Rising in City chase
gilt-edged chances in that catastrophe of a first half for Liverpool, could finally relax, although Lloris brilliantly saved from Philippe Coutinho in the 67th-minute and later denied Salah.
Liverpool certainly did not deserve to be flattered by a cheap goal or two at the end, Maradona joining the majority of the fans in applauding Tottenham off the pitch after their emphatic display.
TOTTENHAM (3-4-3): Goals: UP: LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Booked: NEXT
bootsuosneinostnead of standing by the tpoiuccthulirne.s“oThre first goal would not happen if I waosbosn pitch but I’m in the middle of tphiectteucrhensicaolrarea in trainers,” said Klopp.
“Harry Kane cannot get the ball but it was an open ball. We had more players there than them.
“Do we need to be prepared for a situation like this? Yes – we are usually. Each job is clear but we did not do it.
“I cannot fix it here. If I’m involved in this situation on the pitch, then Harry cannot get the ball.”
He further criticised his players by saying: “In the decisive moments their desire was bigger than ours”.
The Liverpool manager was full of praise for Tottenham striker Kane.
“It was another fantastic performance,” he is amazing,” he said. “One of the best players, one of the best strikers in the world.”
And Klopp challenged players such as £20 million Dejan Lovren, substituted after just 31 minutes, to prove their worth after conceding 16 goals in the first nine league games of the season – the worst Liverpool start for 53 years. “We have to prove we are better defenders than we showed,” he said. “We have three unbelievably big scoresheets – Watford, City and today, 12 goals conceded – that’s crazy. “You don’t have to talk about quality. Without quality, they wouldn’t be involved at Liverpool, 100 per cent. “They had a plan but the only way to fix it is to stay strong and work on it.” Spurs’ win keeps them within five points of Manchester City and manager Mauricio Pochettino, who said he was “emotional” after meeting Argentina legend Diego Maradona, above, before the game, has Pep Guardiola’s side firmly in his sights. “For the third season we are trying to catch someone,” said Pochettino. “Manchester City are doing very well, they have an amazing squad and one of the best managers in the world. “We see what happens, we believe, we will try to catch them. We are focused.”