Even Harry is put in the shade by Son
Ashley Williams and Dominic Solanke should have been free-kicks. That is how it is. We have to take it. The last moment Calvert-Lewin makes a step, but Lovren doesn’t push him or anything. It’s just body contact. That happens in midfield and 60 or 70 times it is not a free-kick.” Everton manager Sam Allardyce disagreed with Klopp and praised Pawson for having the guts to award Everton a spot-kick at Anfield. “Don’t put your hands on a forward when he is in the box,” Allardyce said. “Don’t mess with him, don’t touch him and don’t push him. “If you do it you run the risk of a penalty. He had no need to do it, he could have shepherded him away from goal. He didn’t. He put his hands on and pushed him over. People can call it soft but you don’t do those things in the box today.
“The credit goes to Craig Pawson being brave enough to give it because I have stats it’s about 40 or 50 years since Everton got a penalty [at Anfield], which shows how tough it can be. He was brave.”
Klopp defended his decision to put Brazilian duo Philippe Coutinho, right, and Roberto Firmino on the bench as he made six changes.
“Was it the right call? I thought before the game yes. After, still yes – even when the result doesn’t show it,” said Klopp.
“I said before, we can change as much as we want when we win. When we don’t win I REDS AHEAD: Mohamed Salah puts Liverpool in front with a curling shot take the blame. I have no problem with that. The boys who came in were fresh and worked hard. It’s a derby and a fight. We had clear chances, half-chances. Everything you need.” Rooney admitted he dared not miss the penalty having been waiting since his debut in 2002 to score in a derby for his boyhood club. Asked where the goal ranked in his career, Rooney said: “It’s right up there. All I kept thinking was, ‘You can’t miss, you just can’t!’ It was such a big moment. I was delighted. “I was just as delighted with the character we showed because physically, it was difficult. We’ve done well the last couple of weeks, made it harder to play against us. We were conceding silly goals. We knew if we corrected that, we’d get chances. We’ve made ourselves hard to beat.” you need. That’s why you sometimes want to play a big team.”
In the form they showed against Stoke, Spurs’ attacking prowess would trouble most European teams.
But no side will fold like Stoke, who were taken to the cleaners in the second half.
Man-of-the-match Son Heung-Min was at the heart of everything. His 21st-minute cross had already forced Ryan Shawcross into diverting the ball into his own net before the South Korean winger came into his own with a goal eight minutes after the break.
Harry Kane headed home 60 seconds later before Son carved out a second for Kane.
Another blistering break by Son helped Christian Eriksen get in on the act.
Kane said: “Son is fantastic. Maybe he doesn’t get spoken about as much, but he’s making a real impact here and it’s important for the team that he continues to.”
Kane’s double took his tally for the calendar year to 50 with four games still to go.
Despite that, he finished down in 10th in the Ballon d’Or voting in last week’s annual ceremony, won for a fifth time by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kane believes he needs to start winning trophies to help his bid to become recognised as the world’s best.
Spurs have not won any silverware since
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 GROUP WINNERS Manchester United Paris Saint-Germain Roma Barcelona Liverpool Manchester City Besiktas Tottenham TOTTENHAM STOKE
2008 and the striker said: “It has been a good year for me and it’s one that I’m happy with, but my aim is always to try to win competitions and the Ballon d’Or.
“For 2018, it’s time to improve and get better and hopefully do more and win more.
“It takes winning trophies with your club: Premier Leagues, FA Cups, Champions Leagues, that’s the only way to get better.
“We’re still in three competitions.”
On a bleak day for Stoke, their only consolation came late via Shawcross – this time at the right end.
The skipper’s muted celebration said it all.
Goalkeeper Jack Butland was the only Stoke player to emerge with credit.
“Any time you concede five you can’t walk away with your head held high,” Butland said. “It’s a mark on your CV. I don’t like being part of days like that. They were very good and we were equally as bad.”
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1):