NEWS » the final six outs. One-time closer Santia

In any top-flight league around the world, the title-winning sides always have one defining characteristic, aside from talent, and that is consistency -- in their level of play and their results.Over the past few seasons, Liverpool have been the opposite of consistent. They have the high-priced talent, but have not been able to collect positive results often enough to merit being considered legitimate Premier League title contenders.Jurgen Klopps Reds will continue their search for consistency on Saturday as they travel to White Hart Lane for a lunch-time clash with Tottenham Hotspur.Klopps high-pressing style of play hasnt quite taken full effect at Liverpool, and the Reds were content to keep possession against Burnley last week -- recording an astounding 81 percent. However, they were burned on a pair of perfectly executed counter-attacks which resulted in goals by Andre Grey and Sam Vokes.The defence has been a consistent problem for the Reds, and it showed again last Saturday as Klopp replaced left-back Alberto Moreno with an out-of-position James Milner. Liverpool have conceded five goals in their opening two fixtures, which is the highest total theyve allowed in that span since 2012-13.But they bounced back nicely in midweek with a 5-0 thumping of Burton Alboin in the newly-named EFL Cup, thanks to a pair of goals from Daniel Sturridge, and one each from Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino.When I saw the (Burnley) game again, there were a few situations where we missed a little sharpness, Klopp said. But the main problem was that with one more pass we were 15 times completely free in the box. In the game, we didnt see it, so we needed to use this. Thats what we did today and it was better.We were there, where we had to be. We were on the line; we had possession (around) the box and bodies in the box. The first two goals were like this -- one was a transition, the other one after a second ball. So, it was all good.The club also received some defencive reinforcements as centre-back Joel Matip, who arrived this summer from Schalke, made his debut in the win over Burton.I feel very good after the time with my injury. Its getting better and better, Matip told the clubs official website. It was not the best time (while I was injured). For a player its always hard when youre injured and cannot go at 100 per cent. Its good to be back. I will need some time, but I will get better.Tottenham are unbeaten in their first two matches, and claimed three points with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last week thanks to a lone strike from Victor Wanyama. Spurs will be aiming to start a season unbeaten in three for the first time since 2009-10.I dont remember if I ran or not, the Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said of his reaction to Wanyamas wining strike. Its emotion. We were very close to scoring in the first half, the second half the same and when you score in the 84th minute its impossible to keep calm.Despite welcoming Liverpool to the Lane, if theres one team that has given Spurs fits over the past few seasons, it is the boys from the red half of Merseyside. Spurs are winless in their last seven meetings with Liverpool, and have been outscored 8-0 over the last three in north London.The sides drew both matchups last season, scoreless at White Hart Lane in October, and a 1-1 stalemate in April with goals from Philippe Coutinho and Harry Kane. Kingsley Coman Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Holger Badstuber Jersey . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. http://www.soccerfcbayernshop.com/kids-mehdi-benatia-bayern-munich-jersey/ . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Pierre Hojbjerg Bayern Munich Jersey . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. Patrick Weihrauch Jersey . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. SAN FRANCISCO -- The up-and-down Giants are going down to the wire in a bid to keep their even-year magic going.With three games left, manager Bruce Bochys ballclub is sandwiched between the Mets and Cardinals in the race for the two NL wild-card spots with two games separating the three teams.Its not exactly how Bochy envisioned it, not after the Giants went into the All-Star break with the best record in the majors. Given the alternative, however, San Franciscos skipper certainly isnt complaining.We certainly wish we were in a better position but you dont stop fighting, Bochy said following San Franciscos 7-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night. It is what it is as far as our situation that we created. We know that.The Giants -- who won the World Series in 2010, 12 and 14 -- are one game behind the idle Mets and one game ahead of St. Louis. The Cardinals beat Cincinnati on Thursday.San Francisco hosts the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning Friday, the Cardinals play Pittsburgh at home and the Mets close out the regular season in Philadelphia.I dont know whats going to happen but theyll keep fighting and well see what happens, Bochy said.Johnny Cueto pitched seven uneven innings for his 18th win to help set up the wild race to the finish.Cueto (18-5) overcame a shaky start in his first appearance since being sidelined more than a week with a groin strain. The All-Star right-hander matched his season high of 11 strikeouts, allowed two runs, nine hits and walked one to beat the Colorado for the third time this season.After we took the lead I just got focused on what I needed to do, Cueto said through an interpreter, adding that hes open to pitching in relief against the Dodgers if needed. Im ready. The last game is on Sunday and if they give me the ball Ill take (it).Conor Gillaspie, Angel Pagan and Brandon Crawford had two hits apiece to help the Giants bounce back after getting shut out a night earlier.Nolan Arenado had two hits and ann RBI for Colorado, which was eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend and has dropped eight of 10.dddddddddddd(Cueto) found his groove and he was doing his thing, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. Once he gets rolling hes one of those top-of-the-rotation guys that can be tough to get to.On a night when St. Louis rallied to win on a walkoff hit in the ninth, San Francisco staged its own comeback.Arenado hit an RBI double in the first and scored on David Dahls triple to put the Rockies up 2-0.The Giants tied it with two runs in the fourth, then went ahead in the sixth with help from Colorados defense. The Rockies committed two errors, including a wild throw by third baseman Arenado on Cuetos one-out bunt single that allowed two runs to score.Colorado starter Jon Gray (10-10) allowed five runs over 5 1/3 innings and left shortly after he appeared to get hit in the right ankle by Crawfords line drive in the sixth.It hurt pretty bad but Ill be all right. Nothing serious, Gray said.TAKING NO CHANCESBochy used four relievers to record the final six outs. One-time closer Santiago Casilla was not among them. Instead, Sergio Romo pitched the ninth and retired Charles Blackmon on a fly ball to end it. Youre in a situation where you have to win now, Bochy said.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: INF Eduardo Nunez is making slight progress from a mild hamstring strain but could still miss the wild-card round of the playoffs if San Francisco makes it that far. Nunez has not played since Sept. 25.UP NEXTRockies: RHP Chad Bettis (13-8) makes his final start of the season against Milwaukee on Friday. Seven of Bettis wins this season have come at Coors Field.Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (14-9) pitches the series opener against the Dodgers on Friday night. Bumgarner is winless over his previous four starts and has a 4.21 ERA during that span. ' ' '