Tottenham Hotspur have survived a nervy finish to defeat Liverpool 2-1 at White Hart Lane.

Aaron Lennon got the hosts off to a fantastic start when he tapped in Gareth Bale's cross at the back post with seven minutes on the clock.

The visitors were gifted an opportunity to equalise six minutes later when Hugo Lloris came out to clear Steven Gerrard's attempted through-ball for Jose Enrique.

The Frenchman hit the ball straight to Jordan Henderson, who was 20 yards out and with an open goal at his mercy, but the England international could not hit the target.

Gareth Bale made it 2-0 in the 16th minute, although luck was on his side as his free kick deflected off the wall and past Pepe Reina.

© PA Photos

The Reds searched desperately for a route back into the game before half time, with Luis Suarez beginning to go through the gears.

The Uruguayan forward thought that he had scored in the 35th minute, but Kyle Walker's last-ditch effort to clear off the line saved Lloris's clean sheet.

Brendan Rodgers's men finally got their goal in the 72nd minute when Lennon tried to clear Gerrard's goal-bound header, only for it to cannon off Bale's face and into the back of the net.

Liverpool fans waited with baited breath when Enrique sent Suarez racing clear in the final minute, but William Gallas's brilliant tackle saved the day for Spurs.

Despite being under pressure for most of the second half, Andre Villas-Boas's men hung on for victory.