Mario Balotelli came off the bench to grab a late winning goal for Liverpool in a 3-2 victory over Tottenham in the Premier League on Tuesday, boosting his team’s chances of hauling in its rivals for Champions League qualification.

Out of favour at Anfield in recent months, Balotelli entered in the 73rd minute and scored his first league goal for Liverpool 10 minutes later by poking home a cross from Adam Lallana.

Spurs had come from behind twice in an entertaining game between two top-four candidates, with Lazar Markovic’s opener in the 15th minute cancelled out by a superb turn and finish by in-form Spurs striker Harry Kane.

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Steven Gerrard regained Liverpool’s lead from the penalty spot in the 55th before Mousa Dembele’s 61st-minute equaliser.

Liverpool moved a point behind sixth-place Tottenham.

Meanwhile, Arsenal beat Leicester City 2-1 thanks to goals from Laurent Koscielny and Theo Walcott.

The Gunners looked like they might run away with the game after going 2-0 in the first half, but an Andrej Kramaric strike just after the hour mark ensured a tense finish.

Hull City won the relegation battle with Aston Villa 2-0 with goals from Nikica Jelavic and Dame N’Doye, while Queens Park Rangers downed Sunderland by the same result, with Leroy Fer and Bobby Zamora finding the net.

– with ABC