Mauricio Pochettino declared his Tottenham Hotspur side “heroes” after their late 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, having felt that his players had dominated the contest.
Tottenham’s winless run in the league stretched to five games – their worst run under Pochettino – after a 90th-minute Hugo Lloris error led to a Toby Alderweireld own goal.
Pochettino’s side remain in the top four, after results elsewhere went against them this weekend, the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League tightened up.
Just one point now separates Tottenham in third and Chelsea in sixth. Arsenal, who are fifth, host Newcastle United on Monday night.
“The second half we dominate and we play much better than Liverpool,” Pochettino claimed. “Overall I think we were better than Liverpool.
1/23 Player ratings from Liverpool vs Tottenham
The Reds are back on top the Premier League
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2/23 Alisson – 5 out of 10
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3/23 Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7 out of 10
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4/23 Virgil van Dijk – 8 out of 10
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5/23 Joel Matip – 6 out of 10
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6/23 Andrew Robertson – 8 out of 10
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7/23 Georginio Wijnaldum – 6 out of 10
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8/23 Jordan Henderson – 5 out of 10
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9/23 James Milner – 6 out of 10
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10/23 Sadio Mane – 7 out of 10
EPA
11/23 Mohamed Salah – 6 out of 10
PA
12/23 Roberto Firmino – 8 out of 10
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13/23 Hugo Lloris – 5 out of 10
EPA
14/23 Danny Rose – 7 out of 10
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15/23 Toby Alderweireld – 6 out of 10
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16/23 Davinson Sanchez – 5 out of 10
AP
17/23 Jan Vertonghen – 7 out of 10
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18/23 Kieran Trippier – 5 out of 10
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19/23 Moussa Sissoko – 5 out of 10
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20/23 Dele Alli – 5 out of 10
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21/23 Christian Eriksen – 7 out of 10
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22/23 Lucas Moura – 8 out of 10
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23/23 Harry Kane – 7 out of 10
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1/23 Player ratings from Liverpool vs Tottenham
The Reds are back on top the Premier League
AFP/Getty
2/23 Alisson – 5 out of 10
Getty Images
3/23 Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7 out of 10
Getty Images
4/23 Virgil van Dijk – 8 out of 10
Action Images via Reuters
5/23 Joel Matip – 6 out of 10
AFP/Getty Images
6/23 Andrew Robertson – 8 out of 10
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7/23 Georginio Wijnaldum – 6 out of 10
AFP/Getty Images
8/23 Jordan Henderson – 5 out of 10
CameraSport via Getty Images
9/23 James Milner – 6 out of 10
Action Images via Reuters
10/23 Sadio Mane – 7 out of 10
EPA
11/23 Mohamed Salah – 6 out of 10
PA
12/23 Roberto Firmino – 8 out of 10
AFP/Getty Images
13/23 Hugo Lloris – 5 out of 10
EPA
14/23 Danny Rose – 7 out of 10
Getty Images
15/23 Toby Alderweireld – 6 out of 10
REUTERS
16/23 Davinson Sanchez – 5 out of 10
AP
17/23 Jan Vertonghen – 7 out of 10
AFP/Getty Images
18/23 Kieran Trippier – 5 out of 10
AFP/Getty Images
19/23 Moussa Sissoko – 5 out of 10
AFP/Getty Images
20/23 Dele Alli – 5 out of 10
Getty Images
21/23 Christian Eriksen – 7 out of 10
AFP/Getty Images
22/23 Lucas Moura – 8 out of 10
AFP/Getty Images
23/23 Harry Kane – 7 out of 10
Action Plus via Getty Images
“I was so disappointed and very critical after [losing at] Southampton but today I can say nothing.
“We bounced back, the second half is the way you want to play and that feeling you need if you want to be a real contender.
“My players are heroes and deserve a lot of credit and whatever happens in the end of the season, I’m going to be happy my players are heroes.”
Pochettino called on his side to treat their seven remaining Premier League fixtures as a “mini-league”, starting with the first game at their new stadium, against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
“We have a mini-league that starts Wednesday in our new stadium that must be a big boost for everyone and it is in our own hands to be in the top four,” he said.
“It is not to justify the defeat or an excuse, it’s just with all the circumstances that arrive.
“We have seven games to play, fighting with teams like Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United.
“We are in the middle so I think the players they deserve massive credit with all the circumstances again.”
