Jurgen Klopp hails Liverpool's win over Tottenham as 'best game of the season so far'

The Premier League leaders maintained their 100 per cent record in a dominant display that could have seen a much higher winning margin than one goal

Miguel Delaney
Wembley Stadium
Saturday 15 September 2018 10:53 EDT
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Jurgen Klopp celebrates with his players after Liverpool's win
Jurgen Klopp celebrates with his players after Liverpool's win (REUTERS)

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Jurgen Klopp described Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur as their “best game of the season so far”, even though he conceded his side “didn’t finish the game”.

The Premier League leaders maintained their 100 per cent record in a dominant display that could have seen a much higher winning margin than one goal, though the visitors were made to sweat as Erik Lamela struck late before Spurs saw a penalty turned down.

Klopp admitted that had Liverpool’s performance been “5 per cent less” they might have lost, but added their effort was enough to take them through.

“It was our best game of the season so far for sure, 85 brilliant minutes… but we didn’t finish the game.

“It was a very good performance, maybe our best performance against Spurs. I imagine 5 per cent less and we could have lost. Tottenham has the quality to strike back, so I’m really happy.”

Klopp insisted that last season’s 4-1 defeat to the same side on the same ground was not on his mind, other than when it had been brought up by the media before the game, as Liverpool are now such a different team.

For one, all the mistakes came from Spurs, rather than Liverpool.

“Defending against the ball, we were brilliant. They [Spurs] are so good and so tuned and do it so confident to pass through the lines and you have to be outstanding, brave and ready to close those lines. And with the ball we controlled it. We played passes in behind, went for counter pressing again.

“Because we were so good, it was difficult for Tottenham. I don’t think Tottenham played bad.”

Klopp did admit that Roberto Firmino could be a doubt for Tuesday’s Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain, after suffering a cut around his eye.

“Maybe an injury with Roberto, maybe something with his eye. We play PSG who won yesterday without Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappe!”

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