England skipper scores the winner from the spot as Liverpool beat Tottenham at Anfield

England captain Steven Gerrard scored an 82nd-minute penalty for Liverpool as they came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The win sends the Reds into sixth place and only seven points away from the Champions League places following a stirring win at Anfield against Andre Villas-Boas' in-form Spurs side.

Liverpool were 2-1 behind at one stage thanks to two goals from Jan Vertonghen. But Stewart Downing scored a crucial equaliser, taking advantage of a wayward back-pass from Kyle Walker.

And then Gerrard won the match after Benoit Assou-Ekotto brought down Luis Suarez.

Earlier, Suarez had put Liverpool ahead before Vertonghen scored twice for Spurs either side of the break, both set up by Gareth Bale.

England's Scott Parker and Jermain Defoe both played for Spurs, who were captained by Michael Dawson. Liverpool also fielded England's Glen Johnson and Daniel Sturridge, while Under-21s skipper Jordan Henderson was a late substitute.

“Our character in the game was outstanding,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said afterwards.

“We’re at the business end of the season and at the moment we’ve got really good momentum. I’m delighted for the players because they put so much into that today.”

Up the road at Old Trafford, Three Lions striker Wayne Rooney's dream of winning his first ever FA Cup is still intact - but only just after Manchester United drew 2-2 with Chelsea.

Rooney has won four League titles with United, two League Cups, three FA Community Shields, one Champions League and one FIFA Club World Cup. But he admits he is desperate to add The FA Cup to that list.

He still has a chance this year after he scored with a free-kick against holders Chelsea to put his side 2-0 up after international teammate Michael Carrick had set up Javier Hernandez for the opener.

But Chelsea, with England's Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill on board, came back to draw 2-2 and force a replay at Stamford Bridge.