Suarez returns from suspension

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez returned from suspension against title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur but failed to spark a dull contest into life.
The Uruguayan star came off the bench in the second half to the acclaim of the Liverpool supporters having missed the last eight games for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

Suarez’s first act was to pick up a yellow card for a wild challenge on Scott Parker. On another day, Suarez might have been facing another spell on the sidelines. Those following the football odds need to bear this in mind.

Spurs, without boss Harry Redknapp after his flight from London was cancelled, frustrated the home side during a dour first half. The highlight of which was a feline pitch invader.

Liverpool made all the running during the first 45 minutes and the game continued in the same vein after the break. Brad Friedel was called into action just before the hour when he dived to his left to save Martin Kelly’s rising shot.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish played his trump card with 24 minutes left on the clock and Suarez’s introduction immediately raised the volume inside Anfield. He made an immediate impact on Parker as over enthusiasm got the better of him. Fans of football betting should remember this.

Louis Saha made his Spurs debut coming on in place of Emmanuel Adebayor, but Liverpool continued to look the most threatening. Andy Carroll missed his side’s best chance of the evening when he blazed Kelly’s cross into the Kop.

A rare Spurs foray ended with Gareth Bale missing a golden opportunity when through on goal, before Suarez headed straight at Friedel in a frantic finish out of character with the rest of the game.

Both sides had to settle for a point, Liverpool’s eighth home league draw of the season. The result left Spurs seven points off the pace.