropping in the area.

Carroll should have put his side in front with 16 minutes remaining when Kelly’s cross dropped to him but he blasted his half-volley into the Kop.

Spurs’ best chance of the game five minutes from time when Bale was put clean through.

Reina did enough to block his initial shot and the danger was cleared.

Then Suarez had a late chance to win it but headed straight at Friedel from Gerrard’s free-kick.