No Gerrard, no Enrique and no Daniel Sturridge.

Yet this was an emphatic answer to all those who believed there would be no life in Liverpool's title challenge by this stage of the season.

And make no mistake, it is a title challenge. Because with King Luis Suarez spearheading this Reds team anything is possible.

In front of a prime-time TV audience the Uruguayan completed his rehabilitation from being the most reviled footballer in England to arguably the best and this sport runs out of superlatives to describe Liverpool's prize asset.

In fact, Suarez is surely now a shoo-in for this season's Player of the Year.

While Sergio Aguero at Manchester City may be able to match him for cutting edge, NOBODY in this country can match Suarez's ability to carry a team on his back.

His two goals here took his Premier League total to 17 - more than the entire Tottenham team put together.

Last season he became the first Liverpool player to score 30 times since Fernando Torres five years previously. This thumping of Spurs lifted Liverpool above Chelsea and into second in the table.

And while City may have produced a performance of shock and awe to sink Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime, they too sit behind the Reds in fourth - with only eight goals more that Brendan Rodgers' side.

In fact, Suarez has found the net more times so far this season than 10 of the 20 teams in the Premier League.

Yet it isn't just goals that he brings to the Liverpool party. Captain for the day in the absence of Steven Gerrard, the Uruguayan was the fulcrum for a sensational team performance.

He inspired the most exhilarating, purposeful display to which Tottenham's shell-shocked players had no answer.

Suarez lifted the Liverpool players around him to such an extent that the much-maligned Jordan Henderson destroyed Sandro and Paulinho.

Kyle Naughton was torn apart so completely by Raheem Sterling that the defender was withdrawn by Andre Villas Boas at half-time.

Coutinho hit the crossbar and pulled Etienne Capoue and Michael Dawson hopelessly out of position.

And while Spurs can point to the absence of their first-choice defence, Liverpool can point to the players already mentioned that they had out too.

One of them, Gerrard, insisted afterwards that you could have picked 11 Men of the Match after this incredible display. He was right.

Liverpool have quality and cutting edge but they also have belief. They have confidence coursing through the squad.

They are reaping the benefits of the brand of football that Rodgers has been insistent on instilling in them since his arrival at the club.

While the doubters may be sticking to their guns, their arguments are falling away quicker than Spurs supporters poured out of White Hart Lane after Liverpool's fifth.

To be part of a team challenging for top honours is all that Suarez has ever wanted. He is getting that at Liverpool who will surely look to add more quality around him next month.

Source: Daily Mirror