LUIS GARCIA grabbed the winner on the stroke of halftime to give Liverpool victory and bring Tottenham's run of home victories to a halt.

Spurs had won their previous 12 games at White Hart Lane but where undone in first-half stoppage time when Liverpool took advantage of poor defending from the hosts.

Liverpool have been poor on the road this season . . . this was their third away win in the Premiership . . . but looked comfortable until the hosts started chasing the game.

Tottenham captain Ledley King was not in the squad for yesterday's clash. King's place in the starting XI was taken by Calum Davenport, while Dimitar Berbatov was on the bench after suffering illness this week.

Berbatov was replaced in attack by Mido, the Egypt striker who recently recovered from a groin injury. The visitors dropped Peter Crouch to the bench in favour of Dirk Kuyt. The only other change from the side beaten by Blackburn was Fabio Aurelio coming in for centreback Sami Hyypia.

Paul Robinson was made Spurs captain for the day and the England goalkeeper had to be alert in the first couple of minutes when he was given a dreadful backpass by Lee Young-Pyo and had to scramble clear as Kuyt closed him down. Jermain Defoe thought he had an early sight on goal but was adjudged marginally offside when he chased a pass behind the Liverpool defence from Tom Huddlestone.

Huddlestone's range of passing was hindered by the slick surface and he was also up against Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.

Mido had the first real effort on goal, in the 10th minute, when Jamie Carragher slipped while under pressure from Steed Malbranque, but the Spurs striker blazed wide when he had more time on his hands than he thought.

Robinson fumbled a Craig Bellamy cross at the other end, while Defoe was well wide with a long-range effort.

Bellamy forced Robertson into a low save in the 27th minute following a move started by Gerrard which also involved Kuyt.

The Dutch striker was then just inches wide a minute later when Bellamy played the ball back to him on the edge of the area.

Spurs were struggling to create similar opportunities, although the visitors had to clear a dangerous cross from Huddlestone following a sweeping move.

Xabi Alonso drilled an effort wide from long range, while at the other end Mido had a header drift wide from a Lee cross from the left flank.

But Liverpool took the lead in first-half injury time when Steven Gerrard stubbed an effort towards goal . . . and Luis Garcia slotted home from close range.

Bellamy had a long-range drive saved by Robinson two minutes after the restart but it was the last action he saw and he was replaced by Jermaine Pennant and headed down the tunnel for treatment.

Zokora came off for Danny Murphy, a former Liverpool player, just after Luis Garcia had missed a glorious chance to double the lead by directing his free header into the ground.

In the 59th minute, Spurs boss Martin Jol answered the chants from the crowd to introduce Berbatov in place of Mido.

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina fumbled a straightforward free-kick but there was little else for the Spaniard to do for the first hour.

Davenport diverted Pennant's cross into his own sidenetting as Liverpool went in search of another rather than sitting back.

They brought on Crouch in place of Kuyt for the last 25 minutes, which also featured a storm as conditions got worse.

Luis Garcia then forced Robinson into a save with a scissor kick.

Spurs almost grabbed an equaliser when Berbatov's cross was headed by Steve Finnan against his own crossbar from point-blank range.

Malbranque then came close with a drive as the rain eased slightly, while Hossam Ghaly sliced horribly wide from close range as Spurs applied late pressure.

Reina had to beat away a drive from Defoe, while Berbatov had a late effort disallowed for offside.