Tottenham’s surprise challenge for the Premier League title gathered pace as a 2-0 win over Everton moved the north Londoners within three points of leaders Manchester City last night.

Harry Redknapp’s side are now level on points with second-placed Manchester United and hot on City’s heels after goals from Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto shattered Everton’s resistance at White Hart Lane.

England winger Lennon opened the scoring in the first half and Cameroon left-back Assou-Ekotto sealed the points with a majestic strike after the break.

Spurs – now nine points ahead of fifth placed rivals Arsenal – have lost only one of their last 18 league games and must be regarded as genuine contenders for the title for the first time in over 20 years.

This fixture was originally scheduled for the opening day of the season in August, but was postponed as a result of the London riots, presenting Tottenham with a valuable game in hand on their title rivals.

Some sloppy defending from Leighton Baines unhinged the visitors on 35 minutes as Spurs took the lead.

When Assou-Ekotto swept a long pass towards Lennon on the right flank, Baines should have snuffed out the danger.

Instead, the left-back allowed Lennon to wriggle past him and the winger took full advantage as he cut into the area and evaded Sylvain Distin before clipping a cool finish past Tim Howard for his fourth goal of the season.

Spurs increased their lead in sublime style on 63 minutes.

Assou-Ekotto appeared to pose little threat when he received a pass 30 yards from goal, but the left-back advanced unchecked before smashing a ferocious drive that glanced off Tim Cahill as it flashed past Howard.

It was a remarkable way for Assou-Ekotto to score his first goal since August 2009 and there was no way back for Everton, who appealed in vain for a late penalty when Kaboul clipped Royston Drenthe.

At Eastlands, Steven Gerrard scored the only goal of the game as Liverpool beat Manchester City 1-0 in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final, yesterday.

The Liverpool captain fired the visitors in front from the penalty spot in the 13th minute after City’s Stefan Savic fouled Daniel Agger.

City were a shadow of the side that beat Liverpool 3-0 just over a week ago.

The sides will contest the second leg at Anfield on January 25.

Whoever comes out on top will face the winners of the all-Cham-pionship clash between Cardiff and Crystal Palace in the February 26 final at Wembley.

Palace will travel to Wales with a slender 1-0 lead on January 24 after Anthony Gardner scored the only goal of their first leg clash at Selhurst Park on Tuesday.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Man. City	20	15	3	2	56	16	48
Man. United	20	14	3	3	49	20	45
Tottenham	20	14	3	3	38	20	45
Chelsea	20	11	4	5	39	25	37
Arsenal	20	11	3	6	36	28	36
Liverpool	20	9	7	4	24	18	34
Newcastle	20	9	6	5	29	25	33
Stoke City	20	8	5	7	22	31	29
Norwich City	20	6	7	7	30	35	25
Sunderland	20	6	6	8	27	23	24
Everton	20	7	3	10	20	24	24
Swansea	20	5	8	7	20	23	23
Aston Villa	20	5	8	7	22	26	23
Fulham	20	5	8	7	22	26	23
West Brom	20	6	4	10	19	28	22
Wolves	20	4	5	11	22	36	17
QPR	20	4	5	11	19	35	17
Bolton	20	5	1	14	25	43	16
Wigan Athletic	20	3	6	11	18	41	15
Blackburn	20	3	5	12	29	43	14