Liverpool 3 Tottenham 1

LIVERPOOL claimed runners-up spot in the Barclays Premier League and denied Tottenham European football after a season that produced an unbeaten home league record for the first time in 21 years.

Their unbeaten home stretch was extended to 30 games as Sami Hyypia bid a tearful farewell to Anfield after ten years at the club.

The ovations were for the veteran Finn and a Liverpool side who had pushed Manchester United all the way in the title race.

Their goals came from Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and an own goal from Alan Hutton, with Robbie Keane scoring for Spurs on his return to Anfield.

Spurs, even though Fulham lost at home, could not take advantage and will not be in the Europa League next season.

Hyypia was not in the starting line-up. A packed Anfield, who sung the Finn’s name at every opportunity, would no doubt have liked to see the 35-year-old on from the start before he leaves to join Bayer Leverkusen.

Hyypia’s name echoed around the stadium beforehand and there was a new, giant flag in his honour on the Kop.

There was seven minutes to go when Hyypia came on, Gerrard was the man taken off and he made sure he put his captain’s armband onto the giant defender as he came off.

Hyypia almost scored with a typical flying header and he was carried off by his team-mates at the end of a career that makes him a Liverpool legend.