Only one change was made from the midweek win over Sunderland with Sterling returning to the attack with Allen moving to the bench. In what is becoming a tradition at Anfield, Liverpool raced out of the blocks with Johnson spearheading the attack down the right side before delivering into the area and in searching for Sturridge found Kaboul who hit into his own net to open the scoring.
Tottenham had lost 5-0 in the reverse meeting and hoped to quell a repeat after such a bad start and had a good chance to level when Eriksen sneaked through the defence but was denied by Flanagan who cleared.
Sturridge could have extended the lead had he been just a touch taller as a cross from Suarez came achingly close to finding his strike partner but the wait soon ended in record breaking style as Suarez collected the ball down the left before racing forward and gliding a superb finish past Lloris into the far corner for his 29th league goal, taking him above Robbie Fowler's record of 28.
Bentaleb tested Mignolet with a powerful effort and the Belgian also denied Soldado who hit a curler from the edge of the area but again it was Liverpool who had the best chance as Sterling found Suarez and the Uruguayan headed for goal only to be denied by a fine save from Lloris that hit the underside of the bar before being cleared by Bentaleb on the line.
Tottenham needed to score next to have any hope of avoiding defeat but it was a third for Liverpool that came next as Coutinho collected a spectacular overhead pass from Flanagan before advancing on goal and letting fly with a stunning shot that glided into the bottom corner past the diving Lloris.
It was game over for the visitors with 15 minutes to go as after Gerrard had gone off, Henderson took over the free-kick duties and did so with dramatic effect as he guided the set-piece through all of the onlookers in the area and past Lloris for a 4-0 lead.
Soldado had the chance for what would be some consolation but was denied by Flanagan who had been superb all afternoon and meant that Liverpool returned to the top of the pile for the first time in 2014 and kept their title hopes alive.
Soldado had the chance for what would be some consolation but was denied by Flanagan who had been superb all afternoon and meant that Liverpool returned to the top of the pile for the first time in 2014 and kept their title hopes alive.
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