GETTY
It has taken Mario Balotelli 769 minutes to register his first league goal for Liverpool. When the moment arrived to snap Tottenham's resistance one final time last night, it will have almost felt like the wait, frustration and hassle had all been worth it for Brendan Rodgers.
Harry Kane may have won his battle with Daniel Sturridge, but it was Balotelli's toe-poke inside the six yard box nine minutes after being sent on more in hope than expectation that allowed Liverpool to win the war.
The poacher's finish in the 83rd minute adds momentum to a campaign that had Rodgers seen his side stumble to a fifth draw in 12 home games this term would have made the push for a top for spot that much more difficult.
As it is Liverpool, in front of watching owner John W Henry, moved to within striking distance of the Champions League berths and though their casualties are rising - Steven Gerrard faces joining Lucas on the sidelines after limping off - they will worry about that another day.
The manner of the late defeat may feel harsh on Tottenham after they twice clawed their way back into the contest, but the reality is they should have been laid out on the canvas in the opening 20-minutes had Sturridge taken the flurry of chances he was presented with.
Anfield can be added to The Etihad and The Emirates as venues where Mauricio Pochettino's side have now lost away from home this season and with visits to Old Trafford and St Mary's still to come they will need to reverse that trend. For the time being they remain as much pretenders as contenders and the shockwaves of their North London derby success at the weekend have now dissipated.
GETTY
Certainly, Pochettino will prefer not to focus on the opening blitzkrieg in which not once, not twice but three times Sturridge found himself with opportunities. Yet when Hugo Lloris did not rescue his team-mates with a smart save, there was Eric Dier to produce a well-timed challenge and restore a sense of order.
It was Sturridge's first start since the win at White Hart Lane back in August and his rustiness could be excused, especially as Lazar Markovic eked out an overdue advantage by the time he wasted his third opening.
This time Jan Vertonghen was unconvincing as Sturridge attempted to control Simon Mignolet's long punt and Markovic swooped on the loose ball, driving forward and aiming a left-foot shot which bounced over the hand of Lloris and into the corner of the net. Yet as a pulsating encounter ebbed and flowed, it seemed those aberrations would prove costly. Tottenham belatedly found a rhythm and the rat-a-tat-tat of short passes between Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen outside the penalty area ended with the former finding Kane.
The forward had cleverly moved into space away from Mamadou Sakho, who lost his footing offering Kane more time than, in truth, he needed to pick his spot. His right foot finish was his 23rd of the campaign and the first goal Mignolet had conceded in 416 minutes in the league.
Sturridge partly redeemed himself when Danny Rose injudiciously thrust out his left leg to send the forward tumbling and Gerrard dispatched the penalty for his 10th goal of the campaign.
Even then, Mousa Dembele turned a Kane cross home after Mignolet had pushed away Eriksen's free-kick as Tottenham sought to rescue a 15th point from losing situations.
Enter Balotelli. Adam Lallana's low centre was drilled invitingly across the penalty area and the forward touched prodded it home as the ground erupted and Rodgers punched the air.
At the final whistle, Balotelli marched straight down the tunnel, whipping his gloves off as he did so. Liverpool and Rodgers will hope this was the night they finally came off.
LIVERPOOL (3-4-2-1): Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Ibe, Gerrard (Lovren 68), Henderson, Moreno; Markovic (Lallana 79), Coutinho; Sturridge (Balotelli 74). Booked: Skrtel, Sakho, Gerrard. Goals: Markovic 15, Gerrard 53 pen, Balotelli 83. NEXT UP: Crystal Palace (a), Sat FAC.
TOTTENHAM (4-3-3): Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Dembele (Soldado 85), Bentaleb, Mason (Paulinho 69); Lamela, Kane, Eriksen (Chadli 81). Booked: Mason, Eriksen, Walker, Paulinho,, Dembele. Goals: Kane 26, Dembele 61. NEXT UP: Fiorentina (h), Thur Feb 19 EL.
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).