Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel (C) and Simon Mignolet (R) celebrate after defeating Tottenham Hotspur in their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England, February 10, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

CLEVER MOVEMENT

He owed his goal to the sort of clever movement in the box that he has so often failed to produce this season.

Before Adam Lallana drilled the ball across the goal, Balotelli shaped to run to the near post before drifting behind Tottenham defender Eric Dier and tapping home.

It was his first league strike since he netted for Manchester City against Wigan Athletic in November 2012.

With Rodgers dashing off to catch a plane after the match, it was left to assistant Colin Pascoe to give Balotelli a pat on the back.

"Mario Balotelli has been working hard in training and for the last couple of weeks he has been ill so it's great that he scored the winner," he said.

The striker's contribution could prove critical in the battle for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification as defeat would have left seventh-placed Liverpool six points off fourth with only 13 matches left to play.

Their next two league games are crucial encounters against Southampton and Manchester City when Balotelli is likely to find himself back on the bench with Daniel Sturridge having returned to fitness and making his first start since August.