Pre-match there was a blow as goalkeeper Pepe Reina missed the game due injury meaning Brad Jones deputised in goal and Gulasci was promoted to the bench. The positive though was the inclusion of fit-again Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Carragher lining up in his 500th league game to become only the second in Anfield history after Ian Callaghan to do so.
Liverpool's goal glut of recent weeks saw them start well and could have led inside five minutes as Sturridge knocked the ball past Lloris only to drift wide and allow the defence to recover.
The pre-match billing was 'who would be the star - Suarez or Bale' and Bale tried to further his case with a curling free kick which forced a strong save from Jones and kept the score level.
The equilibrium was broken in the 21st minute as Enrique found some space and slipped a pass through to Suarez who converted through a tight gap past Lloris to give Liverpool the lead and hit his 22nd league goal of the season.
Spurs response came from Sigurdsson who drove a chance wide of the post and Assou-Ekotto hit a shot straight at Jones for an easy save. The leveller did come just before half time as a deep cross from Bale looped to the back post and found the head of Vertonghen who headed into the bottom corner to leave Jones with no chance of keeping it out and made the half time team talks just that bit different for both sides.
Spurs completed the comeback eight minutes into the second half as Liverpool failed to clear Bale's set-piece in the box and the unmarked Vertonghen swept home from eight yards for his second goal of the game and left Liverpool stunned.
The task for Liverpool could have been greater had luck not been on their side as Bale picked out Sigurdsson but the combination of Jones, Johnson and the upright denied a third goal for Tottenham.
Liverpool were soon level in a gift of a goal from Spurs as Walker's wayward back pass left Lloris stranded after his clearance ricocheted off Downing, leaving the winger an with a great chance which he took well by nutmegging Vertonghen who attempted a goal-line clearance.
The momentum seemed to be switching to Liverpool and they could have regained the lead quickly as Downing's cross found Sturridge at the back post but his motion meant his header hit the side netting rather than testing Lloris.
Both sides pushed to take the lead and in the 82nd minute, Liverpool were given a helping hand as Suarez was bundled over in the box by Assou-Ekotto and the referee awarded a penalty to the home side. Gerrard stepped up and coolly slipped the ball into the bottom corner past Lloris to send Anfield into a rapturous roar and leave the away fans gutted.
As the final whistle went, Liverpool held on for a famous win (their second of the season when coming from behind) while Tottenham were left to reflect on a good performance which heralded no points to take back down to London.
Next up for the Reds is a trip to Southampton on Saturday in a game many will expect a Liverpool win but with the home side currently in a relegation battle and narrowly beaten in the reverse meeting a surprise could be in the offing.
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