Liverpool beaten in opening game

Spurs new boy Bassong heads winner on his debut for the club in the second half to earn the victory over an ineffectual Reds' team.

Tottenham and Cameroon fullback Benoit Assou-Ekotto gave his team a deserved lead, just moments before the half-time whistle after Tom Huddlestone's free-kick came back off the Liverpool wall and the fullback unleashed a wicked shot past the Reds' stationary 'keeper Pepe Reina.

It was a moment of magic in an otherwise uneventful first half.

The second period contained a lot more goal mouth incident and action, with Tottenham the more enterprising in possession but unable to add to their score however Liverpool did level the score just before the 60 minute mark, when Gomes in the Tottenham goal clearly brought down new Liverpool defender Glen Johnson and skipper Steven Gerrard buried the penalty past the Brazilian 'keeper.

Unfortunately for Liverpool it wasn't long before Spurs retook the lead.

Luka Modric floated a perfectly weighted free-kick from 35 yards out which Bassong powerfully headed past the despairing Reina.

At the death Liverpool were sure they had a bona-fide penalty but it was waved away by Referee Phil Dowd and that may have enraged Rafa Benitez but he knew the better team won on the day.