Santini calls up Ifil

Tottenham’s new coach, Jacques Santini, was forced to fling 17-year-old full-back Phil Ifil into his senior debut as the Frenchman took on fellow Premiership newcomer Rafael Benitez at White Hart Lane.

Spurs were missing Robbie Keane, Simon Davies, Dean Richards, Mauricio Taricco and Anthony Gardner through injury, while Stephen Carr has been sold to Newcastle, as they took on visitors Liverpool.

That left Ifil, an England Under-20 international, to fill in at right-back, while new signings Paul Robinson, Noureddine Naybet, Sean Davis, Erik Edman and Pedro Mendes, were all included in a new-look side.

Liverpool, meanwhile, were starting life without Michael Owen as the striker was officially becoming a Real Madrid player.

That left Milan Baros up front with new signing Djibril Cisse, while another summer import, Josemi, was included in midfield.

Tottenham v Liverpool

Tottenham: Robinson, Ifil, Naybet, King, Edman, Jackson, Redknapp, Davis, Pedro Mendes, Kanoute, Defoe. Subs: Keller, Brown, Doherty, Silva Sousa, Atouba.

Liverpool: Dudek, Josemi, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Finnan, Gerrard, Hamann, Kewell, Cisse, Baros. Subs: Kirkland, Henchoz, Biscan, Sinama Pongolle, Warnock.

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire)