LIVERPOOL'S season is firmly back on course after three second-half goals from Mark Gonzalez, Dirk Kuyt and John Arne Riise secured six points from two games and re-affirmed Rafa Benitez's faith in his side. But for Martin Jol, these are worrying times.

The grim look on the Tottenham manager's face spoke a thousand words in the aftermath of yet another defeat.

Jol rightly pointed to a terrible miss from Jermaine Jenas . . . just seconds before Gonzalez gave Liverpool the lead . . .

as the game's turning point.

In the 61st minute, substitute Edgar Davids sent over a low cross, from which Jenas somehow managed to miss from two yards. He lay on the pitch in disbelief as Liverpool swept away to take the lead.

Jol said: "It is the same story. We created a lot of chances, should have been ahead before they scored, and then lost our concentration.

In that first half we could have been ahead. Ledley King, Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane all had chances.

"Then in the second period Jenas misses like that. Yes, he should have scored but it is a familiar story for us at the moment."

Liverpool will not be bothered by Spurs' woe, however.

They go into their clash with Galatasaray in fine form.

They toiled somewhat in the first period as Benitez maintained his rotation policy . . . no doubt with Wednesday in mind . . . by leaving out Jamie Carragher, Luis Garcia and Fabio Aurelio from the side that beat Newcastle.

Riise, Sami Hyypia and Gonzalez all returned making it 19 changes in six games from the Liverpool manager this season.

Spurs, with their worst start to a league campaign in 14 years . . . 13 of those since they last won at Anfield . . .

fielded an unchanged side from the one that drew with Fulham last time out.

Liverpool attempted to take the initiative early on, Craig Bellamy with a 20-yard shot, and then a bouncing effort from Xabi Alonso . . . who the crowd begged to shoot from any range after his midweek stunner . . . also just missing the target.

Spurs were intent on deep defence, at times all 10 outfield players were less than 30 yards from Paul Robinson, while trying to set Defoe free with long balls from the back.

Robbie Keane was almost put through by one pass from Danny Murphy, Hyypia getting a toe in the way, but the onus was on Liverpool to open up the Londoners.

Ledley King got a touch on a Murphy free kick, the ball bouncing just wide before Liverpool felt they should have had a penalty when the ball hit King on the arm.

Then Pascal Chimbonda forced a Gonzalez corner away before Mohamed Sissoko saw a shot blocked. The tempo was quicker but Spurs were getting more possession as well as men forward.

King and Michael Dawson worked to contain Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt, with Steven Gerrard belatedly getting into the game with surges from the right flank.

There was more urgency about Liverpool after the break but anxiety crept in when Bellamy got in the way of Kuyt as the Dutchman sent a header over the bar, with the Welshman also just failing to get on the end of a low cross from his strike partner.

Gonzalez, too, was more involved and the supply of crosses from both flanks increased.

On 55 minutes, a Gonzalez corner found Alonso racing in on the edge of the box but this time his effort sailed high into the Kop.

Spurs sent on Edgar Davids for Tainio on the hour as it seemed the visitors might get something from the game, so frequently were Liverpool conceding possession in midfield, Alonso frequently at fault.

But then, the game's decisive moment. Jenas missed and Liverpool raced away to take the lead. Gerrard crossed from the right and Bellamy hit the post from close range, the ball breaking for Gonzalez to fire his first league goal for the club into the bottom corner.

10 minutes later, Kuyt struck a classic strikers' goal.

Luis Garcia threaded a pass into the box for the Dutch striker, who cracked a fine shot high into the net.

Four minutes later, Liverpool sent on Aurelio for Gonzalez, with Spurs replacing Murphy with Mido on 79 minutes, but surely now the extra striker was too late to save the Londoners. Liverpool sent on Carragher for Alonso, Benitez not a man to take even the slightest risk with points seemingly in the bag.

But that did not stop Riise from rubbing salt in Spurs' wounds with a stunning drive from 30 yards in the 89th minute.